Beep, beep, beep!

Damn, there goes my alarm. Through a haze of sleep, I manage to reach my arm far enough above my head to hit the snooze button before rolling over and promptly falling back asleep. Summer is supposed to be for beauty sleep, rest, and relaxation, not early morning wake up calls!

Despite my feelings to the contrary, I convince myself that getting out of bed is for the best. Come on, gotta get going! You have an internship to get to!

Psyching myself up is never an easy task (especially since I’m no morning person), but knowing that my boss, L, along with interns B and R, will be at the office when I arrive is a great booster. I’m lucky to have landed an internship with people who are not only energetic and dedicated to what they do (i.e. put out a newspaper weekly), but are also genuinely wonderful people who I enjoy being around.

Not every internship supplies such friendly coworkers. Sometimes one of the main reasons not to go into the office is the people you have to associate with there. When the workplace is an unfriendly environment, you just have to make the best of it (I know that sounds terrible, but it’s the truth). We will all have to deal with rude or obnoxious people throughout our lives. That’s where people skills come in.

You don’t have to be anyone’s best friend; that is not in your job description. You are there, however, to do that job. Don’t let your feelings towards others interfere with your performance. Be courteous, but don’t worry about engaging them in deep conversation. You don’t need to know their life story to get along with them. Always be civil, but then you can move on.

Learning to deal with such co-workers now can give you the skills to deal with them in the future, when your pay scale may depend on how well you interact with those around you.

If you don’t have anyone to look forward to seeing each day, another tip for getting out the door is thinking about the project you are working on or the goal you are trying to achieve.

If you dread going to the office because of bad coworkers and because you don’t like what you do, it’s time to re-evaluate why you are there in the first place. If it’s not worth getting out of bed for, it’s not worth giving up your life for.

I don’t have to be into the office until 9am, but I set my alarm for 7:20 AM (10 extra minutes in case I fall asleep again-you have to plan for these things!) to give me time for my morning routine. Mornings are a crucial part of the day: that’s when you set the bar for the rest of the day. Remember the old saying about being careful no to wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Well, it’s true. If you start the day off on the wrong foot (or side of the bed), it’s very hard to get back onto the right one.

Sleep is the key element to having a productive day. If you don’t get the proper rest your body needs, there is no way your brain will function at optimum capacity-and you need that brain power to impress your employer! Know what your body craves. I need a solid nine hours of sleep if I am to make it through the next day without a nap. To get in those nine hours, I count back from my wake-up time and set that (10:20 PM) as bedtime.

On a side note, should you party the night before you have to work? Definitely not. If you must party, save it for the nights you don’t have to be at the office the next day.

I have one friend who, after a string of late nights partying with girlfriends, lost her job because of her undependable track record. She would struggle with getting to work on time, and, once there, would perform so poorly from lack of sleep that she might as well have staid home, which is exactly what her boss told her (only he meant permanently).

Proper nutrition is just as important. Fuel up in the morning. Skipping breakfast can lead to a crash later in the day (plus a rumbling tummy can distract you from work). Be smart and nosh on foods high in fiber, protein, and whole grains. A bowl of cereal plus some fruit is an awesome start to the day. Don’t have time? Grab a protein bar (like Larabars) on your way out the door.

Proper dress is also important. Looking good at an internship is imperative. It shows your employer “I care about this job. I want to be here, and I will put forth my best effort. You won’t regret-or be embarrassed-that you hired me.” Though only clothing, showing you aren’t a sloth can have benefits besides sending a message about your dedication.

It’s a given that you will always dress better for an interview than for a day at work. That said, don’t come to the interview in an outfit way above your standards. Some of your taste and personality needs to show through. Once you get into the workspace, observe what everyone else is wearing, and either match that trend or go one step above (taking it to the next level is never a bad thing).

What did I wear for my interview? White slacks and a flouncy church top, matching bag and sandals. What do I wear at the office? I lean towards jeans or slacks, nice shirts or tops that are just below my flouncy interview one, and sandals or sneakers. I’m fortunate enough to work in an environment that does not have a dress code, but that may not be the case everywhere. Learn what is expected from your boss and fellow employees.

Dressing like you care also shows that you are responsible and pulled together. People who look together will get more opportunities than those who come in wearing sweats and a coffee-stained shirt (gross).