Six Ways to Keep Your Energy Up in a Down Economy

Even if you have managed to find or keep your job, the constant negative news reports about the economy and employment can take its toll on your attitude and energy. This can affect your own productivity and effectiveness. Concerns about your company’s future, profitability and competitiveness in a down economy and cost cutting measures that affect your paycheck can throw water on any attempts to fire up the troops. The frustration of trying to stretch your income over a growing number of bills and the needs of a growing family can make you want to jump into bed and pull the covers over your head until next spring.

Caving in to those negative feelings and frustrations are dangerous, since demonstrating your value at the job is critical in this time of layoffs and job cuts. Here are six ways you can keep your energy up and stay positive on the job:

1. Separate office from home. Don’t take your bills to work to pay on your lunch hour. Try not to take your laptop or flash drive home and work into the night on spreadsheets or presentations. Separate the areas of your life into their appropriate time slots. Trying to handle two sets of stress at the same time doubles the anxiety.
 

2. Make a “To Do” list and stick to it. This is elementary, I know, but without a list you will always fear that something important is being left out. Whether you use a paper and pencil, Outlook, your Blackberry or Smartphone, keeping a list reminds you of what needs to be done and lets you check things off when they are completed.
 

3. Keep separate lists. One for the office, one for home or personal tasks. Again, mixing them up on one list can be overwhelming and reinforce the anxiety of not enough time to accomplish them. I use a simple note pad and keep it in my bag where I can pull it out and look at it all day, and cross things off as I go.
 

4. Take breaks. Schedule them into your day. Working constantly for eight hours is a drain on your physical and mental capacity. Get up and walk around. Walk down a flight of stairs or two, circle around the floor and walk back up. A few minutes away from a difficult project can give your brain a rest and make it easier to focus when you return
 

5. Change locations for meal breaks. To avoid complaining “doom-and-gloom” conversations in the break room, find an empty office, conference room or that perfect hideaway---your car. Tune in your favorite music, put the seat back, eat your sandwich---even close your eyes for a few minutes and take some deep breaths. A few minutes of solitude can recharge your batteries for the rest of the day.
 

6. Plan some fun things with positive friends or with the family. Put these on your calendar at work, put a circle around them, and keep the calendar where you can see it through the day. Looking forward to an event will make putting up with the stress of the job worthwhile.

Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a freelance writer, blogger, and workplace consultant. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in "Training" magazine, "Training & Development" magazine, "Supervision," "Pulse" and "The Savannah Morning News." You can read her blogs at www.skirt.com/savannahchick, www.workingsmartworks.blogspot.com/ and on the web at www.mjnhconsulting.com.