Image courtesy of Georgie Pauwels photostream
We all have times at the office where we run straight into the wall of frustration and setbacks. I find myself dwelling and over-analyzing these situations for days. But I’ve found this only ruins the week and takes my attention off of work. Whether the conflict comes from a disagreement on how to proceed with a new project, or is your own doing, we all need to remember to let it go.
Here are some helpful tips on how to let it go and get back on track!
Focus on what you can do – Realize almost nothing goes exactly as planned. So focus on what you can change. If you can’t change something you don’t like, change the way you think about it. It will improve your mood and help you focus on the task at hand.
Get physical – Take an early lunch and go for a walk. If you can’t do that take the stairs to the first floor vending machine to grab your favorite drink. You deserve a treat after all this stress! Exercise decreases stress hormones and increases your endorphins, which are chemicals that help improve your state of mind.
Talk it out – Depending on the situation, you may need to go to your boss if you feel the conflict needs a second look from someone with an objective opinion. Otherwise, at lunch call your go-to person and talk it out. Even if he or she doesn’t know how to help you, simply airing your frustrations will make you feel better and possibly help you see a silver lining.
Walk away – There is nothing worse than having a great day and at 4:45 p.m. the walls come crashing down. If this happens and you are not on a strict deadline and/or cannot fix the situation that night, walk away and clear your head. The problem will still be there in the morning and probably won’t seem as bad.
I know it’s easier said than done, but the next time you find yourself between a rock and a hard place hopefully these tips can help you let it go!