Even when you love your job, some days are difficult. You may have had to make a tough staffing decision. Or maybe you didn’t win the client you had been working so hard to land. When you carry those stresses and negative emotions with you at the end of the workday, it becomes difficult to experience true joy and fulfillment.
That’s why Abby Wolfe, a content marketing expert, advises professionals to close each day on a positive note. Just as you make a plan to start your day, you should also approach the end of your workday with intention.
In this issue of Promotional Consultant Today, we share Wolfe’s tips on how to wrap up your workday the right way—on a positive note.
Run through your achievements. Taking just five minutes to review what you accomplished in the workday is a powerful habit, says Wolfe. By reflecting on your daily victories, you can build your confidence and assess your strengths. If you felt like you did not have a productive day, looking back on what you made happen can help provide a feel-good boost to carry you into your evening or weekend. Even if you did not check off all the items on your to-do list, give yourself credit for showing up anyway. Don’t dwell on those items you still need to get done.
Do some prep for the next workday. Before you end your workday, spend a few minutes writing out the tasks and goals you need to accomplish next. Think about upcoming meetings that you may need to prep for or important deadlines coming up. By simply acknowledging what you need to do next, you can lighten your mental burden. You no longer have to stay awake mulling over what you need to do because you have already noted the important projects and meetings coming up next.
Tidy up your space. Whether you are working at home or you have returned to the office, keeping a clean workspace can help you end the workday happy. When you organize your files, wash those coffee cups that may have stacked up and tidy up the things on your desk, it’s like tying up the loose ends of your day with a bow, says Wolfe. When your space is clean, you won’t end the day feeling like you have forgotten something.
Schedule things you enjoy. Wolfe notes that happiness doesn’t just come to you – you have to invest the effort to find happiness. This means making time to do things that make you happy, whether that’s penciling in a phone call with a friend or unwinding with 30 minutes yoga at the end of the day. When you know you have something enjoyable to look forward to, you bring happiness into your life before you actually do the thing that sparks joy.
Don’t let difficult days at work derail you. You have control over how you think about your day and how you prepare for the next one. Use the tips above to infuse more positivity into your days, no matter what your workday looked like.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Abby Wolfe is a content management and marketing professional living in Portland, Maine. Her career and health-focused writing has been featured on The Muse, Trello, Cove and more.
