Days at Work Shouldn’t Feel Like The Revenant. If They Do, Read This

Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of revenge-fuelled Hugo Glass in The Revenant won the actor his first Oscar for a reason; it was a brutal and utterly believable depiction of a man going through hell. Comparing it to a day at work may, therefore, sound a little far-fetched.

Stick with me here, though. For while DiCaprio could leave the brilliant production design behind at the end of a day’s filming and go back to his normal life, a tough day at work can have long lasting effects.

If you feel like each day you spend in the office is akin to trudging through knee-deep snow and battling with eight-foot killer bears, I’ve got some good news. You can get yourself out of the quagmire with 5 simple morale-boosting techniques.

Read on, Mr. Glass.

1. Stop doing everything

Whether you’re in management, on the shop floor or running your own business, you’re probably trying to do too much. The word ‘delegation’ exists for a reason; if someone else should be doing a particular task, hand it over.

Similarly, lean on automation tools to take repetitive, menial tasks off your desk.

2. Make your to-do list your bible

You can no longer see the wood for the trees. There is just far too much to do. Your mind is constantly racing with the ever-growing list of tasks you’ve agreed to undertake. Fear not, because if you break all that ‘stuff’ up into bite-sized tasks, you’ll start to clear the forest within your mind.

Create a to-do list and use it every day. Set tasks which are achievable and be honest with yourself when it comes to what you can complete within a day’s work.

3. Speak to your boss

If you’ve worked yourself into a hole and feel there’s no way out, it’s time to speak to your boss. Reaching out to the person above you will immediately remove some of the weight from your back and good bosses will always want to know when their staff is unhappy.

4. Look for another job

If all else fails and you’ve been in a job-related rut for a number of years, it’s time to look elsewhere. The grass may well be greener on the other side of the fence and you should never, ever settle.

Consider switching industries entirely or studying for a brand new career. A new focus will help lift your spirits and give you something to aim for.

5. Become the ruler of email

Email should never rule you. It may very well be the root cause of your angst. Do you check your inbox every five minutes, hoping desperately that you won’t receive an email from a troublesome customer or colleague? Do you toil over replies and spend forever rewriting your response to the boss?

Email isn’t a tool for gaining people’s attention. Treat it like an advanced form of snail mail and check it only two to three times per day.

Summary

Quite often, the source of work-based problems are the simplest and lay right under our nose. The 5 tips above hit on some of the most common sources of anguish, but there are plenty more.

If you still feel like Hugo Glass after exhausting the above list, it’s time to take a much needed holiday and remind yourself of what is important.

Image credit