Are you struggling to find the motivation to power through your work day? Is the thought of another morning at work weighing you down? We've all been there! These five things are the first steps to take if you're having a rough time with your daily grind.

1. Set your alarm 10 minutes before you actually need to wake up.

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If you're a habitual snoozer, set your alarm 10 minutes before you need to wake up. That transition time will make the inevitable rolling out of bed moment sting a little less. If you're like me, and hate being told what to do (even by an alarm clock), then setting an alarm earlier than you need to wake up will make you feel like you're making the decision to get out of bed without being told.

2. Maintain a caffeine ritual.

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WJBQ.com/Kylie Queen
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Each morning I place an On the Go order with my DD Perks app and venture down two escalators to grab my morning Dunkin Donuts fix. I look forward to my 7 a.m. coffee ritual and let's face it, everything is better when fueled by caffeine.

3. Make a to do list as soon as you arrive to work.

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As you walk into the office (Dunkin Cold Brew in hand) you've got a cloud of things on your mind. Put everything you need to accomplish that day into a list before you even open your e-mail inbox. Your to do list will give you a road map for the day and help you prioritize your tasks before the e-mails start pouring in.

4. Hydrate.

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Trust me, you're not drinking enough water. Proper hydration will eliminate many of the roadblocks in your day, including fatigue, headaches, sleepiness, and digestive discomfort. Drink more water, have a better day.

5. Read something on paper. Anything.

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Pick up the paper, print out a short story from the Internet, or grab a magazine to peruse on your lunch break. Your brain will appreciate the change of pace and your eyes will thank you for a break from the computer screen. It doesn't hurt to stay up to date with current events or catch a story about cute puppies doing silly things to break up the monotony of your day.

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