How to Stay Positive When Things Slow Down
Let's face it: When things slow down, it can be hard to stay positive. You're still working hard, but you're not getting the same results you'd been used to in the past.
As a motivational speaker, pretty much all of the work I do is based on the time of year. When summer hits, things massively slow down. Employees go on holiday, meaning that team events are pretty much unheard of in the sunny months. Nevertheless, the team and I carry on working as if we are fully booked.
A lot of people think that success is just about how much work they put in and the results they see. They don't factor in the importance of creating opportunities for themselves—whether that means taking on a new project or making their own luck by networking more with other people who have similar interests. The good news is there are plenty of ways to stay positive when things slow down, even if they do feel like they'll never pick back up again.
Hope
This is one of those times when you're going to want to think about hope. Hope is a powerful thing, and it's what keeps us going when things slow down. It gives us the strength to keep going in the face of adversity and failure, because we know that eventually something will work—we just have to be patient enough for it to happen!
Hope is often referred to as "the thing with feathers," but this doesn't mean that hope only comes in one colour or size or shape; in fact, it means that there are lots of different kinds of hope out there! However, in order to have hope you need to possess a certain personality trait, and that is…
Confidence
Confidence is a state of mind. It is the result of past experience, current ability, future expectations and a positive mental attitude. Confidence comes from inside you—it is based on your self-image, which means how you see yourself in your mind's eye. If you have high self-esteem, then it’s easier for you to be confident because you love who you are!
The most successful people that I meet say that they are never surprised when they succeed because they believed all along that they could do it, despite external opinions and judgement. I speak a lot about confidence and how it's not something that you can give as a gift, it's something that comes from within. When you feel confident in yourself and the future ahead of you, that means that you can stay positive when things start to slow down.
Fresh Air
It’s surprising how much your mood can change just by stepping outside. A walk in the park, a jog through the woods or simply, a gentle stroll through the town centre. Whatever it may be, fresh air promotes positivity, productivity and a strong work ethic. For me, a sunny garden is an excellent place to relax, meditate and enjoy the company of nature, although you probably already know this.
What you may not know however, is the incredible impact that working from the garden can have on you and your team. It is commonly said that gardens are a great source of inspiration for artists, writers, musicians and other creative types, but what about those less creative roles? Well you’ll be pleased to hear that the impact is exactly the same.
When the heatwave arrived in the UK, I knew that my team wouldn't want to spend their work-day cooped up inside the office away from the lovely weather. So I created an outdoor working space, where my team and I can get our work done and bounce ideas off of one another, whilst soaking up the benefits of summer.
This helps my team and I to flourish, collaborate and avoid the summer FOMO.
When things at work slow down, this is when you need to rely on your positivity. When things slow down and you’re stuck in a rut, remember that every experience is an opportunity to learn something new. Even when things slow down, you can still stay positive by combining your strengths and focusing on what’s important. Just remember, hope, confidence and fresh air!!
If you enjoyed this blog and want to find out more ways to improve your work-life and SMASH IT then check out some more of our blogs, right here.
