The pandemic has introduced a variety of changes in our personal as well as professional lives. Working from home has become second nature for most of us. However, at times, when work gets overwhelming, negative thoughts tend to shroud our vision. Here are a few pieces of advice that you can follow to remove negativity during this phase of work from home.
Communicate:
Communication has never been more important than what it is now. Transparent and effective interactions remove misconceptions or misinterpretations that might arise during work. Instead of getting upset over an issue, talk about it to your co-worker and sort it out before it assumes a greater proportion.
Participate:
During these testing times, many companies are arranging for virtual meet-ups and interactive sessions to keep up the spirits of their employees. Make sure you participate in all those and other recreational activities conducted by your office. Such events let you express yourself and remain connected to your workplace buddies.
Embrace positivity:
The first step towards welcoming positivity is by recognizing the negative thoughts and preventing them to influence you. Eminent psychologists like Patricia Harteneck and Ben Martin suggest that identifying and challenging negative thought patterns helps to improve the situation. Filter out the negative thoughts and think of obstacles as growth opportunities. When negative thoughts start crowding your mind, shift your focus and attention to do something productive.
Write:
According to psychotherapist Joe Wilner, writing decreases negative emotions. It helps us to regulate our thoughts. The process of writing allows us to separate ourselves from the harmful thoughts that bring our morale down and hamper our productivity. Write about at least one positive experience daily and gradually you will realize that life is much greater than a mere collection of disturbing thoughts.
Focus:
Whenever you find yourself being let down by your weaknesses, try to focus on your strengths. Instead of worrying about what went wrong while working, try to find out your accomplishments. This will boost your self-esteem and help you feel positive about your work and yourself.
Exercise and meditate:
A study conducted by Iowa State University in 2019 discovered that exercising and walking for 12 minutes goes a long way in enhancing one’s mood. Any form of physical activity helps to prevent depression and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Meditation on the other hand helps to reduce anger, irritability and lets you gain control over your emotions.
Set boundaries:
Working from home does not mean compromising on your personal life. Striking a proper balance between life and work is essential to ensure the proper development of an individual. Set conscious boundaries so that your personal and professional lives remain as separate entities.
According to Harvard Medical School, by improving your emotional agility, you can better tackle the challenges that life throws at you. Life is meant to be well-lived and work occupies an integral part of it. So, set aside all the frustrations and negative thoughts and work on achieving your goals, one at a time.
