If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. -proverb

Going to work means something completely different than it did last year.

Today, work is a sanctuary.

It is a place where life, love and solitude exist.

Where my office and bedroom share space.

Work is a little desk along the wall … a lamp, a laptop.

Work is coffee in the morning, wine at night.

It is where I cherish a piece of my identity.

Where the door closes just for me.

If you are working in a toxic environment or doing work that lacks meaning, it may be time to run for cover. It may be time to build your own sanctuary, piece by piece.

Here are some steps that can help:

1. Find work that matters to you.

What are you good at? What excites you? What are your secret dreams for the future? These are a few question to ask on your journey to do something amazing.

While passion is important, it’s also important to be practical. Landing the career of your dreams can take years. That’s why you shouldn’t waste any time figuring out what you want to do.

Learn more from these real-life people who quit their day jobs:

• Seven Tips to Kick the Cubicle Habit from Tammy Strobel
• Can’t Find a Dream Job? Create Your Own by Leo Babauta
• Why You Shouldn’t Quit Your Day Job, Yet by Henri Junttila

2. Enjoy a taste of freedom.

Is it possible to work from anywhere? Present a written proposal to your manager requesting to work from home either part time or full time. Even if no one else at your company is doing it, ask anyways. Pave the way for freedom. Own your position, not the other way around.

Read more: Easy ways to make the rat race a much better ride.

3. Start a very small business.

Convert the time you spend watching TV, sleeping in and trolling Facebook into cash. Use your free time to create a very small business, like Tammy Strobel did.

You can create your own Smalltopia. It probably won’t happen overnight, but it will happen. Taking one small step toward your goal everyday will result in a huge payoff. -Tammy Strobel of Rowdy Kittens

4. Keep it simple.

You don’t need a fancy workspace to start building a sanctuary. Keep it simple. Treat the space with respect instead of letting clutter overtake it.

A little upkeep goes a long way. Put things away when you’re finished. Keep up with paper clutter. Now you can stay focused on the big picture, instead of wasting time with distracting piles of paper. Spend just 5 minutes decluttering each day. That’s all it takes.

5. Post a quote or sign that inspires you.

Since I’m editing my novel, I have this quote by E.L. Doctrow on the wall above my laptop:

Who speaks to you? Inspiring words can be a silent cheering section. They can help you remember your goals each time you sit down to work.

I know from experience: It can take years for work to feel like a sanctuary, but the result is something truly beautiful.

Today, work is place I develop characters for my novel. Work is where I keep the pink feather that distracted Little Boy from doing his homework. Work is where I turn off all the phones so I can focus.

At the end of the day, work is where I am at home.

It is where my spirit sings.

Please share this post. Thank you!

Special Note

There’s still time to get in on this fantastic deal. But it’s all over March 25. So don’t wait!

Photo by djking