10 Songs to Get You Through a Terrible Workday

We’ve all been there: a no-good, terrible, very bad day at work and it’s only 11 a.m. What can you do (besides running for the door screaming) but put on your earphones, crank the volume, and keep your head down while you blast through some TPS reports like nobody’s business? Here are some of the best songs to get through those tough times and help you come out on top.

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1. “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton

A classic of pop-country (and also a great comedy about a “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot”) by a self-made queen of industry herself.

2. “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyoncé

While Lemonade might be all anyone’s talking about these days, Beyoncé’s “Run the World” is one of the greatest tunes spouting girl power in the workplace in the last few years. “I work my 9 to 5, better cut my check! / This goes out to all the women / Getting it in you on your grind.”

3. “Earn Enough for Us” by XTC

If you’ve got bills to pay, maybe you can’t just take this job and shove it. XTC gets it. They’re working all week long for their fiancé and even though things might be a little thin right now, they have a sweetie to come home to, and that even makes taking a second job worth it. “I can take humiliation / And hurtful comments from the boss / I’m just praying by the weekend / I can earn enough for us.”

4. “Started From the Bottom” by Drake

Are you working your way up the corporate ladder? Or deciding to go out on your own to make a splash in the work-a-day world? Drake knows how to pump yourself up over a successful career rise — this song was a huge hit and made him a ton of money.

5. “Career Opportunities” by The Clash

If you really want to give your ears a workout, crank up some Clash and give it a go. They’re singing about taking a job to stay out of jail. So it could always be worse.

6. “Shake It Out” by Florence + The Machine

When you need a little drama in your song choice, this Florence + The Machine track really gets you up with your cape and sword about to battle some (inner) demons.

7. “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor

If it was good enough for Rocky, it’s good enough for you. Get on your (mental) sweats and start hitting those (metaphorical) steps up to your goal. You can do it!

8. “Get a Haircut” by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

A saxophone-filled nostalgia fest about how adults think some longhairs need to get their act together and enter the workforce. Maybe you’re daydreaming about that easy summer gig cleaning pools where you didn’t have to listen to cubicle gossip all day long. Just keep your earphones on tight and dream yourself to back when the living was a bit easier.

9. “Harder, Better, Faster” by Daft Punk

Ever wish you were a successful masked robot-like DJ man instead of a cubicle monkey? Of course you do. Let Daft Punk soothe the sting of your common lives with some freaky animation involving some kind of Smurf-like future peoples.

10. “Ooh Child” by The Five Stairsteps

Let’s bring it down a notch with the soulful, uplifting voices of The Five Stairsteps (and their sweet dance moves from a Soul Train appearance). Dig it. “Things are gonna get easier.”

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