Courtesy of MorgueFile.com
As you know, especially in the field we work in, things don’t always go the way we plan. Whether it’s our schedule, a client we’re working with, or life in general…it’s what we choose to do as a result that makes the difference between a productive day or one where we wish we could just crawl back into bed!
It’s easy to get caught up in the moment. Having a plan to handle the unexpected can help as you address and overcome whatever you’re faced with. This leads us to our first strategy…
- Stay in the Moment. While it’s good to think ahead, when we are overwhelmed, sometimes it helps to just stay in the moment and focus on what’s directly in front of us. Maybe you have a week’s worth of case notes to write or perhaps you’ve been putting out “fires” all day. This is a time to stop…take a breath…and get present. Focus on what you can do right now and do it!
- Do Your Best. I think many of us, myself included, get caught up in the notion that whatever we do has to be perfect. Perfect meaning flawless, without fault, the ultimate! Perfect in that sense is not always possible, especially when we are juggling many responsibilities. So, let’s reframe perfection and make it work for us! If you walk away from something knowing you did your best, that is, by definition, Perfect! Instead of the end product being flawless, focus on your efforts being perfect.
- Own the Feelings. Alright, things haven’t gone the way you planned–whether that’s your own doing, things beyond your control or due to someone else’s “contribution.” You have every right to feel sad, upset, disappointed or perhaps even angry. Own it! Feel it! And then decide what you are going to do about it! The situation or circumstances are only going to change if you do something about it. Once you’ve allowed yourself own and feel it, look for what you can do that’s going to support you feeling back in charge of yourself and the situation. Especially if the feelings involved sadness or disappointment, try focusing on something positive that you can do for yourself.
- Let it Go! As I wrote that, I immediately heard the theme song of the Disney movie Frozen. If you’ve seen it, you are probably singing along now as well. There are times when we need to pick and choose our battles. Whether it’s personal or professional, weighing the pros and cons may help you to decide when it’s time to move on. Sometimes that’s difficult to do, especially when emotions are involved. It’s in those times you should try stepping back and see what you can take away from the situation. What did you learn from it? What could you do differently next time? Mistakes or regrets are always learning opportunities. It depends on how we choose to look at them. In those instances, remember to reframe!
- Ask for Help. Sometimes, even though we are in the helping field, it’s hard for many of us to ask for help ourselves! There is no shame is asking for advice from someone you trust or in just asking for assistance. Getting a different perspective may help you look at a situation in a different way than you did previously. That vantage point may be helpful in determining next steps or how to proceed. Let someone help lighten the load whether that be through offering advice or just a helping hand. Most people will be pleased you trusted them enough to ask.
If you have any strategies you’d like to share, just respond back to this email. We’d love to hear them!
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