We've all had a crummy day or week.  You know those times when everything seems to go wrong and any bit of news is bad news?  That week when a major deployment you’re managing hits a massive (or even small) snag?  They hit all of us differently, from shrugging and moving on, to getting worked up emotionally, to taking it entirely personally.  For most of us they’re not fun (especially if you feel like you’re responsible for the problem!), but there are ways to help get through them.

Separate the emotion

Emotions are great tools in many situations, but when we’re evaluating a problem they can get in the way.   At the very least the emotions of "I screwed up", "I hate I have to XYZ" and others suck up mental bandwidth we should be applying to solving the issue.  At worst they end up catching us in an endless cycle of "I'm terrible, I can't do anything".

The first step is to simply acknowledge that your emotions are getting the way.  This is easier said than done, but feelings of anxiety are generally a good indication that emotion may be clouding things.  Taking time to write down how you’re feeling can also help clear out, or at least minimize emotional responses.  Having a friend or colleague at work you feel comfortable talking to is also incredibly helpful.  They can both help you identify what the actual problem is and figure out good steps forward.

Keep moving and find the positive

During a crummy day/week finding small wins, or even making tiny amounts of progress, can help turn things around.  Finding these wins gives you an anchor, something to point at and say “yeah, it’s not so bad”.  These moments can also help improve your emotional state, helping to dig yourself out of that hole as well.

I find it easiest to review the current work I have and seeing what low-hanging fruit exists.  There’s almost always something you can pick off in 15-30 minutes that will move the needle.  Maybe it's something “too small” to do normally, or something that is a passion project.  In this case it doesn’t really matter WHAT it is, just that it is something you can accomplish and feel good about.

Make a Connection

Talking through the crumminess can also be a big help.  Ideally there’s someone at your workplace that you can speak with and just go over what happened.  At the very least they can be a sounding board for you to just get everything out.  More likely they can offer some insight into what’s going on, possible steps forward and the like.

Speaking to folks outside the office can also help, although they may not be able to offer the same insight as a colleague (if only because they don’t work with you).  This, however, can be an advantage; they’re not also in the same situation and have a different perspective.  At the very least you can unload a bit with someone you trust.