11 tips for maintaining your peace at work

The alarm goes off, the dog jumps on you and licks your face, you can hear the garbage truck outside, the birds chirping and then there is you – on your back or curled up in a ball wishing it was Saturday. You don’t mind your job as a matter of fact you’re grateful you have one but...those PEOPLE! They can be such energy suckers and yesterday was no exception. The politics, the office mummers, and the mean girl cleeks ugh who needs that? I mean you have enough going on right? Replaying last’s weeks meeting in your head and trying to figure out how you could have responded better? Or is a colleague taking credit for your work, or is your cubicle neighbour making another office announcement of her trip to the washroom? If this sounds familiar, then we have something in common.

I would replay past encounters or conversations in my mind like a broken record...usually fixating on the ones that left a bad taste in my mouth. I've realized work is a place that can cause your emotions to run wild if unchecked. It can test your patience, self worth, bruise your ego, cause tension, and fill your mind with negativity and anxiety.

The reality is our workplace is where we spend the majority of our day and if we had our way, we would fire everyone who ever pissed us off. Something like a simple hello can turn into a 10-minute energy sucking conversation as you put your lunch in fridge. Poor you…by the time you get to your desk that kryptonite has sucked your life force out of you and you haven’t even logged onto your computer yet.

So how do you maintain your peace and sanity when everything around you seem so negative? I believe the answer lies within your mind. No seriously, mind over matter. It’s the realization that your well being is a priority and the only person that can steal your joy is you by allowing others and circumstances to steal it from you. This mindset shift won’t be easy. It will require willingness on your part to want to change and practice, practice, practice!

Oh, and in case you’re wondering if I’m an expert at this…nope! As a matter of fact, I’m a work in progress. But I’ve managed to put together my top 11 tips on how NOT to land in your bosses’ office for a time out lecture on how to get along with others.

Starting your day on the right foot

1. Wake up on time

I am notorious for hitting the snooze button way too many times then realize in a panic that I’ve got less than 30 minutes to be out of the house, I’ve mastered this but its very unhealthy. So, I started to put the alarm clock across my room so it forced me to get out of bed.

Developing a habit of waking up on time is the beginning of a good mood because I am allowing myself enough time to get ready to start the day.

2. 10 minutes of meditation

I’m telling you meditation is such a game changer. Take a few minutes before you start to get ready to fixate your mind on a positive state of being. For example, pick a positive word eg. “Thankful” and meditate on all the things you are thankful for. This will help you to take notice of all the blessings you have in your life and place you in a positive state before getting to the office.

3. Eat breakfast at home

Breakfast is an important meal of the day so make time for it. Eat something healthy and take the time to sit down and enjoy it. Savour each bite, relish in the aroma of your coffee or tea…just enjoy the moment. Ditch the morning rush out the door on an empty stomach.

The Office Environment

4. Do not respond with negativity no matter how tempting it may be

Often when someone asks us how we’re doing it’s soooo easy for us to use it as an opportunity to vent, but not everyone needs to or wants to hear it. Even if you don't feel like saying something positive do it anyway. For instance, if someone asks “how are you” just say I'm well thanks and keep it moving. If you ask someone how their day is going and you realize their attitude is gloomy no need to be curt, let them finish and cut the conversation short. This doesn't mean that you're being insensitive, but another person's negative attitude does not have to be your problem and you don't want to set yourself up by adding fuel to the fire.

5. Don't be an instigator

Misery loves company, and most strife that exists within the workplace is caused by people.

Don't be a part of the issue by associating with those who gossip, avoid cliques, taking sides and stay out of office politics. Peace relies on being a part of a solution rather than a continuous instigator of problems.

6. Be slow to speak

Not every situation or conversation requires your opinion. We are not an expert in everything and most of the time we don't have all the facts anyways. We lose peace when involving ourselves in things that have nothing to do with us. Learn to mind your own business.

7. Learn to let it go

This is a tough one. The office can be unfair; people may say or do things that hurt your feelings and common sense isn't always common.

You can complain to anyone who will listen about a decision management made, someone may have received credit for something you did, the pay raise you were supposed to get didn't happen and the promotion you thought was yours went to someone you felt was not only undeserving but unqualified - the list can go on and on. Some things are worth standing up for but often to maintain your peace you may have to let things go. Not every situation is worth the battle, and you will find the only person mentally and physically drained is you and the circumstances the same. This negativity can be easily shifted by focusing on the positive.

The Breather

8. Self reflect on your behaviour