Another personal bucket that we need to fill is spiritual. What’s that for you? Is it…
Attending Church?
Reading or Listening to Gospel music?
Walking in Nature?
Meditation?
Whatever that is, identify it and make time to fill your bucket.
More Bucket Filling
Last week we introduced the idea of filling all of the buckets we all have through daily actions.
Let’s tackle your health bucket:
Do some foods make you feel better? (Yes, Karen, eat your veggies!)
For others, exercise is an important bucket to fill that helps them feel happy and healthy. Hello Soul Cycle, more dog walks, Zumba, and Karate!
Identify those things that make you feel good and be sure to do them.
When we get busy is the time we need our bucket filling activities more than ever.
Ex: If you normally work out, then don’t for a week because you don’t have time, be sure to make time soon to get back into the groove.
At Team Ward Certified, we have a little healthy competition through our Fitbit app!
Smile, Breathe, and Rock On.
What Buckets do you have?
Last week we introduced the idea of filling the buckets we all have through daily actions. But did you know that we all carry around multiple buckets to begin with?
For some, the buckets are intellectual and are filled by stimulating conversations about a topic that’s important to them.
What do you do to fill your intellectual bucket?
Read a book
Learn a new language – Me encanta Duolingo
Watch a documentary on a topic that interests you
Listen to a podcast that keeps you guessing
Try to help your kids with their Algebra
Pick one and try it this month. See if filling your intellectual bucket has a ripple effect in the rest of your life.
What’s dipping into your Bucket?
While giving without expecting anything in return is the best way to fill someone’s bucket, there are also forces that can dip into that reservoir. Think about the last interaction you had with a coworker, friend, or manager.
Is there a chance that you:
Responded sarcastically?
Checked your phone while they shared a vulnerable story?
Blamed someone else rather than taking ownership?
These are ways we dip into another’s bucket.
If you find outside factors, like stress, impacting your attitude, check in with your own buckets.
What have you been neglecting that could use some balance?
A Drop in the Bucket
You might have heard of it in Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton’s book, How Full is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life. And it’s true: We work better when our buckets are full.
How do we fill them? Put a drop in someone else’s bucket. A little good deed a day can go a very long way.
Point out something positive that someone on your team did that day.
Offer an honest compliment.
Share a smile.
Help someone out on a small task that makes their life a bit easier.
Offer an ear, give someone your full attention and listen without distraction.
Give unexpectedly, and without being asked.
How did you put a drop in someone’s bucket today?
They're in distress, so come to their rescue
When a customer is angry, raises their voice, or chooses to use you as their punching bag, it can be easy to take it as a personal attack and shut down, become defensive, or just plain mad.
The good news is, it’s never really about you. Instead of creating a story in your head where you’re the villain, decide to be the hero and come to the rescue!
Listen, acknowledge their concern, and offer comfort.
Identify the root of the problem and pull out all the stops! Do everything you can to turn the situation around.
How have you flipped the script? Tell us about your happy ending at ann@wardcertified.com.
Can't take it anymore? Then give.
Ever had a tough day or week, and you’re just waiting for something good to happen? Psst… you don’t have to wait, create the moment!
If you feel you’re missing some positivity, warmth, or friendliness in your life, then give it. You’ll likely make someone else feel better, too, and boom - let the endorphins flow!
Email the team a motivational quote, offer to help a co-worker through a new process, or leave an encouraging post-it on the desk of a stressed team member. (Chocolate always works, too).
Smile, Breathe, and Care on. You got this!