I have the pleasure of spending time with my maniac nephews and all of my friend’s young kids.
They are all equal parts wonderful and insane.
This is because they go from being delightful little happy idiots to stroppy aresholes in the blink of an eye.
What sets them off?
It could be anything. They want something. They don’t want something. They want something they didn’t want two seconds ago. They don’t want something they wanted two seconds ago.
They. Are. Maniacs.
And what is the common denominator in solving this problem?
Are they tired? Are they hungry?
99% of their issues are if they are tired or hungry.
And you know what?
My hot take is that adults are just more sophisticated children.
Do you need a nap?
This is a question I would love to ask in the workplace but I worry I might have to get ready to avoid a punch to the face.
Asking someone if they should maybe go for a little night night is considered rude, but how many times have you seen someone stressed, tired, at their wits end snap on someone or make an overreaction to something.
We all know it is because they need to rest.
However, some environments wear exhaustion as a badge of honour.
Have you eaten?
Again, this is another somewhat condescending question to ask an adult.
Surely they can manage their own nutrition?
Maybe, maybe not.
I have written about how bail judges reduced the amount of bail they gave out as it got further away from when they had eaten. They struggled to have the working memory to deal with complex tasks as they got more and more hungry.
Move and Sun
You may not be able to suggest to a co-worker to go take a nap but you can ask them to come for a walk with you to get a treat/coffee.
Getting outside and exposing yourself to some sun, moving your muscles, and eating some food will do wonders for your ability to refocus once you come back.
If you see someone struggling, go take them for a coffee, everyone else will thank you for it.
Luke McMeeken-Ruscoe 