We’ve all had days / weeks or maybe (and hopefully not!)…….months where things just haven’t gone to plan, and it’s hard to find the positives which are required to get motivated and keep working towards a successful outcome. Whether its an arsey client at work, the inability to complete something on time, or just one of those days, there are things that can be done to ensure you can start the next day with a positive outlook on things.

I’m no expert on these kinds of things, but I have a few things that I practice myself to try and induce a positive attitude, especially at the start of the week!

Not convinced? Let me explain…!

  1. Mentality: It’s the classic “Positive Mental Attitude” cliché. If you believe that you can do something, and maintain a positive mentality about it throughout, then the chances are you will stay positive until completion. For example, if you start the day thinking “I cannot do the tasks ahead of me” or “I’m bored doing this” then its going to reflect in the work you produce. If, however, you think “I’m not sure how to do the tasks ahead of me, but I know I can ask for advice and enjoy learning how to complete the task” or “How can I make this work more enjoyable for myself?” then it’s a good place to start from.
  2. Ability: We all have phases where we feel we simply cannot do what is being asked of us. As soon as the word “cannot” is used then its instantly had a negative effect on the outlook. Try not thinking of things with a “cannot” attitude, and adopt a “can do” attitude. No one can do everything, its impossible! But we can take pride in the things that we couldn’t, and have now learned to do.
  3. Environment: Make sure you’re in a good working environment. This might not be possible for some people, but if you can at least put your headphones in and listen to music that makes you relax / concentrate then its definitely going to have a positive effect on the work you produce.
  4. Set Goals: The chances are you have goals set for you, for example, you have a piece of work that needs completing by Friday, without fail. Instantly, you’re under pressure, and it’s only natural for your mind to start to think of the negatives (what could go wrong, what If I can’t do this and so on).
    Try breaking down the overall task into “Micro” tasks, that you feel are achievable. Take each “Micro” task at a time, and when it’s complete, have 5 or 10 minutes to yourself, to refresh your mind before you start the next task. The sense of completing a small task often will help motivate you through the overall task, instead of working for hours and hours with only one goal to work for.
  5. Relax: Find something to do that takes your mind off what you’ve been working on all day. Whether this is something alone (A run, swimming, whatever), or something with your mates, make sure its something non-work-related, to enable your mind to just switch off and de-stress. Even if its just half an hour away from the desk, its crucial you allow yourself that time to relax.

Like I said, I’m no expert, but I guess we all have times when we could do with a pick-up, so if something I’ve written helps just one person, then that’s ace :)

If you want to add any suggestions, then please feel free to comment :)

M