The day from hell at work. We’ve all been there. You wake up late, rush to work, try to sneak past your boss, only to discover you forgot about that 9 am meeting and, well, it all just snowballs from there. You struggle with an easy assignment, your ideas at the weekly brainstorming meeting are shot down unceremoniously, and you realize at the end of the day you never saw the e-mails from your boss giving you new direction on that assignment you’ve been toiling through all day. The end of the day comes and you leave the office, your confidence bruised. You start doubting your abilities and whether you should even show your face at work tomorrow.
Take a deep breath. Everyone has profoundly awful days at work. Here are some tips on stress management in the workplace to help you bounce back the next day and return to your usual, kick-butt self.
Chalk It Up
Sports announcers will often use the expression, “having a bad day at the office” to describe an off day for an athlete. It’s cliché, but offers further proof that these days just happen, where the world is seemingly aligned against you. The first step toward getting yourself righted is to accept that you, indeed, had a terrible day—and then let it go. Meet some friends after work to de-stress and let off some steam. Or curl up on the couch with some comfort food takeout and Netflix. Do whatever you can to relax and let the day’s frustration dissipate.
Get to Work a Little Early the Next Day
After a drink or two at happy hour, or your hundredth viewing of The Goonies, get to bed early and rest up. Try to arrive at work a little early the next day, not only to show your boss and co-workers that yesterday was an anomaly, but to get a head start on the day yourself. By the time the rest of the office arrives, you’ll have already begun knocking out your workload for the day.
Have a Quick Chat with the Boss
If you’re still a little distressed about yesterday’s awfulness, have a brief chat with your boss when time allows. There’s no need to beat yourself up, but it might be helpful to say you just had an off day yesterday and that you’re back on track today. Your boss may appreciate your acknowledgment and offer words of encouragement.
Focus and Work Efficiently
Obviously, we try to do this every day at work, but make a concerted effort this day. Getting lots of work done will restore your shaky confidence and allows you to leave the office feeling 100% better than you did the day before. It will also show your boss and co-workers that yesterday was not indicative of your usual work performance.
Off days at work are going to happen. Often, it feels you’re caught in a chain reaction of missteps and poor decisions the whole day. It’s important not to let these days affect your mindset and well-being too deeply. By acknowledging the “bad day at the office” and making an effort the next day to better your performance, you will help alleviate the frustration from the day before until it becomes a distant memory.
