Attack Work-Related Stress – 7 Ways

Important Question

Are stresses on the job holding back your performance? Do you know how to attack work-related stress?

Learn how to attack work-related stress

 

Sometimes, without warning, suddenly you become immobile in the middle of a work assignment or a project. You don’t where it came from or know what to do or how to move ahead. Your mind is locked tight and thoughts circle the drain, anticipating your inevitable defeat. It’s simply a matter of time until your co-workers and your supervisor realize you have failed and toss around blame.

Attack work-related stress before blames you for failure

Stress has a way of wrecking everything about your workday. Being in the moment and aware of what you are doing, and not overwhelmed by what’s going on around you though, can be a quick, easy way to get things back on track.

7 Ways to Attack Work-Related Stress

Below are 7 suggested ways to attack work-related stress and put some space between you and your reactions by analyzing and interrupting your feeling of stress.

  1. Stay in the Moment
  2. Find Your Emotions
  3. Attack Your Stress with Normalcy
  4. Look for Patterns
  5. Redirect Your Focus
  6. Allow Your Emotions to Take their Course
  7. Reverse Your Approach
Review Each Way to Attack Work-related Stress

Let us review each of the 7 actionable strategies to attack work-related stress to see if you can conquer some of the concerns that may hold back your performance, your health, or even your career.

1. Stay in the Moment

You begin by taking a step back to examine the stressful thought, starting with the acceptance of the thought itself. This is the foundation of being aware. Trying to ignore the stress only diminishes your ability to deal with the situation. By giving the thought your attention, and then placing a label on it, you diminish the control it has over you and you begin to  power away from it. For example, if you are worried about how your performance will affect your appraisal and whether you will receive a raise, you might start by telling yourself, “Yes, I am worried about how my boss perceives my value and whether that will hold back my career.”

2. Find Your Emotions

Once you have labeled your worries, identify the emotion accompanying them. Once you have got this, ask yourself candidly, what do your emotions make you feel like doing?

3. Attack Your Stress with Normalcy

Instead of avoiding the worry, pay mindful attention to it and remind yourself this worry is normal. Do this every time it comes up. Eventually, it will seem less threatening.

4. Look for Patterns

Do these worries creep up at certain times? Using mindfulness means you’re paying attention to your thoughts in the moment. Understanding your triggers is a great way to keep the worrying thought from happening at all, as you’ll find yourself catching those damaging thoughts much faster and will be able to shut them down that much faster.

5. Redirect Your Focus

With mindfulness, you are very much aware of the stresses as soon as they begin. This also means you’re capable of taking control of those thoughts and redirect them toward something else immediately, putting your attention there instead.

6. Allow Your Emotions to Take their Course

Stress comes with a hatful of negative emotions. Mindfulness means you’re aware of what you’re feeling right now. If you discover yourself succumbing io fear and anxiety coupled with worry, let these emotions occur naturally.  Watch them as if from a distance, as it were.  Rather than try to smother them, allow them to dissipate naturally rather than intensify by trying to fight them off.

7. Reverse Your Approach

Worried about taking on a new project or moving to a higher profile position? Rather than avoid it, try it anyway. By reacting with positive activity to worries you know are irrational, more frequently than not, you will discover you really had nothing to stress about in the first place. A word of caution? Sometimes worry is there for a good reason. Be careful which stresses you challenge.

Conclusion

Remember, the whole point of being conscious of your actions and reactions when you feel frozen is to be in the moment and pay very close attention to what’s going on both internally and externally. Stress really does not bear up under such close scrutiny. The act of simply paying attention will change your situation and reaction meaningly.

Flexicrew Support

Do not let the strain to fill an important position or difficulty of finding qualified workers be one of your work pressures.

Flexicrew supports employees to attack work-related stress

If you need help planning for your balanced workforce this year, let Flexicrew help. Test us and see if we can attack work-related stress with a flexible workforce model.

 

 

Self-Limiting Beliefs Derail Your Career

Avoid self-limiting beliefs and Get motivated quickly with a can-do attitude
Introduction

Self-limiting beliefs derail your career.  Yes, indeed.  Self-limiting beliefs can alter your thoughts and ideas at any moment and can affect the way you work.  It is important to recognize that we keep thinking the same thoughts over and over again.  We do this until they become so ingrained in our subconscious mind that we are not aware of them. Yet, we can alter these false beliefs, like any other habit.  This is excellent news!  By doing this internal work, you will alter your work performance and productivity for the better as a result.

