Who hasn’t either heard or said the phrase “this is the worst week ever”? There is probably not a person alive who has not uttered this phrase at some point in their life. The worst weeks are often filled with emotion, an overwhelming sense of helplessness or lack of control, and often consumed with negativity. The irony is that the ultimate determination whether a week (or day) is actually good or bad is often within a person’s own control.
How does one avoid having a bad week let alone the worst week ever? The answer is quite simple; have a positive productive week. There are 3 Steps to a Productive Week.
- Do the worst first – The unfortunate reality of life is that every responsible person has to do daunting or uncomfortable tasks (such as discipline an employee, complete a time-consuming boring assignment, pay bills, etc.). There is little or no desire to complete such tasks which often results in the procrastination – creating a level of anxiety due to the stress of knowing the task still needs to be done. As a result, this has an indirect negative impact on other areas of life. Positive activities are clouded with the stress of still needing to complete the daunting task – which evaporates any enjoyment of the moment. Therefore, do the worst first. Whatever the most daunting or difficult task of the week prioritizes to be completed first. Once it is done, the weight/pressure is gone and there will be a clear positive focus on the remainder of the week.
- Be Organized – Stress is often amplified when there is lack of control. How many times have you fallen victim to not managing your day but allowing your day to manage you? Although it is understood that there are many variables that can occur within any given hour of any given day when there is a defined plan, schedule, or strategy to the week each variable encountered can be easily managed. The organization is taking a proactive approach to increase the opportunity for success. Lack of organization is taking a reactionary approach that although can result in success always includes a certain degree of luck and an increased level of stress.
- Power of Positivity – Every day is filled with both positive and negative elements. A lot of good can occur in a day with only an isolated incident of frustration (or bad); however, human nature will sometimes result in only focusing on the bad element of the day. Often there is a need to then share the bad element with another – which will suck any positive energy immediately out of them as well. Energy spreads – both positive and negative. Every action has a reaction. It is the reaction that defines our state of mind. Although energy is contagious, positivity often attracts while negativity often repels. In the end what is important is that we frequently and objectively look at ourselves to realize where our focus lies – are we spending more of our mental energy focusing on the positive or negative experiences of our day. While negativity promotes frustration and stress, positivity promotes productivity and success.
The Worst Week is the result of a non-productive stressful week while a Good Week is the result of a productive positive week. Both weeks have the same objective or goal for the week. However, the Good Week not only has an objective/goal but also has a plan or strategy of how to achieve the goal. Often the plan consists
of only 3 basic steps – (1) Do the worst first, (2) Be Organized, and (3) Power of Positivity. What will be the outcome of your week?
Husband, father, coffee connoisseur and lover of all things hockey. At 51 I sometimes wonder have I done enough. I have been married to my best friend for 30 years. She knows all my faults and loves me anyway, As a father of “almost always” perfect boys, I am always surprised at what life has to offer. It is messy, scary, thrilling, and always fun.
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