How to Get Through a Really Bad Week at Work -The Muse

How to Get Through a Really Bad Week at Work -The MuseHow to Get Through a Really Bad Week at Work The past few weeks have been tougher than normal for me at work. And in full transparency, as Im writing this article, I want notlagehing more than to go to bed for 36 hours. Its not because I hate my job. In fact, I happen to like what I do. And yet, I still cant help but look at my laptop screen with glazed-over eyes and see nothing but a blurry Word document. If theres one thing that everyone who goes to work will ever have in common, its that some weeks will be tougher than others. While thats not necessarily the easiest thing to accept, it is important to know. If youre currently in a rough patch, Ive compiled my three best tips for helping you cope. 1. Identify Whats Making it So ToughBad week at work often goes hand-in-hand with I cant get anything right this week. And many times thats because youre currently struggling with something- whether thats a stressful project, a micro managing colleague, or a computer that keeps crashing. While identifying exactly whats upsetting you wont resolve it immediately, just pinpointing it can make you feel a little bit better. Because you can then decide if theres a fix for the situation. If so, go after itAnd if not theres not a fix, then you can hopefully at least put an end date on it- like when your projects finally over or a new computer arriving. Or at the very least, Friday almost being here. 2. Confide in Your BossOK, sometimes this just isnt possible because your boss is the worst. But if you dont work for a complete monster, your managers probably aware of the fact that parte of her job is to make sure you have everything you need to succeed. If that happens to be a venting session about how the week has gone down, so be it. You might be surprised to see what happens after you open up. Maybe nothing, but maybe deadlines can be moved, or tasks can be delegated elsewhere, or youll find an extra slice of leftover birthday cake at your desk. I know- you want to do such a good job that everyone you work with knows that you can be trusted with anything. And thats really admirable. However, the reality is that even the most talented people need a helping hand occasionally. And that includes you. 3. Avoid Being Too Hard on YourselfTheres probably at least a small part of you who wants to harp on all the things you did to make this week difficult. After all, you have all the control in this situation, right? Well, not always. Sometimes you just have a packed calendar with meetings on meeting. And other times, work is just tough. Sure, if you make a mistake, you should fess up and take the appropriate steps. But on weeks when it feels like you just cant catch a break, its important to take a step back and remind yourself that there are things you simply cannot control. Sometimes even the best jobs can feel like, well, work. And some weeks are going to be harder than others. You cant control everyt hing, but you can rethink the way you cope with a particularly difficult stretch. And if nothing else, youre only getting closer to Friday.Photo of person stressed courtesy of Georgijevic/Getty Images.