5 Steps to Shift Your Limiting Beliefs About Your Performance for Good

Don't let self-limiting beliefs derail your career

Don’t let your self-limiting beliefs derail your career.  How are you your own worst enemy? We limit ourselves so much. We live in our heads and we create all these ways to prevent getting anything accomplished. Even though deep down we know we’re good enough, and how much we’re fully capable of getting things done.

How to Correct Your Belief in Your Performance

The only way to get past these self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors is to take active, intentional steps to remedy your thinking.

5 Steps to Shift Your Limiting Beliefs for Good

Let’s look at 5 steps that will shift your limiting beliefs for good and don’t let self-limiting beliefs derail your career.

1. Stop

Wait a minute; what were you thinking? If a thought feels off about something, it’s time to stop and examine this idea much closer. Is this perhaps a self-limiting belief?

Self-limiting beliefs can derail your career

2. Think About What You’re Saying

Where is the inaccuracy in this thought? You’ve already figured out there’s something wrong with it, or you wouldn’t be going through this process. This means something about it is not ringing true. When you understand where the “invention” is, it becomes easier to know how to counter it.

3. Look for the Proof

Is there any proof this self-limiting thought is true? Let’s examine the part you feel is not correct. Here’s where you need to take a step back from the situation if you can and look very impartially at what’s going on. Is any grain of truth in what you’re thinking?

4. Take Control

If what you were thinking is misinformation, it’s relatively easy to counter the false aspects of the belief with the truth. But what if this thought was at least partially true? You start by reminding yourself this isn’t always the case. For example, you might be thinking you are always late for work. Maybe you’re, in fact, behind-schedule sometimes. To perform this step, you would need to recall various instances when you were on time. By countering the partial truth, you are taking control of the situation.  And you are not allowing the self-limiting beliefs derail your career or to have any sway over you.

5. Get Help

Sometimes it can be challenging for you alone to remove self-limiting beliefs that derail your career. In these instances, you will benefit to talk to a co-worker, a supervisor, or even a counselor, to help you see the reality. There is nothing wrong with getting help, especially from someone who is in a position to be impartial.

Remember

Self-limiting beliefs and thought patterns

Your mind is a collection of thought patterns that you can alter at any time, if you comprehend that they are essentially habits. You may think about them as mental routines, as they are habituated notions that we think about over and over again until they become ingrained in our subconscious mind. Changing any bad thinking habits is feasible, and with this deeper internal work, your external world will adjust because you will be addressing the root of the issue.

Beliefs are simply thought patterns that are unique to you and you can alter them at any moment. By recognizing this, you can change your habits. On the one hand, we keep certain thoughts and stories in our subconscious mind over and over again until they are so deeply ingrained that we are unaware of them. But, the great news is that you will see your external world change as a result of doing this inner work because you will get to the heart of the problem.

Summary

Shift self-limiting beliefs that sabotage your career

Self-limiting beliefs don’t have to control your job performance.   Your wrong subconscious beliefs about your work performance shouldn’t derail your career. So, by examining your thoughts, especially those that seem to hold back your work performance, you will find it much easier to move forward toward your career goals. That will allow you to strive for and realize the success you deserve.

 

 

 

 

3 Reasons to Say Goodbye to Multitasking

Ban workforce multitasking   
Introduction

Why do some thoughtful companies and productive employees say goodbye to multitasking? It seems like multitasking should be a productive tool at work, right? Although multitasking may appear to be beneficial but in reality it has a serious impact on performance and productivity.  Research shows it can reduce your productivity level by almost 40%.  It also increases workers’ stress levels. This goes for everyone, including managers with busy schedules, supervisors, and ordinary personnel in the workforce. 

That’s why leading companies, big and small are training their workers to reduce or avoid multitasking.

Reasons to say goodbye to multitasking

Across the board, multitasking comes highly unrecommended. Though there are plentiful reasons why, three of the most important reasons to say goodbye to multitasking are:

  1. our brains can’t handle it, 2. it compromises work quality, and 3. it decreases efficiency. 
1.Our Brains are Incapable of Multitasking 

At the foundation of it all, our brains do not have the capacity to accurately focus on more than one task at a time. Because multitasking requires your mind to alternate between different things, it can cause your brain to malfunction.  

This means that your cognitive processes will not be as attentive or susceptible to new information. Though you may feel confident that you’re getting a lot done, in reality you are losing touch with your priorities: 

  • You may finish multiple tasks at once, but you cannot rank their importance 
  • The brain cannot give balanced values when multitasking 
  • This means that you can overlook top priorities and lose sight of objectives  
2. Compromised Work Quality 

When you are multitasking, you often become overwhelmed with your workload, and this leads to taking shortcuts. Though you may be the first to complete a task, it will severely reduce its quality. Even worse is that the more we cheat by taking these shortcuts, the more likely we are to make a habit of it.  

