Never Let Your Emotions Impact Your Work: 4 Tips On How To Bounce Back From A Bad Day
- Michael Hargett
- Oct 31, 2016
- 3 min read
Do you ever get emotional over events that you cannot control? Do these emotions ever take over your day and impact your work performance?
Let’s face it. We all had bad days. We all have woken up on the wrong side of the bed or had uncontrollable events happened in our day that changed our mood and left us in a negative state. It’s important to learn how to manage these feelings and channel them into something positive because these negative emotions could undesirably impact our co-workers, the organization and the productivity of the team.
“Ecclesiastes 7:14 On a good day, enjoy yourself; On a bad day, examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days So that we won’t take anything for granted.”
My good friend called me earlier this week during her lunch break to tell me about her awful day. She said, “You wouldn’t believe how awful my days has been. I woke up late because I slept through my alarm. My son missed the bus which forced me to drive an extra unplanned 30 minutes to drop him off to school. Then I got to work late and had a misunderstanding with my boss and another coworker.” By her tone and the frustration in her voice, I could tell her day wasn’t going well. And she broken the cardinal rule of “never let your mood impact others.”
You will have days that will not go perfect. You will encounter obstacles that will set you back and hinder your progress. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr stated,"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." In these bad times, the key to managing stress is to know how to deal with the problem, handle your emotions and bounce back. Never let your negative emotions take control and most importantly, impact those around you.
While on the phone with my friend, I shared with her what I do to bounce back from a bad day, which is listed below.
Talk to a friend: Normally, I call up a trusted friend. I find it very beneficial to hear their perspective of the issue and receive advice on how to handle the situation. Personally, I don’t know what I would do without my support system. I encourage you to also build a support system and don’t be ashamed to ask for help. They can give you a different perspective on the situation, which will help when developing a solution to overcome the problem. So, talk to a friend because you don’t have to go through bad days alone.
Distract yourself: I usually distract myself with activities that will create peace and take my mind off the issue. I find myself at peace when I’m reading a great book or sitting in a quiet room with a cup of Joe writing. I’m sure you have a hobby that brings you joy and put you in a place where you feel relaxed and free. My suggestion is to take time out your schedule when you’re feeling down and do those activities, whether it’s reading a book, golfing with a buddy or cleaning the house while listening to some tunes. It’s good to put a smile on your face, relieve stress and let go of the things you cannot control.
Do something nice for someone: The friend mentioned in the example above, turned her day around after helping a coworker. She realized another coworker was upset and not having a great day. She was going through relationship problems and didn’t know how to deal with the situation. After she comforted her and made her feel better, she started feeling better about herself, which turned her day around. Like they say, “Do good, feel good” – this really works.
Exercise: This is probably my favorite way to handle stress and release some frustrations. Nothing can make me feel better than getting through a vigorous workout or pushing my body through a long run while watching the sun rise. If you’re not into working out, I suggest you get started. Exercise can do wonders to your mind, body and spirit. As the old saying goes, “Tough times never last, but tough people do.”
