my journey of finding joy in work

A guide to romanticising and increasing productivity in the workspace

Dear friend,

Lately, I've been really struggling with work.

A mixture of overwhelm, uncertainty, and a sense of inadequacy has emerged within me, profoundly distorting my attitude towards my job. It has been a complicated experience, mainly because my nights praying and days longing for the opportunity I have been given are still so fresh in my mind. To complain now seems to me the epitome of ungratefulness, and yet in not speaking, I've been burdened by the question- what if I'm just not cut out for this? My typical response to feeling overwhelmed is to give up, but that has not been an option here. So, instead, I've been going through the motions- attending to whatever is urgent during the day and distracting myself in whatever way possible as soon as the clock strikes 5 pm. As I prepared for the week ahead on Sunday evening, I was struck by a sense that I needed to do more - maximise my contribution and what I could gain from this role. I realised that the last thing I wanted was for this opportunity to end- because nothing is ever permanent - and feel regret. The type of regret that comes uniquely with wasted potential and forfeited dreams. The kind of regret for which there is no one else to blame. I resolved to use this pre-emptive regret to change course- my journey is just beginning, and now is always a good time to practice finding joy, beauty and meaning in whatever work I set my mind to do.

I decided I wanted to escape the trap of shirking the responsibility that comes with answered prayer. I want to live up to all I can be at every phase of the journey- viewing it as just a journey, a chance to build my diligence, persistence and endurance muscles. This is not only for my sake; there is a long list of people to whom I am responsible in all my work and my attitude towards work. I owe it to my God, Creator and the Provider of every opportunity. I owe it to Him to be faithful with whatever is at hand and to be obedient and fruitful in my endeavours. I owe it to my parents, who have always modelled diligence and consistency in work to me. I owe it to my siblings because I've experienced the benefit of having followed the path of people who came before me and showed me what was possible and I want to do that for them. I owe it to my boss and colleagues, who rely on my effort and the quality of my work. I owe it to my community - who I am ultimately responsible for - and whose rights and needs I champion with every bit of work I produce. I owe it to myself to translate my dreams into reality, to practice doing challenging things to completion, to grow in the capacity and knowledge that I will need from this moment onwards. I owe it to myself to become the person I was created to be.

work highlights: working from a cute cafe & reading during my lunch break

Truthfully, the truest mark of my commitment to something is my effort to make it beautiful. I'm realising that my work life will be no different. I wholeheartedly reject the notion of suffering and misery defining my work - by God's grace, I'll do whatever I can to romanticise and beautify my work, even as I lean into the challenges that are inherent in it. Here are some of the things I am doing in that regard:

Productivity:

To boost productivity, increase focus and maximise my impact at work, I am

• I start each work week by diarising the important deadlines, upcoming meetings and general work plan for the week. This gives me a sense of the intensity of the upcoming week and gives me a chance to mentally prepare. I typically do this on the Sunday evening before the week starts.

• I listen to a playlist or soundscape during my deep flow sessions. This helps me tune out distractions and stimulate my mind while I focus on work.

• Building up my attention span and focus using timed work sessions. This is my cure for a social-media-weakened brain. During my peak hours (early morning, late afternoon), when I typically engage in heavier work, I set a stopwatch to monitor how long I can maintain focus. This increases my awareness of the frequency of my phone checks and helps me redirect my attention to the work. I got this tip from Liam Porritt on Youtube, which has been really helpful.

• On days when my mind feels weaker and I am struggling to concentrate, I stick to the Pomodoro method or a 45-minute work: 15 min break ratio.

• At the end of each workday, I take 5-10 minutes to write down all my work for the next day in my Notion Weekly Agenda.

• My role requires a ton of research, but it can be hard to get around to it in the business of the day. So, I set aside 1-2hours daily- usually in the morning to work on my research and other matters I am responsible for.

Romanticisation:

• I remind myself of my work's meaning as often as I need. I got this tip from my dad, one of the hardest workers I have ever known. Remembering and reaffirming my intentions for working gives me the boost I often need to stay on top of a long and draining university. I like to write daily work intentions in my journal. Here are some I've been using lately:

• I choose diligence and endurance over perfectionism and striving.

• I am here to learn that I can do hard things. I have done hard things before, and this, too will one day feed into my memory bank of little victories.

• Whatever work I do, I will do with the same attitude- working as unto God himself, with all my heart.

• I love packing a healthy and nourishing lunch and snacks to fuel my brain. Making my meals visually pleasing is always a bonus. This serves as an act of kindness and support to myself and makes my overall experience way more pleasant.

• Another semi-superficial but personally beneficial thing I love is wearing cute, comfortable outfits to work. I love leaning into the romance of dressing up for work.

• Keeping my desk clear and tidy is non-negotiable. It helps with my mental clarity and sense of control over my space, ultimately making being in my office a better experience.

My retrospective theme for this year—in case anyone needs reminding—has been new beginnings, and it applies to everything. As a young professional fresh out of university, I am just now discovering that it applies to my work life, too. I am beyond grateful that for as long as I live, no matter what I am doing, I can try again. I can rise to a higher standard, which benefits not only me but the people I love and the people I am here to serve.

What inspires you to work?

truly,
T