Whether it's the end-of-summer blues, morning traffic or plain old work stress, even the most positive of workers occasionally has a bad day. But successful people don't let negative forces or emotions bring down their performance. Instead, they employ creative coping mechanisms.
One technique successful people use to keep themselves mentally refreshed is called "break-action," according to Inc. magazine. Break-action is the practice of inserting short episodes of personal rejuvenation into your work week.
The first key to effective break-action is identifying what you are passionate about. If you don't know what your passions are outside of work, find out before you burn out. While it's laudable to be dedicated to your job, it's healthy for work to be one of many passions — not your only passion, according to the report. The second step is carving a little bit of time each week to pursue it.
Some examples of break-actions that don't throw your entire day out of whack include:
- The world-traveler who plans her next dream trip
- The fitness fanatic who plans which classes they'll attend next week
- The foodie who reads reviews of the best new restaurants in his neighborhood
- The aspiring chef who checks out Pinterest and other websites for creative new recipes
Taking time for break-actions isn't reason to feel guilty, according to Inc. They are a healthy way to rejuvenate yourself so you can succeed in your job and life goals.