LinkedIn Answers Discussion: How Do You Break Out of a Mental Funk at Work?
I recently wrote an article sharing 3 ideas about breaking out of a mental funk at work. In the article, I talked about changing your physicality, changing your mental patterns, and reading inspirational quotes as ways to break out of a mental funk.
Next, I reached out to the Dot Connector Group on LinkedIn and LinkedIn Answers to see what other people do to break out of a mental funk.
Here’s what they had to say:
Josh Chernin General Manager at Web Industries; Itinerant Writer; and Decent Little League Coach
- Two things that work for me: learning something (anything) new; and finding a new project. I like variety and a fast pace, sol when I need a pick-me-up I find somethign new to get involved in.
John Cameron ROCK SOLID Business Coach : I’m the guy business owners call when they want more Traction
- Do something that you enjoy and/or are good at, but haven’t done for a while. Same goes for calling an old friend.
Erik Roelofs Concept Developer / Coder at Webgamic
- Try to get better a your job. Regardless of what it is, you could always do it better. Read about this one in The art of game design and it rings very true. The only way to enjoy your job is by making it like a play-activity; by trying to always do it better. http://www.amazon.com/Art-Game-Design-book-lenses/dp/0123694965
Ramesh Kumar CTO at Eduquity
- When you enjoy your work, generally, you dont get bored. But, some times we need to do something, which we dont like.I dont like making proposals! I consider that as some one else’s work. But, invariably, I start penning down to give inputs to the marketing guys. In the process, if I get bored, I get up , walk to my friends and discuss anything but the work! Else, I start looking for news and new technologies and spend some time on net ( linkedin as well) and go back to work! Some times I may listen to Music!
Dave Rigotti Independent Internet Marketing Contractor
- Change up the location. Being a mobile freelancer, I like to change up coffee houses to break up the standard routine. http://daverigotti.com
Kelley Olsen, SPHR Board Member at Money Wi$e Women
- I like to watch the clock. In other words, how quickly can I get this done if I hunker down and focus?Often I get lost in finding perfection, so I ask, “When is good enough, good enough?”Other times its simply, getting a cup of coffee to stare out the window and ponder the things that are really important to me. If I hate my job that day, I love the home I return to. If I hate the boss that day, I love the family I return to. If I hate the weather that day, I remember the warm summer days are coming.
Dave “The WireMan” Maskin WireNames.com “A strand of wire is transformed into a work of art at your next event” 100% recycled wire (LION) DaveMaskin@yahoo.com
- My work is also my hobby. Therefore, I’m automatically NOT in a mental funk at “work”. Works for the WireMan…
Susan Shwartz PhD AVP, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., financial marketing writer
- Like Josh, I enjoy learning something new and finding a new project — or a new person to work with. That’s the part that work brings to the table. The part that I bring to the table? If I’m in a funk, maybe I’m fighting off a cold, not getting enough sleep, have unresolved Issues with a project or a coworker, or bringing something outside of work into the workplace. My obligation in that case is to take care of myself and work through whatever is troubling me.Or, it maybe that I need some new stimuli on the outside, which is a good time for moderate retail therapy, music, art, a break in general.
Bernard Gore Facilitation, Project & Programme Management
- Do something that completely engages and focusses your mind on it, that breaks the cycle of thinking about whatever is causing the funk, and when you go back to it you will find you can approach it fresh and positively.I use Tai Chi – unlike most exercise which only engages the body to do tai Chi properly requires total focus on it, which blanks out everything else. I find that at a certain level I can just think through the Tai Chi form without actually doing it and get much the same effect without physically requiring the space etc.I know other people who use other things – very hard mental puzzles, juggling, total-immersion video games, all of them seem to work, the key factor is that the activity must require 100%, so that everything else gets sidelined.Does help to work in an enlightened organisation – some bosses would struggle to accept any of the above as part of the workday!
Mike Fransz Chief Brand Warrior
- Begin with a sip of a cup of coffee or can of CRUNK!!! Energy Drink. Then I grab my planner & begin chunking my business up from largest piece to smallest piece. I then set up some times to execute the following tasks. If’ I’m still funky… I’ll take a 2 minute break and find something in life to laugh at. Usually by the time I get back, I’m in a good mood and I’ve got my plan in front of me to execute.
Christopher Kaufman Interactive Design Director at Quicken Loans
- I find that taking a short walk (outside if the weather permits) is a big help. Sometimes a funk can be caused by sitting in the same place for hours and a walk is all that’s needed to renew your energy. Switching projects for a couple of hours is good if you’re working on a big project. Working on the same thing for a long period can be draining, mentally and physically. Switching things up gives you a new, fresh perspective on things.
Brian Macias Helping People and Organizations Lead, Sell, and Serve
- To change your mindset, you have to change your physical state. I like to jump out of my seat, fist pump, clap, sometimes rock out a sweet karate kick, and/or take a quick stroll. Given I don’t know karate, a “sweet karate kick” may be an overstatement.
Clay(ton) Closson Web Content Manager at Quicken Loans
- Write a blog post about something really interesting and fun. That’s pretty easy to do when part of your job is write for the DIFF blog. If you aren’t lucky enough to have something like the DIFF as part of your professional life, drink 4 cups of coffee really fast, think about the great food you are having for dinner and remind yourself that your job is paying for it all. It works every time! Or, find some 3rd party verification that you are doing a good job. Like a prominent blogger or journal quoting your work as “an excellent example of something.” Trust me, it feels good when I see Quicken Loans YouTube efforts called one of the best examples of a business using YouTube. Knocks that funk right away.
Stacy Thomson Marketing Analyst at Idea Integration
- My approach depends on the amount of time I have to “take a break.” If I have a short amount of time, I like to “reset” <stop, take a deep breath, stretch, breathe out and remind myself that stress is temporary, I can find a solution and I make my day what it is>. Once I feel reset or focus, I continue back on what I was working on. If I have some time to spare, I will get up, stretch, use the restroom, get both a water and a coffee (water releases toxins from your body and from your muscles and helps you to relax. Coffee helps me to focus and refresh). I find this way I am not dwelling on my funk or frustration, but I am “on a mission” and am also being good to my body. Overall, I find a funk or stress or frustration is typically worse when I am tired, have not eaten or need to hydrate. When I take care of myself and put things in perspective (at the end of the day, everything works out as it works out; I just need to stay calm, focused and in tune with myself).
When I do these things, I find I am able to have a less stressful and more productive day! Happy de-funking!
Posted in: Leadership, Personal Development