Ask DN: How do you handle mood shifts?

almost 6 years ago from Onur Senture, Design Lead @ PrimeTek.com.tr / Co-founder @ Orkestra.co

  • Aaron Wears Many HatsAaron Wears Many Hats, almost 6 years ago

    Some good suggestions in here, but a lot that just don't work in a commercial environment. I.e. only certain employers will happily let you go take a nap, read a book, etc.

    I know a lot of "trendy" startups like to push the idea of siestas for employees and personal time out and stuff... Which is really cool. But get into a big firm or agency, and it might not be the case. So what do you do when you're chained to your desk, expected to be a codemonkey from 8-5, and still stay on track?

    • List making. It's been mentioned before, and works well. List out your tasks, start off completing a trivial one, and then you can find a bit of momentum I find.

    • Music. Sometimes it's as simple as changing from your chillstep/etc over to some camp 80s stuff and get your mood changed. I find old Kenny Loggins can get you out of the rut pretty well if you're starting to feel like all the electrohouse is blending together.

    • Walk away for a bit. Long walks can sometimes be frowned upon outside of normal lunch/break times, but even if you can only just get up from the desk and do a lap of the office, you'll normally feel better. Go to the toilet and have a piss, or whatever.

    • Coffee. Or tea, you know, if you're into a slow release of not-as-good caffeine. The other good thing is a little bit of chocolate, or some fruit. Bump the blood sugar up and get the endorphins going.

    I know a lot of this is repetition from other members here, but I just felt that all these answers sounded like "how do you get on track at home" instead of at work :)

    5 points