Make Self-Criticism Work For You

While self-criticism can sabotage your productivity, mood, and mental health, you can use it to your advantage. Here is how: Be more balanced in your evaluation of your performance. Rather than overgeneralizing your results—positive or negative—remember that it’s normal to have bad days and that over the long-term they will be offset by those days where you are at your peak. It’s human nature to fixate on the pessimistic when things aren’t going your way. The “what if” method is an effective strategy that can help you form a more nuanced view of the situation. The important thing to remember is to use judgement when you evaluate your performance. Overconfidence, as well as a lack of confidence, is problematic. You need a healthy dose of skepticism to critique yourself, coupled with the ability to appreciate yourself when you have done an excellent job.