Have you ever had those days where nothing seems to go right? I've had a few recently.
It usually goes like this:
I wake up early in the morning with full intention to do some work-related tasks. Instead of starting work right away, I spend an hour drinking coffee & on my phone on Facebook or reading articles.
When I finally did get up to start my day, I look around and other small tasks that I figure I can knock out quickly.
Once I finally forced myself to look at the bigger task,
I feel discouraged and “needed a break.”
Then I feel disappointed in myself each morning, as I couldn’t check much off my to-do list.
As I moved on to the rest of my day, I thought to myself – how in the world do I cheer up after this?
Well I guess I could always turn on some upbeat music.
True confession: I love upbeat bands. For me, putting on a romantic love songs & more upbeat the better. It will almost instantly change my mood.
In fact, a 2012 study in the Journal of Positive Psychology indicated that listening to upbeat music with the intention to boost your mood can cause you to feel happier.
I know I need to give myself credit for the good I accomplished.
When I reflect on my mornings, my first instinct was to see all the things I did wrong, ways I procrastinated, or work I didn’t accomplish. But, in reality, I did plenty of positive things.
I had time for meditation and Scripture reading in the morning.
I prioritized my to-do list and completed my top 3 tasks for the day.
I showered (that counts, right?) David Burns, in his book Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, identifies a distorted thought pattern he names “disqualifying the positive,” in which people can tend to believe negative thoughts or assumptions about themselves, but discredit any positive beliefs. If I look at my day through the lens of everything I did wrong, of course I’ll feel discouraged. But giving myself credit for those things I did will give that lift to my self-confidence.
Also, I understand that getting outside in nature can be beneficial... And boy do I have Nature close by!
There’s something about looking at beauty that makes it hard to focus on the negative.
I spent some time in the afternoon sitting out on the back deck basking in the sun and watching birds and squirrels.
I usually see deer too!
One evening earlier in the week I watched a giant cloud pass to the south of me, heat lightning flashing in the outline of the cloud. It was absolutely beautiful.
I know research shows that spending time in nature (or even viewing it from a window!) can have positive effects on mood, focus, and health.
I also know that a conversation with a friend or family can be an instant pick-me-up after a rough day. There’s something powerful about knowing you’re not alone in the world.
Everyone has bad days, and having someone to sit with you in the middle of mine can make a huge difference.
I can give myself permission to "Take a Break!"
So I had a terrible morning trying to accomplish something that I couldn’t finish.
So the dishes are piling up in your kitchen, the crumbs probably have formed a layer on the kitchen floor, and I can’t remember the last time I wiped down the stove.
(It must have been recent because it is clean.)
So my to-do list is a mile long and just keeps getting longer.
When I'm exhausted and overwhelmed to a point where everything feels like too much, I know it is okay to take a break.
I sit down, sip a cup of coffee, read a book, watch a quick YouTube video or TV show – whatever I love doing that refreshes me rather than drains me, gives myself a half-hour to do just that.
By giving myself a short break with intention to return to my work afterwards, I’ll come back refreshed and ready to go.
On these days, did I remember to do these things?
Maybe not as much as I would’ve liked.
But when I have decided when I have another discouraging day in the future, I’ll remind myself to return to some of these ideas and make them happen with no guilt or sadness.
Nana
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