Wise choices: Success comes from making wise choices about how to feel and respond to the things that happen to us.  When I am having a bad day, I can strain to push myself through the day.  Ruminating, sulking, and whining are great ways to stay stuck in a bad day. On the other hand, I can restart my day anytime.

Making Little Adjustments Can Lead to Wise Choices

Start My Day over with a Little Grooming

Splashing a little water on my face is refreshing.  I can dampen my comb and start with a fresh part in my hair, just as I do when I am beginning the day.

If I wore makeup, I could restart my day with a mini-makeover:  lips, eyes, cheeks.

I can refresh the way I am dressed.  I can tuck in my shirt and adjust my tie just as I do when I first get dressed in the morning.

I not only feel refreshed. I empower myself with a stronger presence among the people at my workplace.

Practice Affirmations

Everyone is different.  However, I find that by focusing on the things that I have accomplished rather than the things I regret can increase my energy and my confidence. I affirm that am capable and accomplished.

I have a friend who is fun and interesting. He told me that every morning before he heads out the door, he looks in the mirror and says to himself, “You are fantastic.”

Whenever I am around him, I find that I feel better about my own life through his positive attitude.

Take breaks.

When I am hungry or tired, I may deal with situations poorly. I can relax with quiet meditation to calm my mind and reset my disposition. A 20-minute power nap has been part of my lifestyle for years.

Adjust my Schedule.

Sometimes I schedule too many things. On other days, too many new tasks arise.  I can restart my day with a new schedule.

If I am struggling with a task, I can break the task down into pieces.  I can look at the pieces or elements of the task and define my true goal for this task.  With this process, I better understand what I am doing and cut the number of false starts and revisions.

I can then schedule a completion date for that task.  I may find that I am dealing with a truly valuable task that will return greater rewards once I have stopped forcing my way through the task and have begun to work with a schedule of steps.

Take Walks

By exercising, I burn up that adrenaline that accumulates from the mental stresses of my workday. Rather than sit at my desk to eat my lunch, I can take a short walk or go through a series of stretches at my desk.