Have you ever heard the expression “Take my advice ‘cause I don’t use it?”
A while back in a conversation with a business owner he discussed having fun at work. As he assessed the day, he gave himself points for his own internal scoreboard. Asking him how many points he had the day before, he answered, “Zero!” And the day before that? “Zero again!”
My response was, “Be gentle with yourself. Give yourself points for not what happened but how you reacted to it.” That can be a tale-tell sign of a good day, not just your actions but also your internal reactions.
At a recent event, I received lots of praise from those who attended. Yet, when it was all done I thought about all the things that didn’t go well. In fact, these thoughts took me well into the wee hours when sleep is what really needed to happen.
Do you hear “be gentle with yourself” then blow it off and beat yourself up? It happens. Do you give advice that you don’t take? The proverbial “take my advice, I don’t use it”?
Here’s a short list on ways to be kinder and gentler to yourself:
1. Be positive. Easy to say, I know. Each time you hear that negative voice or have a negative thought, clear it. Simply notice your thoughts and be aware of them and choose an alternative.
2. Forgive yourself. At the time you did the best you could with what you knew. Now you know something different. Learn from mistakes and make corrections in what you do, say, and how you handle the situation.
3. Eat healthy. When we feel low many of us turn to comfort (junk) food like ice cream, potato chips, and sugary sweets. We gorge ourselves unconsciously. Be conscious of healthy food choices. If you find yourself saying “I’m going for the bag of chips.” (reread the first tip)
4. Reward yourself. Let’s face it. You weren’t really awful; it just didn’t turn out as planned. Or maybe it was awful. (see #2) What are some ways that you can acknowledge the work that you have done?
5. Be mindful. Take time to relax, stay calm, and meditate. I’ve written about this in a prior blog. Here is the link.
These may not seem like tips for productivity but if you can’t approach your work in a positive way, you won’t be productive. You won’t have great days or even good days to reflect on. You won’t be motivated to work and feel good about what you do.
So, here’s my advice. I’m taking it and hope you do too–day by day.
And make sure you give yourself a point for reading this blog. Good on ya!
Want more advice? Come to this event!
Cup of Pro
Friday, December 15 at 7 AM – 9:30 AM
Sweetest Season Bakery Cafe
1870 E. Apache Blvd, Tempe, Arizona 85281
Do you have questions about how to best utilize your time and efforts? Do you feel like there are days when you can’t seem to get it all done? Days when you feel like you can’t keep it all together?
Join me for A Cup of Pro. A chance to sit down with a Productivity Coach and Expert and get your questions answered. No sales gimmicks, just clear advice on ways you can make your days more focused, organized and productive.
Margo Crawford is a Certified Organizer Coach and Productivity Expert with Wave Productivity. As a Productivity Coach, she works with entrepreneurs, small business owners and business professionals to help them get more focused, organized and productive in their workplace. If you’re not feeling good about the work that you do, Margo provides coaching and support to turn your work and attitude around. She coaches internationally and in person in Arizona, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. If you want to get more organized in your office call 602-677-8275 or email [email protected].