Work sucks. And it sucks even more when the job you’re working is a boring, mind-numbing, string of monotonous processes which you have to suffer through until your boss decides to let you go for a 30 minute lunch break. And while some of us are courageous enough to say good bye to our mundane occupations and look for something better, most of us are not, or simply cannot afford to be. So for those of us who have wasted countless hours staring out the window and daydreaming of better days, or looking at the clock so many times it seems as if it’s barely moving, here’s a couple of things you can do to put some meaning back into your life or at the least some increased brain activity.

As young professionals and/or recent college graduates, most of us are used to handing projects in a few seconds before they’re due, if not a few seconds — or days — after. And while waking up at 4a.m. to start a paper that’s due at 10 a.m. has gotten many of us through college (myself included), waiting for the last minute to complete a job-related task is a sure fire way to end up working overtime (off the clock) or even worse, unemployed. So, if you fell asleep during those time management workshops in college or are just unsure of how to apply those techniques to a workplace environment, here are five strategies you can use to maximize your efficiency at work, sans paper tray organizers and sticky notes.

If you are a young professional with a Facebook or Myspace, a member of a professional networking organization, or just happened to sign up for email updates from your favorite Career website, chances are your inbox has been flooded with numerous invitations to professional networking parties and events. Most of these events promise you the chance to meet successful professionals and form meaningful networks.