5 Tips for Overcoming Tough Days at Work

I love my work and yet sometimes I find myself having a bad day. I know I’m not alone. I’m told even Picasso didn’t like cleaning his brushes. I’m fortunate to support many individuals who want to maximize the professional impact they have and learn to reduce daily stress.

Recent research from the Association for Psychological Science aligns with my own coaching experience. They say, “Chronic workplace stress not only impacts emotional wellbeing, but also leads to significant physical health issues and cognitive impairments.” I want to take this opportunity to share a story about a client with lessons you can use.


Sandra (not her real name) is an experienced project manager in a technology firm. Her job requires here to work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure software updates are released on time with no bugs. In our first coaching session, she described a typical day with meetings, both remote and in person, to resolve problems within tight time frames. She liked her work, yet she was ending each day feeling drained.


Lesson 1: Recognize what gives you purpose and meaning in your work. Help others connect those dots so they too can find joy in their efforts.
I asked Sandra to tell me what she liked about being a project manager. Her face lit up as she described collaborating with her teammates to solve problems. I reflected to Sandra that this was “her why”.


Lesson 2: Notice how your skills and talents contribute to others. Being of service is one of the hallmarks of being self-actualized according to Abraham Maslow.
As a project manager, Sandra told me that she found much purpose and meaning in igniting creativity in others which translated into tangible results.


Lesson 3: Stay curious. Adopt the mindset of a beginner. When we challenge ourselves to keep learning, we avoid becoming complacent.
Sandra developed lunch and learn programs where company executives would host conversations to give Sandra’s colleagues greater insight into how their work contributed to the overall success of the company.


Lesson 4: Actively express gratitude and recognize the accomplishments of others. Gratitude in the workplace leads to increased job satisfaction, improved mental health, and stronger team cohesion.
Sandra used the company’s Slack channel to acknowledge the contributions of others.


Lesson 5: Care for yourself. Take time for breaks. Apply the benefits of mindfulness exercises and intentional breathing. Remember to “put your mask on first before helping others”.  You will naturally be a role model, particularly if you openly share about your self-care practices.
Sandra shared her self-care practices of stress reduction through mindfulness. She offered to help team members tailor a personal self-care regimen for themselves.


Soon Sandra was back on track. She was able to be more proactive rather than reactive when unexpected problems occurred. She reported feeling more energy at the end of a day.


Please contact me for complimentary and confidential conversations to explore how you too can apply these lessons to help your body and your mind to stay energized and excited to tackle new challenges each day.


Tom Drucker has an MA in Clinical Psychology and an All But Dissertation from the UCLA Business School. He is a founding partner of Consultants in Corporate Innovation, transforming leaders, processes and company cultures. He is also a Managing Director at Janas Investment Bank.