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Ever have a bad day?  A Mind Tools Club, a monthly subscription services’ 10 Ways to Make a Bad Day Better discusses the following:

• Acknowledge that bad days are part of life but the key is we can chose how we react to them and effective leaders do so using the following advice.
• Reach out which means contacting a mentor, colleague, friend and see if they have time for a cup of coffee or call. Often just talking about what is bothering you can release the negative feelings as can writing in a journal. When you explain why you are upset you can change your perspective release negative feelings and move on from the situation.
• Go for a walk because taking a few minutes to “get away” shifts your thinking.  If possible go outside but talking with your people also may put things in perspective.
• Achieve a “small win” so take a minute to look at what you are trying to achieve and find a piece that you can achieve which enhances your mood/motivation and can distract your negative thinking.
• Be grateful means stop and consider all the good people and successes you are having as a leader.  It is common to focus on what isn’t happening as you would want that you forget what has gone right.  Think about keeping a “Success/Victory” log so on a bad day you can refer to it.
• Schedule a team meal or event. Doing something positive for others can make you feel better even on a bad day and assists with engagement.
• Praise yourself. As a leader we are human and would appreciate recognition from our staff and superiors however the likelihood is rare so ask yourself what improvements/people developed have you achieved over the past quarter and give yourself a sincere compliment. As a Director of Pharmacy I felt like the compliant department which I saw as part of my job to “feel the pain” of others.
• Get some exercise. Which sounds so simple but often hard to work into your schedule but use a bad day to do some deep breathing and meditate, which relaxes you and can distance you from what is upsetting you. A mere mental pause can allow your self-talk to slow down.
• Help someone else. Pitch in and help a struggling person, do something nice for a colleague or carry out a “random act of kindness” any of which will improve your mood and demonstrate to you your value.
• List the pros and cons. No matter how bad your day is there is usually a “silver lining” which can be found by via pros/cons and asking where are the opportunities in this. I learned as a leader that I wasn’t going to win all the battles but I would win the long haul war.
• Putting things in perspective. No matter how bad your day is it is unlikely that these events will alter the course of your life/career in the long run. Ask yourself, Will this problem matter in one month? In one year?

Comments are always welcome such as what works for you.