NickVenturella.com 9-26-17

How to capitalize on your mood

September 26, 2017

Lately, I’m finding myself in a daze. I’m so busy at work with projects for an upcoming annual conference that after I finish working for the day I think, “What just happened? Where has my mind been all day?"It’s been hard to shake out of that intense strategic thought-machine mode and just be in the moment with my family.It feels like what I imagine coming out of a cryogenic sleep might be like – at first disorienting, but soon you come around.It’s for this reason that it’s important to change up your mode of operation and scenery.I’m talking about adapting, so you don’t get too stuck in any one direction developing tunnel vision in a way that makes you forget other important things/people in your life.I don’t always adapt well, unless I’m in control of my situation and I’m initiating the adaptation. I do have to say that I feel most optimal when my daily routine adapts to my mood.I’ve noticed for some time now, that if I roll with the mood I’m in, find the right environment for my mood and do certain kinds of work that is fitting for my mood, I will capitilize on that mood by being productive. That’s how I successfully use my mood to my advantage. If not, it feels like going against the grain and it is a less comfortable experience, and trust me, I don’t always get it right.  However, I’ve had whole days where I’ve successfully rolled with my mood and gotten more done in one day than I have during other entire weeks.Here’s an example: The morning is often the best time for me to write in my journal. It just is. If I’m feeling particularly creative and hopeful I’ll want to go to my local coffee shop to write in that environment. For me, I associate coffee shops with my own creativity, so that fits my mood, and being in that environment helps me produce writing that sometimes ends up in this newsletter.Here's another example:  When I’m just not feeling particularly social and I’m feeling done with words (in the form of writing or verbal communication) I like to put some music on in my basement office and crank out a bunch of graphic design images I know I’ll need for my work projects.That environment, the solitary focus simply working on something visual vs. having to spend the brainpower to figure out how to say something just fits in that situation.Finally, at the end of the work day, I know that I get to hang out with my family, so I want to shake off that work-related cryogenic state and adapt to family time regardless of my current mood.As I have gratitude for the hustle and bustle of my life, that family time, though sometimes stressful, is something I’m always in the mood for.How do you capitialize on your mood to yield your most present, productive self? Hit reply and let me know. Have a great rest of your week!Sincerely,Nick Venturella NickVenturella.comNickVmusic.net also MadVinyl.com (cover band)GrowLoop.comAutismHR.com