Another consequence of multitasking is that it kills creativity. Your mind needs a certain amount of free space in order to think in the abstract, and if you’re multitasking you won’t have any room left over. If this happens, there likely won’t be producing any innovate ideas, which is essential in worklife. 

3. Decreased Efficiency 

Finally, multitasking can have a negative impact on efficiency. Research shows that the more tasks you try to tackle at once, the less efficiently they will be completed. Because the goal of multitasking is to improve efficiency, this is very counterproductive. 

Multitasking and Stress

Consistent multitasking can really wipe out a worker, which further hinders your progress. The added stress can lead to: 

  • Inability for critical thinking 
  • Burnout (being exhausted from the constant heavy workload) 
  • Inability to problem-solve 
  • Inhibition of abstract thinking 

It is impossible to fully apply yourself to your job if you attempt to multitask, as it can wear down on your mind and body. In this state, you will become far less efficient that you would be if you tackled one at a time. 

Work smarter not harder
Conclusion  

The bottom line is that multitasking is not sustainable for several reasons. Some of these are subsequent brain impairments, decreased work quality, and reduced efficiency. Though it may be good in theory, multitasking will cause more harm than good. 

Don't be a multitasking clown

Balance Personal and Job Responsibilities Without Losing Sleep

Balance Personal and Job Responsibilities

With all the obligations on your shoulders, you can expect to have some challenges to balance personal and job responsibilities.  Especially with the pandemic, the up and down economy and other challenges we face at home and in the workplace at this time.

balance personal and job responsibilities

To balance personal and job responsibilities can be difficult. You probably feel like the only way to get everything done is to sacrifice sleep. But nothing could be further from the truth!

Balance personal and job responsibilities without losing sleep

The good news is you can get everything done and still enjoy plenty of rest.

Try these four tips to better balance persona; and job responsibilities, with time to spare:

  1. Separate personal and professional time

It’s important to set boundaries between personal and career time. This is the first step in being able to balance both areas of your life. Split your day accordingly and stick to the separation.

Set boundaries to balance personal and job responsibilities while getting results

  • Professional time doesn’t have to mean hours at the office. There may be a presentation you’re preparing for tomorrow’s team meeting. If tonight’s the prep night, get it done!
  • How you use your time slots is up to you. Just avoid allowing the other aspects of life to take over out of turn.
  • It may sometimes be hard to stick to the separation, but respecting the general rule certainly helps.
  1. Prioritize responsibilities

Now that you have a better understanding of how to set boundaries, focus on prioritizing. How you spend your time is dependent on what’s most important to you.

  • If you’re always addressing urgent matters, the important ones may constantly get postponed or even overlooked. Urgency rarely means importance to you. Handle the important duties first whenever possible.
  • Try planning your week in advance. Sure, there may be times when the plan is interrupted. But having a plan goes a long way in keeping you ahead of the game.
  1. Keep responsibilities in perspective

Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s okay to leave some things for tomorrow. As a high achiever, you always want to show your super powers. But you may actually paint a better picture by showing composure.

Keep personal and job responsibilities in perspective
Keep responsibilities in perspective
  • It’s better to do fewer things well, than more things poorly. This approach shows organization, confidence, and aptitude. Those who rely on you are usually impressed by those traits!
  • Take turns with your spouse when putting the kids to bed. You may feel more like a parent if you do it all the time, but you’re already a great parent just by being around!
  1. Sleep when it’s bedtime

It’s actually easier than you think to get sleep! All it takes for a good night’s sleep is the same amount of commitment you give to your other responsibilities.

  • After all you’ve accomplished in a day, it must be easy to dedicate seven hours to downtime. It’s the least you can do strengthen yourself and still achieve results on the job!
  • Practice meditation techniques to relax you before bedtime. If you’re not careful, you’ll spend the first three hours of bedtime planning tomorrow’s activities!
  • Once you’re rested, you’ll have the mental and physical energy to take on everything on your plate.

Always try to remember that without adequate rest, you may end up being ineffective at your responsibilities. Rest promotes concentration and gives you energy to keep going. Without rest, you may end up fumbling on the field.

Summing Up

Practice these balancing techniques, maintain a regular sleep schedule, and watch everything settle into place!

maintain a regular sleep schedule and still remain productive at work

5 Ways To Appreciate Successes More

How to Appreciate Successes More

It’s often more challenging to acknowledge successes and work accomplishments than projects you have underachieved. Even reflecting on excellent skills makes some workers nervous. Recognition and compliments can make workers uncomfortable.  And you sometimes don’t know how to react without appearing self-conscious in front of associates.

