You’ve tried three times in a row, and not succeeded — how come you can’t figure this out? Your coworker’s late again, putting you behind the 8-ball — you’d like to wring her neck. Frustration with yourself or others winds you up and sucks the energy right out of you, stealing your productivity.
So, what can you do? If you don’t let frustration get to you, you can work through or even use it. How?
Be here now.
When you let frustration get to you, you measure yourself against a future you haven’t yet achieved. If you want to tunnel through frustration, be here now. Check in with yourself and focus your energy on what you CAN do. Then, use your focus to power to your next step.
Learn your triggers
Does waiting for someone to get ready trigger you? Do people who disrupt your work drive you nuts? If either is true, you let those who don’t meet your expectations throw you off your game. The alternative – give them only change and then problem-solve so other’s actions don’t derail you. For example, if a chronically late friend drives you crazy, don’t put yourself in situations in which you depend on her promptness.
Re-evaluate
Frustration can mean you need to reassess yourself, or the way things are going and change your course. If you’re spinning your wheels and what you’re doing isn’t working, it’s time to figure out a way to change things up.
Alternatively, if most things come easily to you, projects that require slow, hard work can make you feel you’re not getting anywhere.
Create a blast through
When it feels like nothing is working, search yourself. Dig deep and decide it’s time to prove what you’re made of – and create the breakthrough you need. Deciding that failure is not an option takes you from “nothing’s working” to “what do I need to do to get there” and “I’m doing it.”
