4 Ways to Stay Positive

by Denene Brox |

Feeling a bit down or bored? Everyone experiences periods of not feeling enthusiastic about life or work. But as a nurse, it’s important to remain positive for your patients. If you’re feeling down in your personal life, those feelings can creep into your work day. The same is true for feeling down about your job. If those feelings grow large enough, they can follow you home.
Here are four easy tips for increasing your positivity and elevating your overall mood.
Surround Yourself with Positive People
If your co-workers or certain family members are always gossiping or bringing you down, limit your time with them. Go for a walk during your breaks instead of the employee lounge if that’s where negativity lives. Take charge and turn negative conversations with friends and colleagues into positive ones. You don’t have to dwell in negativity. Either remove yourself from those situations or drastically decrease your exposure to them.
Avoid the Media
Too much news and even celebrity gossip can take a toll on your outlook. Again, limit your exposure. There’s no reason to watch 24 hour news channels for hours on end – especially when you aren’t getting any new information on a news story and instead are listening to negative chatter and opinions. While it’s important to remain knowledgeable about what’s going on in the world, find a balance and limit your exposure.
Practice Gratitude
It’s true that counting your blessings can shift your mood and help you out of a slump. Many of us take things such as our homes, cars, food, clothing, clean drinking water and electricity for granted. But if you’re feeling negative, stop and consider how fortunate you are to have your basic needs met and to work in a field where you are literally changing lives every day. Start the practice of keeping a daily gratitude journal by writing three to five things you are thankful for each day.
Exercise
Working out is not only good for your body, it’s also great for your mood! According to WebMD, regular exercise has been proven to reduce stress and ward off depression. Remember that walk during your work breaks? That’s an easy way to get in some regular exercise and avoid workplace gossip all at once. So get moving!
Denene Brox is a Kansas City-based freelance writer. 

Denene Brox