Keeping it positive

I constantly strive to see the positive in every aspect of life. But it’s not always easy, especially in these challenging times. However, I know that choosing to be positive has helped me overcome all previous challenges that have come my way. Even when things are difficult, I know that being positive and striving to make the best of whatever situation I’m in, really does make even the most challenging situations easier to bear.

Whilst being positive seems to come naturally to some people others train themselves to have a positive attitude. Here are some ways I find useful to maintain a positive attitude in the workplace, regardless of whether it comes naturally or not:

Tune out

This is something that is somewhat contentious as some people may not agree that listening to music in the workplace is professional, but I disagree as long it is appropriate to the environment and you wear your headphones. I find that listening to my music playlists improves my focus and relieves any stress.

Random acts of kindness

I believe that acts of kindness create a positive environment and therefore wherever I can I try to prioritise kindness. Generally, these acts may seem small and insignificant (e.g. bringing someone a drink or emailing a thank-you note) but I like to think they impact positively on the working environment.

Be grateful

Gratitude is really important to me. This helps me focus on what is going right rather than what is going wrong. Things are not perfect for me, but I have plenty of things to keep me happy and stay grateful. This gratitude is a great way to stay positive in hard situations.

Keep learning

A mind that is closed to learning new things grows stagnant and negative. A person who is willing to learn and curious is more positive because they are looking forward and wanting to understand instead of being closed off.

I have really tried to embrace this learning mentality, which explains these blogs. Personally I have found it really rewarding to take the time to read, reflect and research particular topics which has helped me think more broadly.

Leave work at work

I find that it is really important to have time for myself, my family, and my hobbies. If I work for the day, and then go home to do more work, I am not going to feel positive about going back to work the next day. I try to make a rule where I leave my work in my office.

If it happens that I don’t complete a task at work, I will make it a priority for the next morning, but leave it at work. This is hard for me to not think about work whilst at home because it’s such a large part of my life, but the more I have been able to put it out my mind, the more rejuvenated I feel each morning when in the office.

Build relationships with colleagues

Being friendly with colleagues is really important, especially as most of your time with these people and therefore the connection is important. In my experience, I feel I have worked best with people that I am most friendly with.

When working with one of my previous companies we had an engagement survey question that asked: "do you have a best friend at work?" This question seemed to get the strongest response. I have a clear dividing line between work and home life and whilst I am often friendly with coworkers I wouldn't consider them to be 'best friends'. That being said, I do try to be friendly with people to ensure I do not become lonely and isolated which is quite easy in my standalone role.

Make your workstation nice

I have always tried hard to make my desk/office feel nice which makes me feel more positive about things. This currently includes having my own personalised mug, photos from home, personalised mousepad, nice water bottle, plenty of pens, organiser, note pad and importantly keeping a tidy desk.

It is really important to me to have my desk/office feeling as comfortable as possible. Working in this environment does help me feel good and stay positive.

Embrace the laughter

Those of you that know me, know that I like to have fun and to do things with a smile. This helps me feel so much better about things. Especially when things are not necessarily going too well. I always try to find humor wherever I can to try and have a laugh. This might be to the annoyance of some people but is important for me in helping to stay positive.

Find quick wins

I am a big fan of using quick wins to boost morale. This helps me get positivity from having that feeling of achievement.

Focus on the solution, not the problem

Thinking about possible solutions to problems immediately turns the negative “why is there a problem?” into a positive “what if I would not have that problem anymore?”, and it also keeps me focused on the bigger picture and the main goal, rather than being entangled in challenges.

Finally, don’t sweat the small stuff

Remember you are the one with the power to keep your chin up, to smile, to laugh, and remind yourself that life is only as good as you make it. So don’t sweat the small stuff. 

I hope you have found this useful.

Stay safe