Maintaining a positive attitude might seem impossible at times, particularly for those who have high-stress jobs or spend the entire workday around pessimistic, unhappy people. While you might not be able to change the attitudes of those around you, you can decide where to place your attention inside and outside the workplace. Follow these tips for maintaining an overall positive attitude to ensure you don't fall victim to the negativity surrounding you at work.
Avoid Negative Conversations
Your interactions with people can directly impact your mood, so make a conscious effort to avoid people who enjoy engaging in the latest gossip or speaking negatively about others. Don't feel bad about ending a conversation and walking away if it turns negative; this action might keep the person from engaging with you in the future. It's also important to avoid people who are generally pleasant in nature but tend to complain about having chronic pain, feeling lonely or experiencing financial hardships. These conversations are likely to make you feel bad, so end them quickly to maintain a positive attitude throughout the day.
Limit Social Media Time
Social media platforms have their perks, as they are great for networking and keeping in contact with family members and friends. However, you must use social networking platforms with caution if you want to maintain a positive attitude. Most social media platforms are filled with links promoting negative news headlines and celebrity gossip. Social media platforms also encourage individuals share information, prompting millions of people to share negative images, videos and memes. Children and adults regularly engage in cyberbullying on some of the most popular social media platforms, and public arguments are extremely common. Social media addiction is also becoming increasingly common, and falling victim to this phenomenon can greatly hamper your productivity. To increase your chance of maintaining a positive attitude, limit the amount of time you spend on social media, and only use these platforms for their positive aspects.
Express Gratitude Daily
Expressing gratitude daily is one of the best and easiest strategies for maintaining a positive attitude. It's easy to express gratitude to the people around you by simply saying "thank you" or offering a big smile. Genuinely thank coworkers for their acts of kindness, no matter how big or small. Express gratitude to someone who held the door open for you or picked up an item you accidentally dropped. Consider keeping a gratitude journal, and write in it daily to improve your outlook and overall psychological health.
Negative information and environments can have a detrimental impact on your attitude, outlook, productivity and overall quality of life, so it's important to take steps to avoid all types of negativity by keeping your attention focused on positive things. Take time off to regroup and recharge when you're feeling overwhelmed, and always resist the temptation to complain or engage with those who constantly display negative behaviors if you want to maintain a positive attitude.
Photo courtesy of George Moukas at Flickr.com
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