We all have those days where it feels like nothing’s going right. “The world is against us!” we declare internally. Everything out of our control is not going how we’d like it to go and even the things we “think” we control are slipping through our fingertips.
So what do we do?
Sometimes we throw in the towel and sulk. Sometimes we decide to take action. And sometimes, even though we hate to admit it, we take out our bad days on our employees.
But everything we do is a choice. That’s what we have to remember.
Bad Luck Doesn’t Exist
Every one of us has the power to decide how we will view the rest of the day. You can sulk and suffer in your bad mood or you can rise above it, providing an opportunity for the day to get better.
Inc.’s Geoffrey James points out, “There is no such thing as a ‘run of bad luck,’” in a recent article, Positive Thinking: 7 Easy Ways To Improve A Bad Day.
He goes on to explain that people decide they’ve had bad luck, and then they pinpoint events that back up their statement. Basically people are choosing to only remember the bad things.
Don’t fall into this trap. If your mind only wants to focus on the bad things, then surely you can choose to focus on the good ones.
Turning the Day Around
Many of the methods to improve a bad day from James deal with changing your mindset, which is not an easy thing to do. But it can be done. In fact, it needs to be done.
Bad moods are contagious. Besides infecting your employees and bringing spirits down, their bad moods will likely decrease productivity, which is the last thing you want from a business perspective.
Here are some action items that you can do to help you transition into a positive mindset. Some of these may seem simplistic to you, but they will help you if you’re serious about having a better day.
- Make a list of all the things that have worked out well today.
- Make a list of all of the things you’re grateful for in life. This will put things into perspective. If your family is healthy and safe, then dealing with a yelling customer will seem trivial.
- Take a short, 15-minute break. Eat a healthy snack, drink some water, or take a walk. Ignore your phone during this time so you can clear your head and come back rejuvenated. Doing these things are crucial to avoid becoming the scariest type of business owner.
- Put a sticky note by your computer that reminds you that you have the power to decide if today’s a good day.
- Try to surround yourself with as many positive people as you can and call them when you are having a bad day so that they can cheer you up.
Life is full of choices. You can’t go back in the past to make better decisions. But you can start today, right this second, and choose to have a good day today.
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