Did You Quit Today by Pam Robertson
I used to call them a “quit day”. One of those days where everything seems to go wrong and the only thing I really wanted to do was quit! We can all have days like that from time to time, but if you find that you have them frequently, then it’s stock of where you’re at whether you own your own business or are working for someone else.
If you’ve lost interest in your job or the stress is piling up, sometimes our first reaction is to run away and there are times when that is the right thing to do. Other times, however, we are in the midst of a storm that has to be weathered, and we know if we can just get through the next few days or weeks, everything will work out for the better.
Next time you have a quit day, close your eyes for a moment and think about a point three months ahead. Is what’s going on today important in terms of what’s coming up? What will the mood at work be like? Who will you be working with, and what will be holding your interest? If you cannot see your work demands or stress load changing in that period of time, it may be time to think about some different options. If, however, you can see that the crisis will pass with no lasting effects, perhaps the best plan can be to weather the storm.
Here are three ways to weather the effects of a quit day:
· Remove yourself from the environment. Take a break at lunch or coffee time and get out of the building, even if the only place to go is for a walk around your building. Getting outside and out of recycled building air is a great way to refresh your internal batteries.
· Avoid griping. If things are going badly all over your workplace, it can be hard to get away from the negativity, so you may have to make an effort to avoid the kind of harmful chatter that can suck the energy out of you and the people that you care about. People feel better around positive energy, and if you can be that beacon when times are tough, you’ll feel better about what’s going on around you, and you will stand out as a leader.
Leave work at work. I know that for some of you more than others this can be really hard. It’s tough to do in some jobs, and also difficult when you own the business so you’ll have to be strong. Close the door to your office, or lock the door behind you, turn your cell phone off and do not check for any more email messages! Remember that distance is important to remain objective, fresh and revitalized, and it’s unlikely that taking a day away is actually going to cause anyone harm or do damage to the business.
When you have a quit day, one or all three of the actions above can have a positive and immediate impact. You may also find that the more that you and the people that you can about use these techniques, the fewer quit days any of you will have. You will weather this temporary storm and reap the rewards of your hard work because you were able to step back and take some time for yourself, and then return recharged and refreshed to embrace the work that’s underway.
