Transform Your Day With This 10-Minute Routine When You First Arrive at the OfficeHere's how focusing on the present before moving into the day's goals can change your outlook.

ByHayden Field

Hero Images | Getty Images

The phrase "daily grind" -- meaning a repetitive, tiresome work routine -- may have originated in themid-1800s, but it's just as relevant today. Just33 percentof U.S. workers are engaged in their jobs, according to a 2017 Gallup report -- and just four in 10 employees strongly agree that they've had opportunities to learn and grow in the past year.

If your days feel monotonous and this hits home, one key to turning things around might lie in the first 10 minutes of your work day. As soon as you sit down at your desk, you can practice mindfulness -- or focusing on the present -- and then move into your goals for the day.

Before you even open your inbox, close your eyes and check in with yourself, says Lodro Rinzler, co-founder ofMNDFLmeditation studios. Focus on the weight of your body in your chair and your feet on the ground, then take three slow, deep breaths -- in through the nose and out through the mouth.

Once you feel calm and centered, think about your big-picture goals for the day. "Ask yourself: What qualities do I want to cultivate today? Who do I want to be? How do I want to show up for my workplace today?" Rinzler says. "Whatever we place our attention on ultimately grows throughout the course of the day."

Next, try moving onto more concrete task goals. Write down what you'd like to accomplish today, but try not to overload yourself -- and list your tasks in order of urgency. If a traditional list feels too run-of-the-mill -- or you feel overwhelmed with work -- try drawing a grid and designating your to-dos via the "Eisenhower Matrix," a task organizer inspired by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

While you're at it, set a quiet timer or calendar alert for every 30 or 60 minutes. Whenever you're pinged during the day, turn your eyes away from your screen for at least a minute. That can look like taking a quick walk around the room or simply focusing on your surroundings -- just give your eyes a break. Doing this can help you make your energy last and avoid feeling drained at day's end.

Related:Low on Motivation? 7 Psychological Hacks to Get Going

Wavy Line
Hayden Field

Entrepreneur Staff

Associate Editor

Hayden Field is an associate editor at Entrepreneur. She covers technology, business and science. Her work has also appeared in Fortune Magazine, Mashable, Refinery29 and others.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

An 81-Year-Old Florida CEO Just Indicted for a $250 Million Ponzi Scheme Ran a Sprawling Senior Citizen Crime Ring

Carl Ruderman is the fifth senior citizen in the Miami-Fort-Lauderdale-Palm Beach metropolitan area to face charges in connection with the scam.

Business News

'Soul Crushing': Internet Sleuths Notice Something Is Very Off With This Condo Listing

From the grey carpets to the fluorescent lights, it's obvious that this home was not always a home.

Money & Finance

Want to Become a Millionaire? Follow Warren Buffett's 4 Rules.

企业家是不能过度指狗万官方望太多a company exit for their eventual 'win.' Do this instead.

Business News

'Awful Advice': Barbara Corcoran Slammed For 'Tone Deaf' Business Advice to Interns

The "Shark Tank" star shared tips on social media about how interns can increase their chances of getting hired full-time, but the public reaction didn't go as planned.

Green Entrepreneur

Phoenix Has Hit 110 Degrees for a Month, But This One Invention Is Cooling Things Down a Tad

For the Arizona city amid a record-breaking heat wave, cool surfaces bring a modicum of relief.