20 Ways to Get Through a Rough Patch at Work - The Muse

20 Ways to Get Through a Rough Patch at Work - The Muse20 Ways to Get Through a Rough Patch at WorkYour alarm goes off, and you cant help but groan and shrink back down under the covers. The thought of facing another workday makes you uneasy (to put it mildly). Things havent been going well for a while, and you dont have a clue as to how to make them better. Job searching isnt in the cards for you right now, so your only viable option is to grin and bear it. Or, is it? Career Coach Evangelia Leclaire explains that its common to hit a rough patch in your career where you feel complacent, disconnected, or disengaged. Maybe youre stuck in a rut, tired and uninspiredYou slip under the radar and feel like youre just getting by.But even though rough patches at work are bound to happen, you dont have to sit idly by and accept being miserable- not when 20 of our career coaches have far better advice for you. 1. Make Friends, Not EnemiesNegative work situations can be disappointing. But its i mportant not to let disappointment ultimately stop you from thinking strategically or acting professionally to accomplish a greater good. This is why its essential you find a way to connect with your colleagues and build camaraderie. You cant imagine how much this will change your situation for the better.Avery Blank2. Try Something NewRequest to lead an initiative, take on a new project, or plot out a fresh path for your sanity and success. If you dont binnensee that as an option at the office, take on something unfamiliar outside of work, something that wont stress or burn you out. Taking on a new project or charting out a plan for success will stimulate your brain, causing a surge and release of endorphins, and give you a feeling of expansion.Evangelia Leclaire3. Leave Work at WorkThe worst thing about suffering from a negative work situation is that it tends to impact every other aspect of your life. When you leave the office, try to avoid gossiping and complaining about it. It is a hard thing to do, but its important. If you feel this is impossible, then allow yourself a specific time each week to bring work home, and the rest of the time, leave it at the office.Neely Raffellini4. Stop Avoiding ItActing like a bystander in your career, perhaps by not pushing back where appropriate or assuming your efforts will speak for themselves (in the form of being granted a promotion), can make a work slump worse. Evading issues that bother you clearly doesnt serve you or your employer- you sink deeper into a slump and your job may suffer as a result. Turn things around by identifying decisions youve been avoiding. Confronting whats nagging you will not only dissolve your frustration, but will also allow you to make the most of your current situation.Melody Wilding5. Check Your AttitudeSo much of how were perceiving the world- things suck, Im stuck, Im bored- are really a function of the frame of mind that we have when were seeing the situation. Ask yourself if your thinking is coloring your perception of it. In the end, things are just things. How we feel about them is completely a function of our perception, and altering your attitude can mean all the difference.Bruce Eckfeldt6. Keep Showing UpDo the best work you can do. Shirking your responsibilities and withdrawing (i.e., increased absenteeism, lower productivity) will only make the situation worse. Jot down the root causes of the situation, and if theres anything you feel comfortable talking to your manager about, schedule a meeting to go over whats on your mind.Joyel Crawford7. Stand Up for YourselfOften what makes for a badeanstalt work situation is that your boss or co-workers, treat you unfairly. Maybe they give you work to do that is outside the realm of your responsibility. Perhaps you have a manager who talks down to you. Learn to say no You can do this respectfully and assuredly. Say, Are you asking me to do this and put my other work on hold? I cant do both. If youre being talked down to, ask to meet one-on-one with the person to discuss the importance of respect. The end result will be that you will feel better even if nothing changes, though chances are good that things will change.Theresa Merrill8. Shift Your PerspectiveIts all about perspective. Oftentimes in work, were miserable in a situation and cant see our way out. And that makes us even mora miserable, creating a vicious cycle. Fortunately, we have the ability to shift our perspective. Put yourself in another persons shoes. Look at the situation from another point of view and see if you might be interpreting things in one way where there could be many more ways to do so. This exercise allows us to see that weve got options, and it enables us to feel less trapped or frustrated.Kelly Poulson9. Dont Suffer in SilenceBe open and honest with your supervisor about the difficulty youre having. Share examples of why youre unhappy or restless. Its crucial that you dont simply complain Share specific exampl es of the challenges, but also offer some solutions or alternatives. It may be that your supervisor doesnt realize youre struggling, so giving him the opportunity to change direction for you would be good. There may be nothing to modify, but at least youll know that you did what you could to make things better.Angela Smith10. Utilize a Learning LogOne of the most helpful things you can do for yourself is to keep a learning log for yourself. Create a spreadsheet, and at the end of each week, write