6 Hacks to Do When You're Having a Really Bad Day at Work (as Told by the Experts)

Anyone can have a bad day. Sometimes even the smallest of things can trigger frustration and lead to a bad day. Something like waking up on the wrong side of the bed, or getting stuck in traffic on your way to home.

But, the great news is that you can turn it around by adopting some simple habits. After all, don’t let just one bad thing make your entire day bad. Here is a look at some of tips that can help you turn things around when you (you think) are having a bad day -

1. Eat a frog, first thing in the morning

Knowing that you have some tough tasks lined up for the day can sometimes turn you off at work. Most of us try to avoid them, and keep floating them off of our task list until the last part of our day. But, that keeps you stressed the entire time and you end up cursing the day.

A great way to turn this situation around is to finish the toughest tasks first thing in the morning. As they say “if it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And, if it’s your job to eat two frogs it’s best to eat the biggest one first”.

2. Find a confidant

A bad feedback from client. Things not turning out the way you expected them to be at work. And, similar other things can get your mind off-track. The best thing that you can do to yourself when having a bad day is to find a confidant. Someone who can just listen to what you have to say.

Talk to your best friend, your girl/boy friend, your partner. Or, anyone who can just listen to what you have to say. Sometimes that’s all we need to get rid of the stress. Just venting out the grief, the tough situations that we are facing, the ups and downs at work!

3. Always give yourself some personal space

Bad days can be a blessing in disguise. It can be the reason for you to take a much needed break. Sometime, amidst the whole busy schedule, we forget to give our self some time. The time in which we can analyse where we are heading in life.

So when you are not having things turn up at work the way you want them to, take it as a sign that you need to take a small break. Watch some funny videos, meditate, spend time with your friends/family. Think over what you want in life and do whatever that makes you feel relaxed. This will rejuvenate your brain and you can return work full of vigour and turn things around!

4. Take a moment to be grateful

Yes, you had a bad day; we all have one. Cribbing about that one bad day and complaining is not going to make things better. You can do more good than you think when you are having a bad day.

Studies have shown that thinking about good things in life can make things better. Especially when you are going through a bad phase. Thinking about those good things stimulates the brain to produce more happiness hormones. This in turn have a positive effect on you and help you come out of negative thinking.

“Having a tough day? Prioritize your tasks , and see how things start to change!”

5. Learn a lesson from it

It’s just a bad day, not a bad life - that’s all you need to remember. Don’t let just a bad thing make you think that you don’t have nothing good in life. History is a proof that people who fought the demons of failure ended up being the most successful ones.

From Einstein to Tesla, they all have had their fair share of bad days. But they learned from those bad days; the mistakes they made and then went on to make a successful career. So don’t let a bad day go wasted. Learn from it - so that when you face a similar situation on another day you can cope up with it in a better manner.

6. Laugh out loud

Laughter is the best medicine. This might sound like a cliche, but studies have shown it. Laughing helps in increasing productivity and positivity. And, that’s the best thing you can ask for when you are not having a good day.

Read a joke, watch some funny video, chat with some old friends and laugh out loud. You will see the things starting to turn around within no time. Remember, laughter can cut you off from all the bad things. This is something all adults can learn from toddlers!

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If you liked reading this post, here are some more which you are surely going to love -

• Failure is the Key to Success – 3 Ways To Overcome Fear Of Failure
• Giving Up Should Never be an Option. Agree?
• Feeling “off”? How to be a good manager when you just don’t feel like being one

Author Bio:

Vartika Kashyap is the Marketing Manager at ProofHub and has been one of the LinkedIn Top Voices in 2017 and 2018. Her articles are inspired by office situations and work-related events. She likes to write about productivity, team building, work culture, leadership, entrepreneurship among others and contributing to a better workplace is what makes her click. Connect with Vartika on LinkedIn, Medium and Twitter.

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