Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Don't be a Grump-a-Lump

Learn how to manage your mood and increase your happiness

Do you find yourself stressed, bitter, and upset at work? Do you blame outside forces for your mood—your annoying co-workers, your demanding customers, your boss?

You can’t change their behaviour, but you can change your attitude. When you manage your mood, you decrease your stress, improve your health, keep your relationships healthy, and increase your overall happiness.

So how do you manage your mood?

“Mood management starts with awareness,” according to HR consultant Bill Howatt. “Similar to driver training, where it’s valuable to have some basic insights so you know how a vehicle reacts when it hits ice . . . mood management assists in preventing emotional spinouts.”

5 Ways to Avoid Emotional Spinouts

1. Be self-aware.

Know how you react to various triggers. To learn this, you may want to keep a journal to track your emotions.
Monitor your self-talk. Are you always putting yourself down in your thoughts and words? Do you constantly dwell on negative events?

2. Practice managing your thoughts.

When you catch yourself dwelling on the negative, stop and think about something positive.
Focus on the positives in life—write them down.

3. Practice managing your emotions.

Pause before reacting. Take a deep breath and don’t lash out or make a decision while you’re upset.

4. Take time for yourself.

Rest, exercise, eat well, and don’t neglect your appearance. Feeling good physically helps you feel good emotionally.

5. Take time for others.

Compliment others—make them feel good about themselves.
Help others—it makes you both feel good.

If you are enrolled in one of CLAC’s benefits plans, take advantage of the many online resources available to you through the Morneau Shepell employee and family assistance program to help you manage your mood. Learn more in myCLAC.ca. The program also provides confidential counselling resources if you would like additional help.

Typical work annoyances are one thing, but if you experience harassment or abuse at work, or work in an unsafe environment, immediately contact your health and safety rep, supervisor or HR manager, or CLAC steward or representative.

Gratitude

One of the best ways to reduce stress and gain a positive attitude is to practice gratitude.

When something good happens to you, you experience pleasure, which is fleeting. But if you reflect on the experience and feel gratitude, you create a memory. As you build up positive memories, you start to think more positively and more creatively. That’s right—negative thoughts stifle your ability to problem-solve, on top of making you miserable.

So how do you change your brain to see the bright side? Take time to reflect on good things that happen to you. Write them down in a gratitude diary. And always make a point of thanking others.

Sources: Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, workhealthlife.com

Don't be a Grump-a-Lump

5 Ways to Avoid Emotional Spinouts

Gratitude

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