How to Stop a Rough Morning From Ruining Your Entire Day

By Brian Maynor

 

Mornings can be rough, especially if you’re not particularly a morning person like myself.  The motto of ‘don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee’ certainly rings true in my house, but when you work for a company early mornings are part of the package.  So how do you deal?

It’s not surprising, new or an earth shattering revelation that how we feel in the morning carries over into our performance at work, but what is new are the ways employers are trying to account for those moods and help alleviate them.

While it is impossible to have a do-over, there are ways to offset the effects so it doesn’t impact the rest of your day.  Here are some of the most recent trends and techniques:

Morale-boosting messages.  Since everyone is constantly connected to email, so managers are finding it beneficial to send a short, simple inspirational message to their team first thing in the morning.  Most of the time emails prompt anxiety and a never-ending to-do list, but these messages ask nothing of the employee.  They simply encourage a happy and productive day.

Providing food and recognition.  Food always helps put people in a good mood, so if morning meetings are part of your company’s culture it is a definite advantage to have food and beverages readily available.  Another way to bolster morale at morning meetings is to recognize achievements and goals instead of simply laying out a battle plan.

Time to simply adjust to the day.  Sometimes the best way to help offset a rough morning is to do nothing at all.  Giving people space and time to acclimate and adjust to the new day is actually very beneficial.  We all need time to just breathe, center ourselves and let go of outside stress as much as possible if we want to focus on being productive at our jobs.  Some managers are taking this one step further and allowing people to have time to chat with colleagues and waiting until later in the morning before addressing any issues or reprimands.

Playing music.  Background music often goes unnoticed, but there is no doubt it has a psychological effect on our moods.  Remember, music soothes the savage beast. Whether it’s simply classical or soft mood music, having it serve as white noise will help ease stress and tension on a subconscious level.

Bad mornings happen, and sometimes there just isn’t a way to shake it all off before walking into work, but it’s nice to know there is a movement to help companies and managers recognize that what happens before work has an impact on what happens at work.  If your company isn’t quite there yet, know these tips work just as well on an individual level.

 

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I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.