If you’ve ever worked anywhere, you’re probably familiar with the concept of having a bad day at work. Let’s be frank: even the best ones of us haven’t ever managed to give it a slip. So, what’s your story? Why are you having a bad day?
Did your boss dump assignments with hard deadlines without warning? Did you find out you worked on the wrong project just before the submission? Were you passed over for a promotion?
More often than not, you’ve found yourself saying these words to a friend: I had a bad day at work! With so many variables at play, any small and unseen change can put you off very easily. The trick is to see that while you cannot change the world, you can change your reaction. Remember that change is the only constant.
Try out the below-given suggestions in coping up with a bad day at work.
How to overcome a bad day at work
1
Assess what happened
What happened to make it a bad day at work for you? Once you figure out what turned your mood sour, you will be able to put things in perspective. Assure yourself that you have control over the way you deal with people and situations even if you cannot control the environment. Make sure that you want the happiness at the workplace as well as at home. Then recognize the stress at the start itself and deal with it effectively.
Meanwhile, try to concentrate on the small tasks by prioritizing and start digging your way out! The more you think about a problem, the bigger it appears! So, don’t over-analyze. Just get to it!
If you stop trying to control what is happening and has a say on what you are doing; then you become much stronger, effective, powerful, successful and happier. That is it!”
- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Vent to reinvent
Don’t bottle your feelings. Let them out of your system. Talk to a friend. Normally, once you voice your apprehensions and anxieties, you will be able to gain a new perspective. This will help you find a way to deal with your bad day. Moreover, a good friend will help you see the opportunity in your adversity.
Take a break and recommit
Take a walk in the garden near your office or go for a stroll on the beach. If your office has a game room, spend some time there to unwind. Do something that uplifts you.
Revisit your situation once you are in a better state of mind and you will start seeing things from a fresh perspective. Even the bad boss will start to look less monstrous! Recommit to your responsibilities and see them through.
Join a Free workshop on Yoga, Meditation and Breath
Keep lines of communication open
Whether it is with your bad boss or a difficult colleague, ensure that you communicate effectively. If you don’t understand something, ask for more clarity. Disregard any snide or disdainful remarks that come your way.
After all, there is no point in not understanding and setting yourself up for another bad day. For all you know, they might be piling on you because of their own problems and worries.
Refresh yourself with desktop yoga poses and meditation
Being confined to your office on a bad day can worsen things. On such days and even otherwise, you can benefit from desktop yoga asanas. A few simple stretches and bends in your cubicle, coupled with meditation, can feel as refreshing as a good night’s sleep. In fact, it is better, since it works faster and more effectively on your mind and body.
Tips to get past a bad day at work
Don’t wait for a bad day at work to come up. Some daily rituals will help keep you centered and poised even when the bad times roll by.
Start your day with yoga and meditation. This will help you see the positive side of things with increased awareness even under stress.
Be friendly at your office. Smile and greet your colleagues genially.
Don’t over-analyze or be judgmental at work. Assign priorities, concentrate on the work at hand and you should reach your goal!
Make sure you follow a regime of healthy food habits. Food is one of the main sources of energy and has a tremendous impact on your mind. Don’t skip meals or you’ll feel bogged down and tired.
Find out why you are unhappy and tackle it.
Meditate regularly. It will help you stay in the present.
Take time off for your hobbies. This will enhance your creative abilities even at work.
Separate your work from your personal feelings. Criticism of your work is not a criticism of you. You are so much more than just your work. When this realization dawns on you, you will feel free!
Follow the top 10 rules for success by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
After all, no one is out to get you. As Gone with the Wind’s Scarlett O Hara would say, “Tomorrow is another day.” You will live to fight another day!
The next time you think, “I’m having a bad day”, think of your last bad day. It didn’t last forever, did it? Blow off some steam with just 20 minutes of meditation. It can help you calm down and let go of your frustration, weariness, anger, and stress. The Art of Living’s signature breathing technique Sudarshan Kriya is also a deeply calming practice. You can find a judicious mix of both these practices in the Happiness Program.
Featured Article:
