How to Get Through Bad Days at Work

How to Get Through Bad Days at WorkHow to Get Through Bad Days at WorkWhether your presentation doesnt go as planned, you learn that youre leid getting the raise you were hoping for, or your co-workers are in terrible spirits, tough days on the job are bound to happen every now and then. Its just the way it goes.But just how schwimmschwimmbad those days go can really depend on how you handle them. Though we all know how difficult powering through a challenging day at work can be, motivating yourself to stay positive when things arent going as planned is a real workplace superpower that can help you rise above the rest of the pack. Read on to learn how you can turn lemons into lemonade for yourself while building major morale for everyone around you, too.1. Stick to Your ScheduleThough unexpected events or information are often at the heart of a bad day, having a schedule in place can keep you focused on your goals and direction. In fact, starting in the early hours by implementing a solid morning routine is often cited as a smart tactic that can directly impact success. The reason why? Willpower has proven to be highest during AM hours, and powering through a productive morning can help you set the tone for the rest of the workday, no matter what should come your way.This can be especially important when your work involves engaging with other people, or if there are outside factors that can make you feel easily sidetracked. When I dont have a set schedule for my day, I tend to feel unproductive and unmotivated- no matter what happens. So, when I encounter a difficult gatekeeper, it takes a toll on my attitude, says Ben Garcia, an independent Agent with Aflac Insurance Company. If youre like me, setting a schedule will allow you to accomplish your tasks throughout the day and help you feel productive in every circumstance. You can also consider shifting your schedule to a format more conducive to riding the wave of a bad day. For example, start each morning by e ating your frog, a term coined by success coach Brian Tracy that represents your toughest, worst, or most procrastination-inducing task. The last thing youll want to do after an upsetting call with a customer or a bad meeting with your boss is that task youve been dreading, so make sure you get it out of the way before your day gets away from you. 2. Be Resilient (and Dont Take it Personally)Some days simply require a thicker skin. You might get turned away, turned down, told no- maybe even repeatedly. Refusing to quit isnt easy, but doing it can make a huge difference in reaching your goals. In fact, taking strides to become more resilient can help you overcome the toughest moments in your career. As Sheryl Sandberg poignantly shared in her powerful commencement speech, You are not born with a fixed amount of resilience. Like a muscle, you can build it up, draw on it when you need it. In that process you will figure out who you really are- and you just might become the very best ve rsion of yourself. Experts suggest that, though everyone is different, you can begin to build your resiliency muscle over time by viewing failures as opportunities to learn, maintaining a positive attitude, and being comfortable with not controlling everything. Andrew Zolli, who wrote a popular article about resilience for The New York Times, says you should build your muscle to the point that you can roll with the waves instead of trying to stop the ocean.If youre in a role that faces direct feedback and rejection, knowing how to roll with it and keep your head up can be extra important. Holly Johnson, an Aflac District Sales Coordinator, says she had to learn to be resilient right from the start in her role, where she spends day in and day out educating potential clients on how Aflac insurance policies can benefit them- and often getting the answer she doesnt want. She notes, Ive learned that no doesnt always mean no. Just because you got five nos doesnt mean the next one cant be a yes. A no might mean I dont know or even not now. Learn More About Sales Opportunities at Aflac3. Find PerspectiveBad days have a way of making it feel like the world is crashing down- in fact, its been proven that troubling experiences affect us much more strongly than positive ones do. An experiment conducted by Harvard Business School professor and co-author of The Progress Principle Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement and Creativity at Work Teresa M. Amabile showcases the power that a setback can have on how you feel about a day of work.In the study, as explained by The New York Times, 238 professionals working on 26 creative projects answered questions over a few months to share how they felt about their day. Turns out, employees who felt like they were prevented from making progress had the worst days at work. On the flip side, participants who felt that they were moving forward (even with just a small step toward their goals) recorded good days at work. The takeaway? Finding a way to remember and work toward your measurable, overall goals (despite upset or interruptions) actually can help prevent you from deeming the day a complete downer.For Julia Burns, a District Coordinator at Aflac, perspective is all about remembering why she took her role and why its important for her. My why and my vision board always help me re-discover my motivation during the most stressful of times, Burns says, Its the core of my geschftsleben and the reason I get up each day. It puts all of those happenings into perspective and reminds me exactly why I do what I do and why I love what I do.For others, remembering the big picture comes back to the idea of not letting little stressors or small mistakes get you down. Richard Carlson, author of Dont Sweat the Small Stuff, wisely wrote, Even though we often mess up, most of us are doing the best that we know how with the circumstances that surround us. In moments when everything seems to be going wrong, try to bring the things that have gone right to the front of your mind.4. Surround Yourself With PositivityAs the Harvard Business Review reports, positive work cultures are more productive. So if youre not getting good vibes from your team on a super challenging day, take a moment to remind yourself that setting the tone is your job too. Challenge yourself to find good things around you- and if they dont exist, create them yourself.To start, do your best to provide support to your teammates and treat them with respect, gratitude, trust, and integrity, no matter the circumstances. Harvard research shows that doing so can immediately affect workplace positivity, which in turn is contagious. If you need another incentive to treat the most miserable partie in the office well, its also been shown that demonstrating care for others can help lift your own spirits. Another option that might work? Burns suggests, Surround yourself with uplifting things. It could be motivational signs or quotes in your offi ce, self-help books, uplifting music, a beautiful picture of your happy place. Anything that motivates you to drive your business and keep the future on your horizon. When you feel frustrated, look at your board and remember what you are working toward.Figure out what works for you and nail down your personal go-to strategy for staying motivated during tough times on the job. It might take a little bit of practice, but once you know how to lift your spirits back up and keep your momentum going, youll be golden. Not to mention, an inspiration to everyone around you.Photo of woman working courtesy of Oscar Wong/Getty Images.

How to Recognize Youre in a Work Rut

How to Recognize Youre in a Work RutHow to Recognize Youre in a Work RutSometimes, it can be difficult to know if youre settled or if youve settled. While some workers may feel ready for a promotion every year or two, there are plenty of others who find themselves in a role they wouldnt mind doing for a long time. Whichever of these best describes you, weve found three ways to recognize whether youre in a work rut- and several ideas for how to get out of it1.Youre Not LearningIts common to hear that being bored means youre in a work rut. While this may be true, doing certain time-consuming tasks can also indicate youre in a work rut- and you might not realize it. If you come into work and find yourself doing a majority of mindless tasks, this can be an indicator that you arent being challenged enough and that your skills arent evolving at work- or even being used. And while some roles include more mundane work than others, if your skill set isnt growing, then its time to look for a c hange.A simple way to fix this problem is to determine which skills would make your job easier and then narrow them down to three or less. By identifying your areas for improvement, you can set yourself up to take initiative in your current role. Acquiring new skills will make you happier in your current role and help you build a stronger rsum that will aid in any future job searches.2.Theres a Lack of OpportunitiesConsider the type of projects you were assigned in the first couple of months in your role, and then compare them with the ones you are engaged in now. Are they the same or just slightly different? If the answer is yes, then its time to seek out new opportunities. Being assigned advanced projects is a sure sign that your supervisor trusts you and wants you to grow at the company. If this is lacking, then growth at the company might not be in your future.While it may be difficult to take on new opportunities- especially if you feel swamped with your current responsibilitie s- its important to look at ways in which the opportunities can engage you in new, more difficult work. If your manager presents opportunities in meetings or through emails, chime in and volunteer for ones that will help you grow in your job. However, if no volunteer opportunities crop up, then it could be time to sit down with your manager and express interest in being involved in more complex projects. Make sure to explain why you would do a great job and why you are interested in a given project.3. You Arent Applying to Open RolesStaying motivated to constantly grow at work can be exhausting- and its easy to see why we become unmotivated sometimes. Getting stuck in a comfort zone happens to many, especially if the pay, hours, amount of work, or lifestyle of the company suit your own. And while these are perfectly fair reasons to stay at a company, you should not stay in your current role if youre bored or unhappy. If the company suits you, then consider other roles there that you could apply for that will expand your career.If you dont wish to remain at your current company, then look at what you do in your current role and think about which direction might be next for you. Scan job titles that seem to be a level above yours and read job descriptions at companies of interest to you. Knowing which direction you wish to grow in will make your job application process easier and more straight-forward.

How to Choose the Best References for Your Job Search

How to Choose the Best References for Your Job SearchHow to Choose the Best References for Your Job SearchHow to Choose the Best References for Your Job SearchIts important to have an arsenal of references at the ready during your job search. Heres how to select the right ones.Who will give me a good recommendation? Will they mention those mistakes I made in the first week? Choosing the best references to place on your list is one of the most important decisions you will make during the job search.Most employers want a list of references to attest to your abilities, skills,and integrity. They also wish to speak to people who witness your work and can report on day-to-day career activities. Most importantly, they want to verify the information you provided is accurate. Some applicants, however, do notlagelage know who to put on their list or how many, as well as hot not to incorporate them into their resume writing.No in-laws, outlaws, or kin,pleaseThe first rule of thumb is to never, ever, place family members on your reference list. But rules are meant to be broken. If you worked as a carpenter for Uncle Bobs Table Repair Shop, of course, you list him. But this is the exception to the rule. Only list family who have directly supervised you and only for a job directly applicable to the one youre applying for.Toss the letters of recommendationAdmit it those generic letters are boring and annoying. After ten years with a company, wouldnt they write a better letter? Employers want to read specifics about your work, not some form letter prepopulated with fluff. When asking your former employer to write a recommendation, mention some of your attributes and contributions. Ask them to include those in the letter. Should they send a generic letter, toss it, and say thanks.There is a time and a place for everythingAnd resumes are not the place for references. A resume is used to show your best attributes, key skills, training and education, experience and summary of you r career. Do not list references at the bottom. Not only does this throw off the formatting, but references are used after the interview. Instead of including a list of references in your resume writing, type References available upon request at the end of the resume. This appears professional and doesnt assume anything.Be strategic, and dont overuse your sourcesChoosing references should be a careful process. Dont just list a group of people you think will speak positively on your behalf. Talk to those references. Ask them what they will say if contacted. Go over some of the information you think they will need to verify. Follow up with an email so you have a written confirmation. Select references who are legitimate. For example, dont ask the company secretary to attest to your computer proficiencies, unless you worked on a specific project.ConclusionOnce youve selected the references for your list, use a format similar to the resume. Select stationary and a header that not only i s professional but pleasant as well. Keep the list fresh, and check in with your references to refresh their memories and ensure they still want to be a reference. Some people decide later on not to recommend anyone for personal reasons. Most importantly, return the favor. Offer to recommend your references in the future. Take them out to lunch, and send thank you cards when they give you a positive recommendation. Remember, what goes around comes around.Let TopResume help you write your resume. Get started with a free resume review.Related Articles