So, how can you positively appreciate your good traits? Likely the key is self-awareness.  That entails treating oneself with greater consideration.  Recognize you are as good as others. It requires consciousness when you evaluate your apparent shortcomings – but differently. I prefer to refer to it as “self-appreciation.”

According to LifeHack, “To love yourself is to experience freedom – freedom from doubt, self-hate, and oppression created by you. To love yourself is no longer holding yourself back from what you deserve. To love yourself is to grow and enjoy your job. Self-love is a necessity if you want to live a comfortable life. Self-love is a choice, a commitment to yourself that you will love yourself, despite all the social and biological obstacles in your path. It is not found in a place, person, or item.”

So what can you do to be easier on yourself when you underperform your expectations?  It starts when you appreciate successes more and accept mistakes as part of your complete package.

5 Ways To Appreciate Successes More

Appreciate successes more

1.Decide To Do It

Self-appreciation is a decision you have to make yourself; it is not bestowed upon you. You don’t obtain it from another person or an item. You get self-appreciation by choosing what you desire. It would be best if you decided to let go of toxic thinking and disliking yourself for not being enough.

Appreciate successes more. You can get your mind straight

Say no to all of your internal self-criticism and tell yourself the truth: you are not perfect, and that is good. Begin by giving yourself license to appreciate successes more and acknowledge yourself more. Even if you convince yourself otherwise, you are deserving of more appreciation.

Take time to tell yourself this and permit yourself to value yourself. This is the first step in  and appreciating successes more and acknowledging the reality that you can appreciate yourself.

2. Check Your Negative Beliefs at the Door

Disrupt mental patterns that are solely focused on failures and defects. When it comes to self-esteem, our subconscious is not always on our side.

It takes time and effort to educate your mind into healthy habits, but the first step is to recognize the falsehoods it tells you:

  • Recognize that feeling like a loser does not imply that you are a failure.
  • Examine the evidence to support your findings. Even though the negative thought spiral makes it feel that way.  For instance, a supervisor not replying to your text does not indicate they dislike you.
  • Recognize that the good results you achieve merit your attention as well. One negative comment should not deter you from downplaying positive feedback.
3. Give Yourself a Break When You React To Your Setbacks

You don’t have to berate yourself for every misstep at work. According to research, reacting to your own mistakes with compassion boosts your self-esteem.  That will make you a more competent and resourceful employee. Fight back against the inner critic who distorts reality.

  • There are hardly any results from your job performance that are “all or nothing.” Even if things did not go as planned, it does not imply that nothing good came from it.
  • One setback does not define you for the rest of your career.
  • Call that feeling of pessimism into question by reminding yourself, “Things didn’t go my way on this assignment. But that doesn’t indicate they always will always miss the mark. You can’t let one slip up define you nor can you project the future from today’s results.”

Don't let your mistakes or underperformance define your career

4. Let Go Of Perfection

You will never be flawless.  Don’t allow this to prevent you from appreciating successes more or accept yourself with your obvious flaws. It’s easy to kick oneself for not being all that you would like. However, this leads to self-deprecation since you focus on what you did not do rather than appreciate successes more.  Self-appreciation thrives in a great attitude, which requires you to appreciate successes more. In a worldview based on perfection, dubbed “never good enough,” your ability to recognize yourself suffers, fades, and dies.

Comparing yourself to others is dumb. Appreciate successes more and ruminate on slipups less

5. Learn To Say No

Instead of overcommitting, prioritize your own activities and needs. Respect your boundaries.

more time to accomplish your goals and appreciate successes more

Learn to decline obligations that aren’t worth the stress. The unthinking “yes” in answering any request is a sort of “people-pleasing” action.  That prioritizes everyone else’s interests before your own.  It leaves you little time to accomplish acceptable performance that you and your supervisor expect.

How To Beat Remote Work Isolation

Most of us have become accustomed to commuting to a work site surrounded by co-workers. Remote work is something new to most workers. Yet, we are fundamentally social beings.  So extended remote work isolation has affected many workers if we’re working at home for an extended period.  We can’t help feeling isolated. Isolation blues have become common, and it’s not something to simply ignore.

Beat remote work isolation

Cures for Remote Work Isolation

As you spend long hours and work from home, you need to take care of your mental health.

As much as I was happy to “get away” from my officemates,

I realized that I relied on colleagues to keep my mental health in check. Panion.com

Here are 7 tips to beat remote work isolation blues:

1. Step Outside Periodically

 Don’t stay cooped up inside your home. Step outside to get some fresh air and much-needed sunlight. If you have a garden, that’s great. If not, you can practice social distancing and other safety measures so you can take a walk at a local park or around your neighborhood. It’s even better if your location is surrounded by greenery and nature views, which can help relieve stress and loneliness.