down one thing you learned. Youll probably be surprised to discover how many things youve learned over the course of a month. Just acknowledging this can help you through your rough patch.Rajiv Nathan11. Seek OpportunitiesTry thinking about what the job can do for you, rather than what you can do for the job. Are there opportunities for you to take on new responsibilities and learn new skills? Are there co-workers you can connect with for mentorship? Are there any committees or groups you c an join within the organization to gain exposure to bigger-picture plans to gain context for the work you do (opening the door for greater fulfillment)? Your company exists for your professional development as much as you exist to fuel its growth and success.Melody Godfred12. Uncover PositivityAccept that you cant always turn around a bad situation. Sometimes the best way to combat negativity is to surround yourself with those that support you and focus on the aspects that bring positivity to your career. If you can peel back the layers a bit and find something thats really good in your day-to-day, things may start to look up.Ryan schute13. Take ControlIs the situation something you can or cannot control? If colleague or client is causing you stress, remember that you can control how you respond. Often, a negative situation gets worse when you avoid a difficult conversation. Challenge your notion of whats negotiable (and re-negotiable). Dont like your commute? Ask for a flexible wor k schedule. Evil client giving you hell? Ask for a reassignment. Brave an honest conversation about your frustrations and turn a complaint into an ask.Jamie Lee14. Make a DecisionWhen youre dealing with obstacles, follow this mantra Change what you can control, influence what you cant. I use the wont do versus will do strategy. Rather than deciding you wont get into an argument with your rude colleague when youre hashing out responsibilities for a project, decide what you will do instead When John interrupts me next time, I will pause and take a deep breath, then move the conversation forward by asking a question about the next topic on the agenda.Alex Dickinson15. Review and AssessIts important to take a step back and review everything leading up to your current state in an objective manner. It helps to write or draw out the situation with pen and paper to visualize whats really going on. Be sure to include all people and timeline of events involved. Then critically assess, What is my role in this situation? Have you been accommodating, positive, optimistic, clear, and direct? Or do you find yourself being alienating, negative, pessimistic, ambiguous, and avoiding? Oftentimes negative work solutions are created out of misunderstandings or unvoiced animosity. Get to the bottom of it by following the 80/20 rule (80% listening, 20% talking), and collaborating toward a resolution.Emily Liou16. Be ProactiveTo start resolving a negative situation at work, first call a spade a spade. If your boss micromanages or otherwise makes your life miserable, address the issue head-on at your next meeting- without being confrontational. Always make it about the team and the companys mission first and about yourself last. The key is always to connect the severity of the aufgabe to the team and company, so that it doesnt seem too much about you and doesnt make you a complainer.Yuri Kruman17. Practice GratitudeTry focusing on what youre grateful for, whether its a paycheck or the great team member you have. Over time that gratitude may completely flip your perceptions of your current situation. Perhaps you can find more ways to boost your happiness outside of work (delve into that hobby you love, socialize with people who make you happy). Take advantage of the things youre grateful for while you figure out whats next.Annie Nogg18. Find an Ear and ConnectEven if youve tried to rise above your rut and still cant seem to break out of it, its helpful to get a fresh perspective on how to improve your situation. Talk to someone and brainstorm ways to pick yourself up. Ask for a story or example of when she pulled herself out of a rough patch. Listen with an open mind, and end with a few actionable ideas so the conversation leaves you with next steps. Its helpful to know that youre not alone. Loren Margolis19. Make LemonadeYou always have more power than you think you do, and although you cant control a lot of what happens outside of you, you can always control ho w you respond. Perhaps you need to learn how to be more assertive, set boundaries, or advocate for a different assignment that makes better use of your talents. Regardless of the nature of the negative situation, you can make adjustments to deal with it, even if it is just an attitude adjustment.Kristina Leonardi20. Reject BoredomAt times it can be easy to become bored with the monotony that accompany most positions. Consider creating a motivation tool thatll help you avoid this. Write in a journal or even create a short video that details a project youre working on or the challenge youre experiencing. Include the obstacles, what youre learning, your role, and accomplishments. Through the development process you can find ways to become more inspired, explore creative solutions that invigorate interest, and identify areas for professional development. This is not only a way to encourage yourself but also to determine where you can use support to grow in your position.Adrean TurnerPho to of frustrated man courtesy of Hill Street Studios/Getty Images