If you’ve been at your job for a while, things can start to feel a little stagnant. And, that’s totally normal. It doesn’t always mean that you need to switch gears or run for the hills – although, sometimes it does call for a reevaluation.
However, once we start feeling those feelings, it starts to become the norm. Our human inclination is to recognize negative experiences with more significance than positive ones. This is also known as the negativity bias.
And despite the (still ongoing) Great Resignation, with inflation rates overtaking wage increases, and concerns about a potential recession, we may need to do some serious thinking about whether we are ready to deal with the uncertainty of job insecurity.
So instead, how can you counteract this bias to promote positive thinking instead, and really figure out what you can do to up your energy and reignite that flame at work?
First, Start a journal.
Journalling is a great way to manage stress and reduce anxiety. It also allows you to paint a clearer picture of the thoughts running around in your head.
Write down your negative thoughts and try to identify what triggered them. Rather than sweeping these feelings under the rug, so to speak, try to find the root cause of them.
Maybe it’s a new position you’re after within your department that you realize is what you’re looking for. Maybe it’s more responsibility. Maybe it’s less. Seeing your thoughts and experiences on paper can help you ponder over your problems, fears, and concerns more objectively.
Next, practice positive self-talk.
Speak positively about yourself out loud. Hearing this aloud can help to reinforce your own worth.
You may not realize it, but you could be the victim of a toxic work environment – or perhaps have inadvertently created one yourself! Rather than allow yourself to sink into all that negativity, stay in tune with who you are and why you’re amazing and put the brakes on those self-sabotaging or negative thoughts.
Stay focused and motivated on where you want to go and what you want to achieve. Taking a step back to look at the bigger picture and acknowledge what you’re great at and where you’re holding yourself back, is key.
Research, research, research!
Dive deep into your company’s mission and see what you align with the most. Maybe a current project has strayed far from what you loved about your job in the first place. Knowing your “why” can help you re-awaken that passion for work and help turn things around.
Work burnout is a very real thing. So much so that work-life balance remains a top priority for many – right up there with compensation and benefits as well as colleagues and culture. It has spurred many companies to rethink and even re-invent their company culture.
Find out if your company might be implementing changes more conducive to the well-being of its employees. Knowing that “this too shall pass” can encourage you to hang on till you reach the light at the end of the tunnel.
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At the end of the day, it’s important to know how to take care of yourself. Knowing your needs and finding ways to address them can help keep you happy and productive. By actively replacing your negative thoughts with positive ones, you can rewire your brain to think more positively on a daily basis. And in turn, experience more positive results.
For more on getting back to feeling like yourself, schedule a free 30-minute consult call. Let us help you find the time and space to refresh and re-energize.