Get outside to beat remote work isolation

 2. Reconnect With Co-Workers

 While staying at home, it’s a good time to catch up with friends from work or your boss.  Reconnect with those you haven’t seen for a long time. While you may not be able to invite them for a cup of coffee face to face, a lot of employees are setting virtual meetups to chat with peers outside the normal work day. If you can do Zoom calls for work meetings, why not try it to keep in touch with team members to socialize? It can be more fun than you expect.

How to beat remote work isolation blues

What’s good about being online these days is that you can reach associates from miles away that you haven’t talked to for a while. Many of them are also most likely at home and craving social connections.

 3. Maintain a Routine

 Being out of the workplace and staying at home may have thrown you off your routine. To beat remote work isolation blues, you should create a new routine and stick to it. That will help retain some sense of normalcy. Get up at the same time in the morning, preferably the same time that you woke up for work before the pandemic.

Plan your day and eat your meals on time. If you live with your family, having a routine helps everyone to know what’s going on.

4. Move, Move, Move

 Don’t forget to get your body moving. Be physically active as much as you can. Exercise will give you an energy boost and improve your mood.  That will help beat isolation and maintain your productivity.

Physical movement beats remote work isolation

For example, a neighbor of mine walks her dog several times per day for 10-minutes.  She does it at the same times each day.  That keeps her moving and maintains her routine. Even doing house chores is good while on work conference calls.. If you’re up to it, you can also join online fitness classes. You could also walk around your local area early in the morning before work begins.

5. Write a Journal or Letter

Get your thoughts out by journaling. You can journal about the things you’re grateful for, which will bring optimism and good vibes. When you focus on the good things that happen in your life, it boosts your mood and makes you less isolated.

Letter writing has also been revived during the pandemic. Why not send your prospects, customers or other employees a postcard to let them know that you’re thinking about them? Handwritten letters and postcards help promote deeper relationships.

6. Learn Something New

Sometimes you feel neglected when you’re bored. Find something to do to keep your mind busy. Learn a new skill or do a pursuit you’ve always wanted to do. Try to attend webinars, read blogs, or take an online course to boost your work skills.

When you’re doing something that you enjoy, you don’t notice how slow the time goes by, and you don’t have time to dwell on depressing thoughts.

7. Get Quality Sleep

Getting enough sleep (or not enough) affects your mood, so it’s important to have a healthy bedtime routine. When you don’t get a good night’s sleep, you don’t feel rested. You’ll wake up feeling more tired, and it makes you more vulnerable to stress or even illness. Sleep heals your body and keeps your mental well-being in shape.

beat remote work isolation

Wrapping Up

 Spending time working virtual doesn’t have to be dull and boring. Don’t let remote work isolation beat you. Instead, make conscious efforts to focus on bringing positivity to your situation. Use the time to reconnect with your friends, learn something new, and get your body physically active. Stick to a routine, and know that a feeling of isolation is only temporary. The situation will certainly improve or you will become accustomed to this new paradigm, so hang in there.

Overcome 4 Common Fears Holding You Back in Your Career

Fear: The #1 Thing Standing in Your Way of True Fulfilment

This article covers 4 common fears holding you back in your career and how to overcome them.

Fears holding you back

“Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live.” Dorothy Thompson

Illustration of Fears Holding You Back

Imagine this: you are on vacation from work, sitting on the beach watching the sunset as waves lap the sand as you bask in the glow. A book lies in your lap as you lose yourself in thought of how wonderful you feel at this moment.

Now imagine what the reality is: You’re at work, dreaming of traveling to the beach, sitting on the sand watching the sun set. But instead of taking the steps to go, you feel fear. Suppose there’s a work emergency on the project you manage, your boss calls and orders you back, fearing you’re needed at your job by your workgroup or any of your other obligations? What if the plane crashes? Suppose you get lost? Oh my.what would happen if you let down your team? What if…?

Living with fears holding you back at work keeps you from taking the career risks and chances to go for what you  truly desire. It keeps us from finding true fulfillment.

Fulfillment Defined Facing Fears Holding You Back

Satisfaction isn’t defined by the position you have; your salary; where you live; or the number of people you manage. True fulfillment is a feeling. It’s something you feel deep inside about yourself and believe yourself to be. But to find it you have to face the fears keeping you paralyzed.

