Tried And Tested Ways To Bounce Back From A Bad Day At Work

Someone has rightly defined work-life by saying that occasional bad days are par for the course even if you love and enjoy your work. 

Professional life is all about deadlines, feedback, long working hours, and unlimited offline/online meetings. But there are times when it is tough to keep up a positive attitude about everything. That's okay; not everyone can be happy all the time. You should know that negative thoughts and a bad mood can affect your productivity and steal your excitement to work. Also, putting your mental health on the back burner can drain you of your creative energy. 

Well, we might not be able to do something about your professional life, but we can certainly give you some tips that can help you come back stronger the next day.

●     Take A Healthy Break To Unwind 

A recent study shows that employees who don't take breaks and work beyond their mental and physical capacity tend to feel frustrated and annoyed on and off work. Prioritizing your work is a sign of a career-oriented person, but making your body and mind work endlessly can leave you exhausted. Also, there are times when you might not be able to put your head into work. Creative people such as writers, painters, designers, and artists often go through a condition commonly known as "mental block." Finding ideas for basic topics might feel next to impossible. That's because you've already used your brain to its utmost capacity that it is all out of ideas and failing to produce creative ideas.  

If you don't want your brain and body to feel drained every time you return from work, make sure that you work within your limits and take regular breaks to de-stress. Allow yourself to pursue hobbies that make you feel happy and satisfied. Go for long walks, cook a delicious meal, read your favorite fantasy book, or maybe talk to someone who can provide unbiased solutions to your problems. The idea is to focus on activities that contribute to getting out of bad mood and make you feel refreshed. You can also treat yourself with soothing healing treatments such as aromatherapy and massage therapy.  

Don't confuse self-care with self-sabotage. Avoid drinking alcohol and cigarettes on a stressful day. Otherwise, they will become your coping mechanisms in no time, , and you'll look up to them every time you want to escape from a challenging situation. These sabotaging activities will not help you pull yourself together. Instead, they'll sedate you and keep you passive and disengaged. Remember, the goal is to bounce back from a bad day with a positive attitude, and taking a healthy break can help you with that.

●     Don't Bottle Up 

Psychologists confirm that many employees feel like they live with a heavy load. This happens when you don't share or communicate your problems and feelings with someone. If that's happening with you, then you should know that avoiding your feelings can bring you no good. 

It is better not to push your emotions, instead embrace them. Remind yourself that it is okay to release any feelings of anger, guilt, and blame. Believe it or not, but it helps to move on and let things go. Look at it this way, if you suppress and bottle up your feelings, eventually, you will have to let it out. And that will undoubtedly feel like an explosion. So, stop being so harsh on yourself. Try to connect with a buddy who can listen to you vent and rant all day and can put a smile on your face. The idea behind this is to resist the urge to isolate and wallow alone. 

Sometimes you might not feel like sharing your problems with your friends, family, and colleagues. That's because the fear of judgment might not be allowing you to open up. In that case, you can also consult a professional counselor who'll not only listen to you without any judgment but will also list unbiased solutions to your problems. It might feel frightening and confusing to take that first step, but the benefits will outweigh your negative feelings. The professionals create a safe environment where you feel like sharing what's on your mind. They'll prepare a report for you and help you with the healing and transformation process.

●     Don't Let The Feedback Define You. 

Criticism is like rain. It should be gentle enough to nourish an employee's growth without destroying their roots. The quote can't be apt enough. Listening and seeking feedback at a workplace is crucial for personal and professional development. But if it is a significant reason why you are in a bummer mood, then it is a problem. See, your seniors or clients give feedback for your work because they want you to do better next time, and taking it to heart can ruin your productivity.   

You should know that feedback is meant to define the quality of your work and not you or what you are capable of doing. Instead, make sure that you have a positive attitude towards all your feedback, regardless of its nature. Use the positive ones to motivate yourself and the negative ones to improve the quality of your work. Try not to make an opinion about your identity; otherwise, you'll be left with nothing but remorse and low self-esteem.  

For instance, after you feel disappointed and heartbroken by your feedback, try analyzing yourself by looking at your past work record. Give some credit to yourself by looking at the achievements in your portfolio. It acts as a motivational tool as you might start feeling that not everything turns out to be a failure. According to psychological experts, relieving your successful moments can help calm your nerves and fill you up with the confidence you've rightfully earned and deserved. It'll also help you realize your worth and the things you are capable of. 

To Sum Up 

Not all days are filled with sunshine, especially when it comes to professional life. Some burdens and responsibilities can leave you with negative thoughts and feelings. So, avoid getting roped in a mess by using the tips mentioned above and get on with your career with a smile on your face.