19 Productive Things To Remember When Things Aren’t Going Your Way

1. Good things ARE coming your way. And as hard as it is when everything is going up in flames, you need to remember that. It will keep you sane to remember this, and also, it’s true.

2. You need to be patient. Even when it feels impossible. Good things, most unfortunately, don’t always come down the pipeline all at once. It can be more of a positive trickle than a rainstorm of opportunity, but ultimately, you can make even a few ounces of good into so much more.

3. People are busy. If you’re waiting on a phone call or an email, try to keep in mind that whoever you’re waiting on is swamped. It sucks, and it’s hard not to take it personally when someone says they’ll get back to you on Wednesday and then you don’t hear from them. But it doesn’t mean you won’t hear from them, it just means they’re busy and it may take a bit longer.

4. Sometimes in order to work better, you need to refocus. You need to work smarter. Working hard and working smart are two different things. If you’re working eight hours, but are half-assing the whole time, then you may as well just work hard for four hours instead. In other words, refocus yourself, take a good look at your working style, and try to boost your productivity (and cut your work time in the process).

5. Refreshing pages will not make an email or text message come to you any faster. Refreshing Facebook, dragging your mail down on your phone to see if a new message will appear, and compulsively checking for text notifications is doing nothing to help you.

6. It’s important to give people space, and it’s important to give yourself time. While you’re giving others their space, make sure you give yourself the alone time you crave, too. Even if you’re effortlessly extroverted, it’s still important to clear your head, and think through things on your own.

7. If you’re ever at a complete loss for what to do, doing a simple but rejuvenating workout is a great move. When you’re frustrated with how things are going, upset with people, or disappointed with work, try clearing your head by changing your clothes and going for a run, a walk, a hike, or a swim and leaving it all behind.

8. You have to make your own luck. Sitting at home and expecting your job situation to magically change, or your personal life to fix itself isn’t the answer. Waiting for great opportunities will never be as fruitful as going out and finding them.

9. Taking your mind off it might help alleviate your concerns. When it feels like nothing is going right, of course it’s on your mind, but you can’t sit and brood every second of every day. So if you need a break, take one.

10. Positive thinking will help. It might not solve everything, but you need to work hard to keep your spirits up and stay positive. Reminding yourself that good things are coming to you is part of the battle, after all.

11. You need to be getting your rest. And when you’re worried, and feeling a little defeated, it’s hard to remember that you NEED your sleep. Eight hours. Goals.

12. How capable you really are. You need to remind yourself of all the positive things you have to offer the people around you. You are valuable to all of your personal relationships and to all the work you touch. If it helps, make a list of all your best attributes. Put your pen to paper, and don’t be too humble.

13. You can always talk it out with a friend or family member. You are not a burden on anyone for needing to talk. You would do the same for the people in your life. When you need to spill and vent, find someone you trust and ask if they have time to chat.

14. You deserve to treat yourself to a night of de-stressing. Having some cheap, go-to treat yo’self activities to help you unwind after a rough day will absolutely help boost your morale. Make yourself a nice dessert, draw a bubble bath, or find a sappy movie to watch with a friend.

15. When doors close, others open. And that’s true whether we’re talking about relationships, opportunities to move to a new place, jobs, or anything else. Not every opportunity is going to pan out, which can be really defeating, especially when you feel like you need a win. But remember that when one option goes up in flames, you’ll find a better alternative.

16. The only person who creates consequences for change is yourself. You are the vehicle of change in your own life, and you are the one who needs to be in control.

17. This will always sound trite, but you have to believe in yourself. It’s going to have to be one of the very first steps before you START becoming that vehicle for change. You need to really have faith that you can do it. Which you can, by the way.

18. And you can’t feel selfish putting your own happiness first. Especially when there are various factors moving all around you that you can’t control, you need to remember that you can be in control of your own life, and that means putting your well-being first. It isn’t selfish; sometimes it’s just incredibly necessary.

19. You can’t let people make you feel inferior. There’s a reason Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote is repeated so often: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”