When you have fears holding you back, you feel uncertain. Facing our fears and getting out of our comfort zone is hard because of how humans naturally expect the worst-case scenario. Our brains naturally send us negative information because it is trying to keep you safe.

So how can you live a career free of fears holding you back and be truly satisfied?

Everyone has fears. It’s normal. It’s how we react to them that makes the difference in how we feel. But you might find yourself weighed down with too much fear that’s preventing you from being truly content. If that’s the case, it’s time to get familiar with your fears and find ways to work through them.

Four Common Fears that Disrupt Your Career and Causes

Here are 4 common at-work fears holding you back and ideas to help you deal with them.

Fears holding you back in your career

  1. Fear of failure

This is a common fear, often stemming from our childhood. For example, ,fear of failing a test,. This fear brings on the feeling of being judged or embarrassed. But in reality failing is part of success. Overcome this fear by not worrying about the outcome and only focusing on the process of getting to success.

  1. Fear of success

This fear stems from many different fears: fear of change, responsibilities, attention, vulnerable and many others. The best way to overcome this fear is to focus on one position at a time while moving forward in your career.

  1. Fear of rejection

The fear of being rejected is a reaction to our innate need for belonging. It can include fears of being judged, not being liked, or being alone. To overcome this fear put yourself out there, reminding yourself that the right supervisors or coworkers will respond to you favorably.

  1. Fear of not being good enough

Fear you're not good enough

This fear is rooted in how we feel about ourselves. Our low self-esteem keeps us from trying a new assignment.  At the same time,it keeps us from accepting a promotion because we lack confidence. You can overcome this fear by starting small with one task you know you can carry out. Keep doing more difficult and especially complex assignments to build your self-confidence.

Overcome fears holding you back
Conclusion

We all have fears of some kind. On the one hand they may seem rational to us, yet. they could appear irrational to others. To overcome your fears in the workplace, you need to understand why you have them and then practice facing them so you can live a career and life of true fulfilment.fears holding you back from career fulfillment

 

Defying the Rules Liberates You in 2022

Defying the rules liberates you in your life and career!  If done correctly.

No doubt!

Consider if the rules are appropriate before following

Danger of Some Rules

Not all rules are ironclad.  Some can severely limit your belief in yourself and your purpose in following the right career path for you.  Or can restrain you from expressing your true sentiments or from trying new things.

Defying the Rules Liberates in 2022

Negative Thoughts

Think about the negative things you may tell yourself on a daily basis:

  • “My boss or peers said I couldn’t do that”
  • “I don’t have the skill set to lead a work team”
  • “I don’t have the intelligence to solve that work problem.”

Each of these negative thoughts are derived from a rule of your environment you need to violate.

Defying rules liberates and overcomes bad habits

Handling Workplace or Personal Negativity

If your boss or peers said you couldn’t achieve something that you really feel capable of and really want to accomplish. – Defy them by breaking the rules.  Try it your way anyway.  Remember the famous Frank Sinatra song, “I Did It My Way.”

Regardless, unless you try, you may choose a path which will keep you dissatisfied for the remainder of your career or at least displeased that you didn’t try.

When you stand silent like a stone in a group setting and let someone disrespect you or disparage another coworker and you don’t speak up, you’re demeaning yourself – and that’s staggering for your self-esteem.

Consequences of Rule Breaking

Speaking up and defending yourself or your belief or your coworker can help you feel pride in yourself.  You will have acted based on your own belief system. – Being bold in the face of others who may want to put you down is your way of correctly applying the rules and regulations.

You may have been through one or several painful experiences in your past career. It has made an impact on your psyche.  Unfortunately, it could still be keeping you from moving forward with power and a purpose on the job.

Dealing with the negatives that are defining you now is the only way to combat the experience and move on successfully with your career. That may mean defying the rules liberates you to reject what has held you back. You will gain strength from taking what you believe is the appropriate action and will bolster your mindset.  You will also be recognized as a valuable employee.

Defying the Rules strengthens and liberates

The Rule of You

On the other hand, at some point, you know you’re more than what your negative experiences have made you. You know through self-reflection that  you made honest mistakes.  You did what you had to at the time.  Regardless of how others told you to act.  You realize that you can maintain your power and belief in yourself with determination and knowledge.

Engaging in optimism in your thoughts and trusting yourself to do the right thing are important in the liberating process. Find joy in defying  the rules liberates the workplace constraints which have held you back, made you feel cynical about work and makes you negatively compare your work performance to other employees.

Be your own guide when it comes to empowering yourself. Don’t let coworkers dictate what you should and shouldn’t be. Follow your own rules and guidelines for that, always being aware of and weigh the consequences or rewards of ‘disobeying’ a rule. Then, you can make an educated decision.

