The competition is gaining momentum. There’s a recession. Threat of job cuts. Rumors about inflation growing. Political changes that rattle your employees… There are many factors that can affect one’s emotions throughout the workday. Though that doesn’t mean that we should lose our whole afternoon stressing or take out those disruptive emotions on those around us (especially in front of other employees). Let’s be fair, no one likes displaying negative emotions and no employee enjoys have their boss screaming at them or making a smug, snarky comment to show off that they have the upper hand. Taking a short moment away could make a world of difference for yourself and your team.
What are some of the best practices to bring back the balanced mindset when a moment arises when we are unsure if we can contain the negative emotions quickly enough to manage efficiently? First, take a deep breath and respectfully communicate that you are going to need a few minutes to clear your head (try for no more than 15 minutes, tops!). Then remove yourself from the area to take the allotted time.
Take a walk. Outside. Many experts recommend taking a walk outside as the fresh air can do wonders for the body. If we work in a large facility or have a gym in the building, its easy to take a quick power walk somewhere indoors. Movement of the body will revitalize your blood flow; Oxygen will boost brain function and clear out the disruptive emotions and then sun will supply your body with Vitamin D (a natural mood enhancer).
Quick Stretch or Workout. Find a sufficient space in your office to get active and revamp your blood circulation. If you aim for a good stretch, then you will feel refreshed and have less tension in your muscles. If you aim for the quick workout, then you will return with a more driven mindset, with some blood pumping, and some slightly sore muscles.
Grab a Snack. Having a quick bite to eat to regain control the emotions as human emotions tend to be harder to control when our bodies are lacking the proper nourishment. For the best boost in brain function, go for foods like: berries, nuts, sunflower seeds, or other superfoods. If you are still looking for something on the healthier side but are really just looking for something to nosh on, you can go for something like dry/fresh fruit, a power bar, or even some dark chocolate.
(If possible) Take a Nap. A quick power nap is all you might need to jumpstart your creativity when facing tough emotions. It is the human version to “turning it off-then-back-on again”! A good, quick REM cycle can refresh not just your brain power, but the potentially sore eyes you may be having at that point. Though, if you run into resistance from your team, for this method, speak with them about where would be best spot for you to do this without affecting their workflow, or explain why a nap will be more beneficial for the team as a whole.
There are many other different methods of how a person can approach difficult times for taking the time needed to bring yourself back to balance before really tackling the issue at hand. Some methods could include internal team activity breaks or even industry specific approaches (if you’re in the restaurant industry you may be familiar with the phrase “Go Cry in the Walk in”). Whatever approach you choose to take, you can stop the situation from turning into one of the “Mountain out of a molehill kind.”
Do you have comments, questions, ideas, or suggestions? Share with us at: [email protected]
Leave a Reply