There is a point when a lot of people will just say, “I Quit” and give up. Before you do though, here’s some steps you can take to get through frustration:
Ask Yourself, “What Is Working in This Situation?”
Even if feels like nothing is working, look closely and you will probably find at least something that is going right. So, that’s great. You’ve found something that’s working. Now, how do you improve it? By asking this question, you’ve taken yourself out of the negative mindset of “it’s hopeless” and you are back to focusing on the positive.
Keep an Accomplishments Log
Write down everything you accomplish in a log. If you do it in a monthly format you will be able to see all that you have accomplished in one month. You may be surprised by how much you have done. If you realize there’s not much on the list, it may open your eyes to the fact that you may be procrastinating more than working or that you are using too much of your energy doing too many things and that you need to focus more. Hopefully, you will have lots of items on your list then you can know that even though it may not feel like it, you are moving forwards. The log will also help show where you were the most effective and where you need to work harder.
Focus On What You Want to Happen
Go back to the big picture. What is the desired outcome? Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in one problem and trying to solve it that we forget what we were originally trying to accomplish. Try not to ask yourself, “Why did this happen?” Asking questions like that will keep you rooted in the past. It doesn’t offer a solution to the problem. The important thing is knowing the answer to the following two questions:
- What do you want to happen differently this time?”
- What do you need to do in order to get there?
Remove the “Noise” and Simplify
When you’re trying to solve a problem, you can get so wrapped up in trying to find a solution that you add unnecessary clutter, noise, and tasks to a project because you thought they “might” be a solution.
Determine what is really necessary and remove everything else. Anything that takes your too much time and effort that isn’t adding value, should be removedd.
Multiple Solutions
You always have options. You just need to brainstorm and figure them out. Tell yourself you need to come up with possible options to what you’re dealing with. Just knowing that you have lots of options will help to make you feel better. You won’t feel like you are trapped in one negative situation. From your list, figure out the best solution and do it.
Take Action
When you get into serious frustration with a problem, you tend not to want to work on it anymore. It’s hard, it’s frustrating, and you’re not getting anywhere. So, anything to avoid having to be in that situation may be far more attractive. Procrastination may start to set in. If you can keep taking steps forwards, you will probably make it past this temporary hump.
The other thing that can happen is that you start to spend a lot of time worrying. Worrying is a waste of energy and does not help you move in a forwards direction. Only taking action will. Once you start moving forwards again, you will most likely find that you worried for no reason at all.
Visualize a Positive Outcome to the Situation
A lot of times you can get stuck on focusing on what you don’t want to happen or fearing the absolute worst thing that could happen. There should be no roam for failure in your mind. This is what you need to focus on as well. See yourself achieving your desired goal. What will it feel like? How will you feel? Take the time to visualize it and really feel it. It will help you to keep moving forwards.
Stay Positive
Things are usually not as bad as they appear. Sometimes, things seem much worse simply because we’re tired or mentally drained. Taking a break and remembering to keep your sense of humor can also help. This type of frustration will pass. A positive mind is far more open to solutions and answers than a negative one that thinks that everything is “hopeless” and “useless”. A closed mind will not be able to see the possible solutions when they come along. Stay positive.
As with any problem, the solution is to figure out what your options are, decide on a plan, focus, and then take action. By using the above steps, you should find that you’re running into fewer problems and feeling less frustration.