Takeaway – Defying the Rules Liberates

Just remember  – defying the rules liberates you and should be your mantra in 2022.  It will give you a sense of power and let your employer and associates see you can think for yourself and act suitably  That makes you a valuable asset to the company in these chaotic times.

Defying the rules liberates and shows you have a mind of your own

Stop Worrying About What Co-Workers Think

Self-Doubts

Wish you could stop worrying about what co-workers think of you.  Do you find yourself constantly doubting your decisions at work? Especially during Coronavirus?  Are you fretting over other workers’ reactions to your actions or opinions?  Do you keep ruminating over your past mistakes and bad decisions you have made? Beating yourself up?Stop Worrying About What Co-Workers Think of You

Tips & Tricks to Help You Stop Worrying

In this post, we’ll share some tips and tricks to help you stop worrying about what co-workers think of you. Learn how to use constructive criticism to your advantage. Then, simply filter out any negative judgment.

This will leave you less anxious and less overwhelmed. As a result, you can stay more focused on yourself and the best ways to achieve your work goals.

Let’s get started.

Stop worrying about what co-workers think

Are People’s Opinions Holding You Back?

Worrying about what others think and feel about you is a normal part of our DNA. We’re programmed to seek others’ approval.

Studies show there’s a reward center that’s activated when we’re given a compliment. Even if you just sense other people’s recognition of your hard work, your brains fire up those same reward centers.

So, we feel good about ourselves when we’re accepted. Yet, we can’t always be accepted and liked by everyone at all times.

Problems start when we start pivoting our lifestyles to fit people’s expectations. We give others power over our lives and how we should live it. Consequently, we lose out on being who we truly are.

After that, things go downhill and start spiraling out of control. Being stuck in that mind frame can be destructive to you and those other members of your team.

Going down this unproductive path, you’ll be leaving a path of destruction in your wake. Your job will be affected, co-worker relationships might be sabotaged, and your self-esteem will most certainly take a hit.

How Can I Stop Worrying About What Co-Workers Think?

Do some serious soul searching. Do you feel that your reality has shifted? Have you started to believe in other associates’ version of who you are as opposed to the real you?

Then, it’s time to step up and take some actionable steps. You owe it to yourself to share the real you with the world. They don’t know what they’re missing!

We rounded some simple, yet effective, ways to help you break this vicious cycle. Read on to learn more to stop worrying about what co-workers think.

1.      Focus on What’s Important

Has someone said something unkind about you? Instead of letting it fester, don’t let it go to your head.

Chances are, that person won’t recall what they said in about ten minutes. Plus, what they say reflects who they are as a person. If you think about it, it actually has very little to do with you.

In other words, their perceptions of you come from them. And you’re not responsible for how they feel or what they think, neither can you change any of it. So, why waste your time fretting over something you have no control over?

Instead, channel that energy into something productive. You can learn a new skill, take a training class, or pick up an earlier report that showed how you successfully overcame an obstacle. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something you enjoy.

Below are some things more worthy of your time than worrying about what people think:

  • Spend quality time with mentors or workers you admire
  • Smile at one of your staff or hold the door for someone
  • Surround yourself with associates who encourage and support you
  • Volunteer at a local charity outside of your employer like a food bank
  • Take a walk through a park on your lunch break
  • Have dinner together with a workmate who has similar interests outside workbout what co-workers think
2.      Highlight Your Accomplishments

We’ve all been through difficult times in our careers; some more than others. At the same time, we’ve all accomplished some positive things.

It doesn’t have to be anything grandiose or elaborate. It just has to mean something to you, like filing your taxes on time or making a home-cooked meal from scratch. Be proud of yourself and all the hard work you put in.

You can even write down these accomplishments and hang them up in your work area or file cabinet. Then every time you catch a glimpse of one of your achievements, say to yourself, “I did that!” Continue to repeat it until your subconscious takes it in.

Another way to boost your confidence is to practice saying encouraging statements. These will help build up your self-esteem and improve the way you view yourself.

Here are a few statements to get you inspired:

  • My self-confidence is on the rise.
  • I’m worthy of the praise my boss gives me.
  • I can’t control what happens, but I can control my reaction to them.
  • My ideas are great.
  • I’m appreciative of everyone and everything in my life.
3.      Train Yourself to See the Positive

Our brains are wired to see the negative. We complain, we blame others, and we dwell. That has to stop today!

acceptance

You can train your thoughts to be more positive. But not in a deluded, naive sort of way; in a healthy, productive way. As a result, you become less anxious and more resilient.

