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@BabafredDenandenanda, have you thought about putting a punching bag in your office? Seriously! It’s a much more effective way of venting your frustration, without hurting yourself or your desk…or that precious wedding ring.
Those scary tantrums are just (“just”!) what happens when your brain and body are so overwhelmed that they can’t take any more. Often, we don’t see them coming, because we’re so caught up in what we’re doing. We’re not too mindful of ourselves at the best of times, and when we’re under high-stress is NOT the best of times.
But if we can be mindful of the pressures that are building up, maybe we can do something to stop them before they blow up. This takes practice, and I’m still working on it, myself, but it does help me. I’ve learned that if I don’t give myself a complete time-out when my body is telling me I need it, I’ll have one heck of a meltdown. (Now, if I can just remember that I’ve learned this…)
Can you do a little visualization for me?
Picture yourself hard at work at your desk, on a typical project. You’ve been in the zone for a couple of hours, without a break, but now you’ve hit a roadblock.
What’s going on in your brain right now?
How does it feel?
What are you thinking about in that moment?
Now, what about your body?
How do your head and jaws feel?
How do your neck and shoulders feel? (My chiropractor calls these the “holy s*** muscles”.)
How do your hands and arms feel?
How does your back feel?
How does your stomach feel?
Now… Remember those thoughts and feelings. Next time you’re working, try to be alert to them, as they start sneaking up on you.
Before they get to be too much, take a time-out, and physically release that frustration by getting up and moving!
Beat the crap out of your punching bag (if you’ve set one up in your office). Go for a brisk walk. I’ve even found that belting out forceful showtunes works wonders…though people tend to look at me funny if I do it while I’m out walking.
After that, go to a quiet place, take some deep breaths, and try tackling that roadblock again.
Let me know if this works for you!
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