Fall back in love with your work week

Fall back in love with your work weekFall back in love with your work weekIts no secret that themid-career slumpcan hit hard. But the day to day grind of the work week can lead to major success, depending on how you choose to spend your time. Instead of letting the days crawl to a close, make a plan to win the work week with these actionable strategiesInvite a Colleague Out to LunchThe power lunch is back and its here to stay. Using your work day tonetworkis one of the best ways to advance your career. Plus, your body will thank you for being active rather than sitting at your desk.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreelend taking regular breaks is one of the fastest ways to burn yourself out. Reach out to a new colleague or someone youve been meaning to connect with and have them join your for lunch.Plan a Group Outing or Host a Dinner at Your PlaceBring a select group together for a themedevent. Go to a haunted house,apple picking, or do movies like a pro. Hosting an intimate dinner at your place is a great way to connectold and new friends. Pro tip be thorough in your planning and keep your guest list small.Guest Post on a Website, or Start Your Own BlogWriting is a great way to build your professional portfolio. Employers today want candidates who have built up an online portfolio. Are you super passionate and unnaturally informed about a certain issue? Pitch your idea and get published or launch your own blog.Launch a New CareerUse your lunch break or your off-duty hours during the week to make your escape plan. You might not even need to leave your current company. If you want to tweak certain aspects about your job or convince your boss to let you work on a new team, put a proposal together to present to decision makers.Work on Your Bucket ListAlways wanted torun a marathonor learn a new language? Well are you waiting for? Sign up for that marathon and s tart training. Or research the resources youll need to start learning that new language. Perhaps youve never taken the time to create abucket list, so now would be the moment to create one.Organize Your SpaceClearing off your desk and organizing yourworkspacecan be cathartic. Onlookers often associate the condition of your desk with the condition of your work, mind, and home. Dont let your reputation suffer over something as simple as a messy desk. Take the organizing bug to your apartment and go clutter free there too.Revamp Your Online PresenceWhens the last time you managed your online reputation? A simple Google search is the best place to start. Comb through and look for incorrect or out of date information. Make inappropriate social profiles private.Create a one-page website that professionally highlights your work using a simple platform likewix.com.Every piece of your digital life makes up your professional brand. Make sure they are all consistent.This article first appeared on Capitol Standard.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people