To be honest, this works if you think more objectively, especially when it comes to your weaknesses or flaws.

We all have them. Some employees are just better at acknowledging and improving them than others. Why can’t that be you?

Write down a list of five things that bother you about yourself. Then, set some realistic goals to change them and reward yourself each time you reach one of your set goals.

Make sure you start small and work at your own pace. The point is to feel good about yourself, not overwhelm or burden you. It kind of defeats the purpose.

4.      Practice Relaxation Techniques

Some people may think this is hokey.  But relaxation techniques are becoming popular because people are realizing the importance of self-care. These techniques aim at reducing stress levels and improving your overall health. They also teach you the value of valuing the present.

When you focus on your today, you stop worrying about what happened in the past or what might happen in the future. These techniques can also help you stop worrying about what co-workers think about you.

The great thing about them is that you can do them anywhere. Whenever you start to worry, remind yourself that you could be overreacting. In all likelihood, your colleagues aren’t judging you as harshly as you think they are.

Take a few deep breaths and focus on anything around you: your coffee mug, a certificate you earned, and your clear workspace. Anything that can steer your thoughts to the present moment will do the trick!

Then, Voila, you’ll notice that your pulse is slowing down and so is your heart rate. Your anxiety will start to recede and you’ll realize you did stop worrying about what co-workers think as much anymore.

Check out these proven relaxation techniques. You can even do a couple of them as you’re reading this post.

  • Mindful meditation
  • Yoga
  • Aromatherapy
  • Guided breathing
Flexicrew Support

By the way are you sure you’re in the right job, in the right company.  Check in with Flexicrew today.

If you think you have more of the positive skills that will help you excel in other industrial jobs, then we want to hear from you.

Don't worry about what co-workers think. Flexi will honestly tell you your value

You could enjoy a very progressive and rewarding career. Now all you need is the recruiting expertise to help you channel these skills to some of the best jobs today.

Upload your resume to Flexicrew Staffing now and see where your skills could take you.

 

How Time-Blocking Drives High Performance and Productivity

This article takes you through how time-blocking drives high performance and productivity.  Time-Blocking is one of the most effective time-management techniques used by peak performers such as Elon Musk, Cal Newport, and Bill Gates.  On the other hand, if time isn’t planned well enough, it tends to be wasted or spent ineffectively.Time-blocking requires switching tasks at set intervals to drive higher performance

Stay Motivated – Time-Blocking Drives High Performance and Productivity

What happens when we push our brain at work to keep thinking, focusing and creating hour after hour? It shuts down or goes on strike. Your brain says “I’m outa here, buddy.”  This is especially true when we keep requiring it to focus on the same task for hours at a time every workday.  Studying Neuroscience now reveals to us the benefits of changing tasks regularly.  Taking consistent breaks and time-blocking our time keeps our brain more engaged.  We are more motivated when we are working so that we actually get more done in less time.  That’s how time-blocking drives high performance and productivity.

Time-blocking drives high performance and productivity

Productive Powerhouse

So, let’s look closer at how time-blocking drives high performance and productivity.

This is not a new concept. But it’s one we don’t use often enough to maintain our enthusiasm and focus.  Nor do we recognize that time-blocking boosts our mental and emotional health. Blocking time is a tool where you schedule your work hours in a way that sets up a dedicated time to a particular task. And then, when that time is up, you switch to a new task.

But you may ask, how time-blocking drives high performance and productivity?

  • Keeps your brain from getting bored (aka, low motivation)
  • Mentally prepares you for the tasks ahead
  • Lowers stress because you see work getting done
  • You ensures no multitasking occurs
  • Improves self-confidence in your ability to succeed
Time-blocking for performance and productivity
Time-Blocking – Tips to Start Using it Today

So, how should you go about blocking your time? Usually, it’s recommended to work in 2-3 hour work chunks at a time, while allowing a short 5-10 minute break every 30-45 minutes.

  1. Decide how you will block your time. There are many ways to do this, including various apps and email calendars. Google Calendar is a great way to get started because it’s easy to use and readily available.
  2. Choose the date and time for your task. Remember to keep it to 2-3 hours, if possible
  3. Decide where you will complete the task.
  4. Include any details you need to remember before performing the task in the memo area. This will make it faster to get started when you get to that time block. No searching for the sticky note you wrote the directions on.
  5. Set reminders so you know when it’s time to switch tasks. You can get a reminder via email, pop-up or app notifications.
Time-Blocking – Take Charge of Your Workday

Using time blocks you keep your motivation high for all the reasons stated above.  Also because  you use several of your skill sets each day. It breaks up the monotony of doing the same task all day long for the entire workday.