When you work in the automotive industry, you know that things are constantly changing to keep up in this highly competitive and technological industry. Some of these changes bring about positive movement and growth while others have a negative impact causing a chaotic work environment.
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This chaotic work environment is what I have been experiencing for the last nine months. There were too many changes done all at once with no time to prepare or make adjustments. Boom and just like that, the team environment was gone. It was like it happened overnight and now there is no light at the end of the tunnel. So over the last couple of months, I have been working on different strategies to help me stay positive and motivated.
No matter what type of work you do, these strategies can help you find positive mindset in a negative place:
Get motivated before work ~ Do something that you enjoy that brings about positive feelings before work so that you already feel good when you walk through the door. Personally I like listening to music that gets me “pumped up” so that I am already motivated to get started when I get there. Each day is a new day that starts with a clean slate so make sure you go to work feeling positive and motivated.
Make a checklist ~ Making a checklist can work wonders when your workload becomes overwhelming. It gives you an overview of what needs to be done and allows you to prioritize your tasks. Does it mean everything will get done that day? Probably not and the list will probably grow as the day goes on. On the positive side of that being said, if you are able to check just one thing off you will feel like you accomplished something. (Trust me when I say, this helps a lot.)
Be grateful and thankful ~ Whether you are religious or not, sometimes you have to step back and remind yourself to be grateful and thankful for the job you have. There are people who need a job and would gladly take yours no matter how bad you think the conditions are. You should be thankful that you are physically able to go to work and have the abilities to do the work. Being thankful can give you a new perspective and change your attitude in any environment.
Stay away from the negativity ~ Now I know this is almost impossible but you can limit your involvement. If someone is complaining, talk to them more about the solution than the problem. If there is drama or gossip, the best option is to walk away or find a polite way to excuse yourself so that you don’t get swept into the negative energy. If someone is just having a bad day, see if there is something you can do to help them but keep in mind: this is their bad day, not yours. Don’t let anyone or anything steal your peace and if you can’t make it better, don’t make it worse. Always strive to be part of the solution, not the problem.
Visualize the goal ~ Take a minute to visualize and think about your real life goals. You come to work for what? A house, a car, to eat, to travel, to pay off all your bills, to finance your own business? No matter what your life goals are, everyone comes to work for a reason. Visualize what your goals are and how you will feel when you meet those goals. This alone will help you feel more positive about the role your job plays in getting those goals met.
Take a break ~ Sometimes you just have to stop and take a break. Take a walk and change your environment even if it’s only to the bathroom. Allow your mind and body to relax for a few minutes. Don’t think about anything negative or work related but just clear your mind and breathe. Once you feel calm, gather your thoughts and refocus on the task at hand.
Laugh as much as possible ~ Finding humor in a stressful and chaotic work environment can be hard but it is possible. I have found myself just laughing about how overwhelming a situation was just to keep from crying but by doing this, I was able to lift my spirits and keep pushing forward. You can find something or somebody to make you laugh if you look hard enough. Laughter can improve almost any situation. If you can’t laugh, try smiling. I bet that if you at least try smiling, it will make you laugh to yourself because you feel so silly trying to fake a smile.
Leave in peace ~ The day is done and when you leave work, leave it at the door. Bringing the work negativity home with you will breed more negativity and invade your personal space. Work will never be completely finished because if it was, you wouldn’t have a job to go to ~ but you, my friend, only have one life to live and it should be a happy one. Make a conscious choice to leave work at work so that you can enjoy your time doing the things that you love with the people you love.
Just remember that no situation lasts forever, you need to protect your peace and that this job is a stepping stone to where you’re going. If you find yourself in a chaotic work environment, I encourage you to use a combination of these strategies to help you find some peace and sanity. If you have more ideas on how to stay positive in a chaotic work environment, leave a comment below because I would love to try them out. Sign up on the home page to receive one weekly email from Ssouthernlifestyle and as always have a blessed day!
