Working in recruitment, particularly sales recruitment, the word resilience is thrown around like confetti.

Every client wants it.

Every candidate has it (just ask them!).

Every recruiter needs it.

It’s good to be resilient. You can handle rejection, bounce back from the short falls and not get caught in the lows.

But at the end of the day, whether it’s sales, recruitment, administration, general life, hey – even if it’s trying to find a park to go grocery shopping – it can be all be tough and it can all be overwhelming and life can give you lemons.

And I’m here today to let you know, that that is okay.

If you’re having a really, plain old, nothing will save it, rubbish day – then have that really, plain old, nothing will save it, rubbish day.

If you’re annoyed that a deal fell through, or your attention to detail slipped – be annoyed.

Contrary to belief, you don’t have to bounce back in 5 minutes.I used to get so caught up in having to be resilient and not letting things get to me, that I was getting burnt out. I was continuously agitated, getting knocked over, mentally standing up straight away yelling out ‘I AM OK!’ even when I wasn’t and that was bloody tiring.

It wasn’t until I learnt that it’s fine to feel emotions. I’m not saying call that client and tell them what you really think, or sit at your desk crying, I am saying go with the flow, feel the highs, feel the lows, but don’t get caught up in it.

Leave it at work and go home, get a good night’s sleep and when you come in the next day, take yesterday as a lesson learnt and turn up okay.

I call it the 5pm rule and it works wonders. 

Written by Wallis Summers-Smith