Leaving a Bad Day Behind

I've always said that stress is sticky. Without concerted effort, it has the tendency to stay with us throughout the day even when we leave the situation that caused our stress. This is what causes us to go home and kick the dog or yell at our loved ones. A short and sweet article put out by the Harvard Business Review gives you three short tips for leaving work at work.

1. Clear your mind. Sit back in your chair and breath deeply. Think about what matters to you outside of work: family, friends, activities or hobbies.
2. Do something easy. My favorite easy end of the day task is to clean off my desk. No, don't dive into a major reorganization! Simply stack papers that had been spread out, put the pens back in the cup holder and the stapler back in the drawer. Make sure there is empty space on your desk. If there is something that I know needs my attention (perhaps even the cause of that day's stress) I put it on the top of my stack, ready for tomorrow. For you, it might be to respond to a few simple emails or other routine task. This also has the added benefit of starting your day off right tomorrow by leaving behind an organized space.
3. Get up and leave. Once you have finished that last job, stand up, grab your bag and walk out the door. Don't chat, linger or check email "one last time." Go. Home.