When in Doubt, Romanticize Your 9–5
Because Your Work Is Part of a Bigger, Beautiful Story. Not Just a Paycheck
Dear friend,
Before we dive into the to-do lists of the week, deadlines, or even your unread emails, I want to pause and ask you a simple, but sincere question: How are you?
No, not the usual “I’m good” we say out of habit. I mean, how are you really doing?
Have you eaten well today? Slept well over the weekend?
Are you simply pushing through or maybe, in your own quiet way, are you holding it all together like a champ no one sees?
If no one has asked you lately, please let this message be that check-in.
Because I know, life gets heavy. Work gets loud. The pressure builds. And sometimes, in the middle of showing up for everyone and everything else, you forget to show up for you.
Especially here in Nigeria, where the hustle is constant, and the world doesn’t always wait for you to catch your breath.
But today, I see you. And I’m rooting for you.
Let me paint you a familiar picture.
It’s Monday morning.
Your alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m. sharp. You’re sleepy, but you don’t have time to be tired. You rush into the bathroom, quickly freshen up, and start calculating how to beat Third Mainland traffic before it turns into a parking lot.
By 7:15 a.m., you’re squeezed into a keke already, whispering a short prayer that you’ll clock in before HR’s marks you late again.
Your manager’s message reads: “Please see me.”
Your inbox is full.
The client you followed up with last week still hasn’t replied.
And your to-do list? It’s starting to look like a 20-chapter novel.
Sound familiar?
It’s okay to admit that sometimes work feels like a cycle—same expectations, same pressure, same energy-draining meetings labelled “quick syncs” that last two hours. You wonder if you’re growing… or just grinding. Hmmm!
But here’s a thought:
What if we chose to see our work differently?
I’m not talking about ignoring stress or pretending to love tasks that drain us.
I’m talking about being present in our journey, even the boring tasks.
Finding beauty in small efforts.
Creating meaning, not just meeting deliverables.
Here’s what that can look like:
Taking five whole minutes to drink the tea in your flask without rushing.
Making a playlist that turns emails into a soundtrack.
Writing your to-do list in your neatest handwriting—like a CEO planning the next big move (because you are).
Spraying perfume before your Zoom call, even if no one else is in the room but you. No, you are not going crazy!
Smiling at the thought that every late night and extra hour is part of a bigger picture.
Or simply shutting your laptop at 5:01pm—and reminding yourself: rest is productive too.
Romanticizing your work isn’t about being unserious.
It’s about giving meaning to what you do.
It’s about honoring your growth, even when no one claps.
It’s about not waiting until Friday to feel alive.
You’re not just working.
You’re building a life.
A career.
A legacy.
A story worth telling.
So don’t just survive your 9–5, live it with intention, style, and self-respect.
And when it feels like no one sees the effort you put in—I see you.
If you’ve been barely hanging on—I’m proud of you.
If you’ve been showing up even when it’s hard—I’m cheering for you.
If you’re in a good place—I celebrate that joy with you.
So now, as you begin this new week, let me ask you:
What’s one small thing you’re looking forward to at work this week?
A goal you're hoping to reach? A task you're finally ticking off? Or maybe, just getting through the day with peace of mind?
Whatever it is—I’m rooting for you.
And when the week gets heavy, come back to this reminder:
You are doing your best. And that’s more than enough.
To fresh starts, gentle wins, and brighter Mondays,
With all my heart,
Joseph Adetarami from IntelligenceX
Reading this while I feel checked out at my 9-5 job lol. Thanks for bringing in this perspective. There are many posts demonizing 9-5 jobs but there is so much to learn and challenge yourself with in many traditional 9-5 roles. Thanks for sharing!