How to Keep Your Emotions from Affecting You at Work
As an employee, you must stay grounded to maintain your productivity in the workforce. Staying in touch with your feelings, thoughts and behaviors is critical to maintaining a positive emotional state. However, life is unpredictable and its events may cause negative emotions to surface and trickle into your work environment. Such emotions may result in frustration, irritation, worry, dislike, unhappiness and disappointment. You may take certain actions to keep certain emotions from adversely impacting you at work.
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Instructions
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Remember that you have a livelihood to sustain. If you allow your emotions to affect you, you’ll lose the drive to work, which will reflect in your performance. Remind yourself of why you are working and remember that your work allows you to pay for what you need.
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Take short breaks whenever you feel overwhelmed. For example, if you’re feeling upset because of a conflict at home, take a quick break away from your work area so you can gain control over your emotions in private. Do this only when necessary as you do not want to take too many breaks. For example, if you feel the sudden urge to cry, retreat to the restroom and deal with your emotions there. Pull yourself together as quickly as possible, then get back to work.
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Stay positive regardless of the situation. Harboring negative emotions drains you emotionally and saps your motivation; therefore, find ways to enhance positive thinking. For example, avoid negative coworkers, concentrate on what you like about your job and congratulate yourself for small accomplishments even if no one else recognizes them.
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Speak to your boss, if necessary. Depending on the situation, you may have to let your superior know what’s affecting you and to what degree. For example, if you have more work than you can handle and it’s stressing you out, let your boss know. She would prefer that you ask for help rather than submitting poor work on your own.
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Talk with your human resources department or employer to find out if the company’s health insurance includes mental health support. Use this method if you’re unable to cope with your emotions on your own. If you prefer not to disclose your problem to HR or your employer, you may seek assistance on your own, such as through the nonprofit organization Mental Health America.
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Tips & Warnings
Your goal should be to eliminate the emotion that’s threatening you at work. To accomplish this, pinpoint the problem, then find a solution. If you’re causing your own stress, recognize what you’re doing wrong and change it. If the problem is with a coworker, try to resolve the matter with him tactfully and in private. If unsuccessful and it’s interfering with your work, report the matter to HR or your employer; if the situation doesn’t change, it may be time to move on.
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