How to turn around a bad day at work

My day started badly. I had an email with some really negative feedback on the first stage of a big project I’m working on. My first instinct was to go back to bed and pull the covers over my head. But that wasn’t an option with a conference call starting in 10 minutes and a whole pile of work to motor through by 5pm. So I did what so many people do when a day turns sour — I got on with it.

After taking a quick look through some pictures of my kids to ground me, I picked up the phone and dialed into the conference call.  Turning around a day that starts badly is a challenge, whether you’re getting over bad news on a project or a series of unfortunate events on the way to work. I have a few other tricks I’ve learned over the years, besides looking at cute pics of the kids. Here are just a few of them in case your day gets off to a crummy start:

Go for a walk: Get away from your desk for even the briefest of walks. Shifting your focus and getting some fresh air can help take your mind off the negative and re-energize.

Do something nice for someone: This is my favourite way to get over bad news and make a day better. Whether it’s bringing coffee to a co-worker or helping someone else you know is having a rough day, being nice to other people is a great way to put your own problems into perspective.

Carry on: Do not let a bad mood or experience derail your day. If you have a packed schedule, carry on with the next item on your agenda How to turn around a bad day at work if you let things slide, it will only make things worse the next day when you have twice as much to do.

Call a friend: This is another good way to shift your mood, However, beware — keep the call from turning into a long-winded complaint session that will pull your focus from the many other things you need to do at work.

Jelly beans: Big stress beaters in my life. I especially like the black and red ones. Other standbys include chocolate and gumdrops.

Stay focused on the big picture: By the weekend, you will have put this behind you. Don’t let the day drag you down in the meantime.