Are You Still Stewing About That Mistake You Made?. In the run-up to the new year, we're resharing some of our favorite tips from 2019. When you make a mistake at work, do you replay it in your head for days or even weeks? This kind of overthinking is called rumination, and it can lead to serious anxiety. To break out of the cycle, there are a few things you can do. For one, identify your rumination triggers. Do certain types of people, projects, or decisions make you second-guess yourself? Notice when (and why) a situation is causing you to start overthinking things. It can also be useful to distance yourself from negative thoughts by labeling them as thoughts or feelings. For example, instead of saying "I'm inadequate," say "I'm feeling like I'm inadequate." These labels can help you distinguish what you're experiencing from who you truly are as a person and an employee. Another way to short-circuit rumination is to distract yourself. When your brain won't stop spinning, take a walk, meditate, or fill out an expense report — do any simple activity you can focus on for a few minutes. | | Today’s Tip | Are You Still Stewing About That Mistake You Made? | In the run-up to the new year, we're resharing some of our favorite tips from 2019. When you make a mistake at work, do you replay it in your head for days or even weeks? This kind of overthinking is called rumination, and it can lead to serious anxiety. To break out of the cycle, there are a few things you can do. For one, identify your rumination triggers. Do certain types of people, projects, or decisions make you second-guess yourself? Notice when (and why) a situation is causing you to start overthinking things. It can also be useful to distance yourself from negative thoughts by labeling them as thoughts or feelings. For example, instead of saying "I'm inadequate," say "I'm feeling like I'm inadequate." These labels can help you distinguish what you're experiencing from who you truly are as a person and an employee. Another way to short-circuit rumination is to distract yourself. When your brain won't stop spinning, take a walk, meditate, or fill out an expense report — do any simple activity you can focus on for a few minutes. | This tip is adapted from “How to Stop Obsessing Over Your Mistakes,” by Alice Boyes | | | Don’t miss a single article. | Unlimited access to digital articles, the Magazine Archive, and HBR’s 50 best-selling articles — yours with a subscription. | | | | | Newsletter | The Big Idea | A deep dive into the most pressing topics facing businesses today. | | | | | | | | |
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