Bad days can happen to the best of us, but that doesn't stop work from needing to get done. Whilst working when you're feeling down is the last thing you want to do, here are a few ways to pick yourself up and carry on with tasks you need to do.
Take a break:
Stepping away from the office to think can drastically improve your mood and help you look at the day more clearly. Going for a walk or sitting in the park on your lunch break can help you feel relaxed and better energised to go back to work. Even stepping out of the office for a moment to the bathroom can help remove yourself from a stressful situation. Don't let yourself think about what has gotten you into a slump, think instead of what you can proactively do once you return to the office.
Express emotions appropriately:
Expressing your emotions is ok and necessary to feel better. It can be very easy to rant to colleagues or friends when you are feeling rough but there is a line between venting and gossip. Strong emotions such as anger can see you act out instead of thinking a problem through. Try to observe the problem through an objective lens before discussing it with colleagues or management and keep it strictly professional. This can help you to communicate better and avoid getting caught up in office politics. If you feel the need to express what you are feeling, write down how you are feeling just for yourself and throw it away when you are done.
Practise gratitude:
Regardless of the reason behind your bad workday, there is always something you can be grateful for. Switching to a gratitude mindset helps you to focus less on the bad things that occurred and accept the situation for what is, one bad day at work. Try to leave your negative feelings at work, and spend your evening doing something you enjoy.
Learn from the day:
Problems or unforeseen circumstances are opportunities to learn and grow. After a particularly trying day, take a moment to reflect on what didn't go so great and possible reasons why. Evaluating what went wrong can help you to better understand how to avoid doing the same thing in the future, teaching you to be proactive, rather than reactive.
