Have you ever noticed that when you are around certain people, your motivation seems to wane and you get into a bad mood? That’s actually a common problem, especially for employees at work. Motivation drainers can make it difficult for any group to come together, and their negative attitudes can sap you of your energy and drive to get things done. Unfortunately, you can’t always get rid of motivation drainers, especially if they are your co-workers. In some situations, if they are toxic friends, you can get rid of them. But that isn’t always a possibility, so you need to be prepared to develop ways that you can cope and bounce back after negative energy tries to take hold of you. Here’s how you can be better prepared to deal with motivation drainers:
Getting Rid Of Negative People
In some situations, as we previously outlined, it won’t be possible to get rid of negative people. They might be your co-workers, for example. But if they are your friends or acquaintances, that is a different story. First, approach your friend and let them know how their constant negativity is affecting you. If they won’t change, or claim that they aren’t being negative at all, then it is time to limit your exposure. There is a difference between a friend being a realist (trying to prevent you from investing in a scam for example) and being constantly negative (downplaying your dreams and accomplishments all of the time). Don’t let that negativity fester and drag your attitude down with it.
Stop Letting the Past Keep You Stuck
Sometimes the motivation drainer isn’t another person—it is yourself. If you have ever let past failures keep you from trying to reach your goal, then you need to reassess your own attitude. Fear of failure is strong, but with good practice you can overcome it. The past doesn’t determine your future. If you didn’t graduate college, that doesn’t mean you can’t go back to school and have success. If you haven’t gotten promoted yet, that doesn’t mean it isn’t going to happen. Challenge your own negative self-assumptions and strive to reach the next level.
Remember To Recharge
If you are dealing with negative people that you can’t avoid at work, then make sure that you recharge. This will help you to process the negativity and balance it out with things you enjoy, such as hiking, jogging, painting, or listening to music. Find something that you are passionate about and let that be your balance. You can recharge at night after work, or on the weekends when you have more time. Just make sure that you take the time to do so, so that work doesn’t leave you feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
* Tree Photo by Jeff King.
