Am I the only one who has to mentally coach themselves through the workday? PLEASE tell me I’m not. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that some days are just better than others. Nevertheless, I still get frustrated whenever I do have a bad day.⁠ ⁠

“You made a mistake and now you look like an idiot.”⁠ ⁠

“It’s been a bad morning and you are so far behind. How will you ever catch up?”⁠

“You aren’t working hard or smart enough!”⁠ ⁠

I hate when nagging thoughts try to invade my mental space when I’m trying to get things done. I dislike how easy it can be to get distracted from all this background noise.⁠ ⁠

I’ve found I stay more positive throughout my workday when I do little hacks that help me refocus. These actions make it easier to reset my mindset and tune out those nagging, negative thoughts. ⁠ ⁠

Here are two of my favorite practices that I’ve put in place to help me stay positive and focused through the workday:⁠ ⁠

I like to get really present whenever I am washing my hands. I use that time as an opportunity to completely clear my mind of all thoughts and just feel the temperature of the water. I am very deliberate and thorough with how I spread the soap (especially these days). This habit helps me to re-center, stay present, and avoid the overwhelming “go, go, go” mentality.⁠ ⁠

I like to drink tea. No matter how I am feeling that steaming cup of tea in my hands helps me relax, smile, and breathe. Of course, it has to be made the right way -black breakfast tea prepared English-style with milk 😉. And it’s best served in my favorite pink teacup, stating, “I’m only talking to my dog today”.⁠

What habits help you refocus your day? They don’t have to be something grand. Perhaps, it’s as simple as drinking a warm cup of tea.💙⁠