There have been some days when, as soon as I step my foot into the door of my workplace, everything just seemed to go BAD.  Decisions to make with no good options, conflicts to manage, unexpected fires to put out, and so on and so on.  I've been quick to label these days as bad and write off the whole day.  As a result, I usually dragged that bad day with me all the way home and created havoc in my home environment (which should have been my sanctuary).  What have I learned after too many "bad days"?  There are 24 hours in every day--it is a rarity for every minute of that 24 hours to be spent in disaster, so I decided to stop giving my whole day up to a "bad" label and start looking for the good things that happened in or came out of that bad day.

1. Did I demonstrate my leadership skills by making a tough decision, solving a problem, or coaching someone else to solve a problem?
2. Did I take a step towards a goal today, even if it were a small step?
3. Did I accomplish a task today that was urgent, whether expected or unexpected?
4. Did I establish or build a relationship with an employee, peer, or supervisor today?
5. Did I learn something new today? (Even if it was what NOT to do in the future!)
6. Do I have my health?
7. Do I have my job?
8. Can I still find something to smile about or celebrate?

Not every tough day deserves a bad day label.  In fact, it is the tough days that defines us as leaders.  Practice looking for the silver linings and remember that your 24 hours is not completely defined by the hours you spend working.

If you work 60 or more hours a week, bring your work home, dream about your work, and are always on call, you know what it means to be a workaholic.  For workaholics, weekends and holidays are for catching up on work, not rest and fun.  There are several problems with being a workaholic: 1) you don't have time for the things that matter most, like family and friends; 2) you get burned out and your health (mental and physical) will suffer; and 3) people begin to expect you to work all the time.  

Everyone needs a break.  Working 24/7 doesn't benefit anyone and if you're on salary, you probably aren't making any more extra money by doing so.  The fact is, some things on your to-do list can wait.  Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize!  When you prioritize, you can find that the world will not cease spinning if you put a task off until tomorrow so you can enjoy an evening or holiday with friends and family (and rest!).

If you are having trouble prioritizing and setting boundaries with your boss and coworkers, I'm here to help!  I have strategies that you can use to determine what needs to be done now and what can wait and how you can get others to respect your boundaries.  Call or email today!