How to keep going on a difficult day

Some days are easy. Most are not. How can you keep going on a difficult day, when you want to give up and go home? Here’s how.

First, catch your breath.

When you’re stressed, one of the first things to suffer is your breathing. You hold your breath, waiting for the next shoe to drop. And you’re exhausted. Whether you’re getting pressure at home or at work, you’re anxious that you might not be up to the task at hand.

What can you do?

When you feel overwhelmed, the first thing to go is perspective. All you can see is where you aren’t. Your focus is down and back, looking at your failure and your weakness.

You feel bad. You may be mad at someone for putting you into this impossible box with no time left; you may be mad at yourself; you may be sad that you have wasted so much time; you might feel like a chump.

Time to reset. Look up and look around. Get yourself out of the spiral. Take another breath. Get your mind off yourself.

Find a point.

Pick a destination. Somewhere beyond yourself. Somewhere on the horizon. It can be almost anything, anywhere. Don’t overthink it. The point is to find something beyond yourself.

Choose the most attractive option. If you have two or three possibilites, pick one of them.

For example: let’s say your day is off to a rough start. You have to do something you don’t want to, and you’re feeling low. Looking beyond where you are at the moment, you see the beach, a nice meal, and a little bit of exercise.

Choose the exercise.

The beach sounds great. But you don’t really have time for that today. The nice breakfast sounds pretty good, too. And then there’s the exercise.

Movement is key.

If you were to move your body for 20 – 30 minutes, you would feel better faster than if you ate the good meal, or went to the beach.

Why? Because unless you live at the beach, it takes awhile to get there. And unless you’re starving or never treat yourself (two extremes, I realize) a good meal will only take you far.

But a little exercise will take you a long way, quickly. So please listen to this brief talk (about 16 minutes) by Chris Wharton — and then come right back for today’s takeaway.

The takeaway:

Even on a difficult day, you can get a fresh perspective with a little bit of exercise. Don’t wait until you feel like it. Just do it.

Read more.

I can help you get perspective on a difficult day with a little bit of exercise.