So you’ve had a bad day. Your dog threw up on the carpet, your fish died and someone backed into your car in the parking lot. Some days just suck, but how do you keep real life suck from affecting your WoW time?

1) Examine the cause of suck: Some things that suck just need time to get better, but some things do require that you actively work to fix it. Never let obligations in WoW prevent you from taking action that’s needed to better your real life.

2) Examine the level of suck: Some things suck more than others. If your stubbed your toe, well in the words of one of my favorite officers, “Life’s hard, get a helmet.” If a close family member died you should expect to be more profoundly affected.

3) Examine your mood: Are you feeling bitter, sad, vindictive, helpless, outraged? Depending on the root of your emotions going and spending time in a leadership role could help you feel better or may make things worse.

4) Examine your triggers: When you’re emotionally charged there are some things that can set off those emotions. Are you going to place yourself in situation where those triggers are likely to occur? What can you do to avoid those things or minimize their impact on you?

5) Warn your raiders: You raid with these people more nights than most and some of them for a long time. You’re not perfect, they don’t expect you to be perfect. In an extended period time the odds of you having a bad day go up to 100%. Don’t be afraid to let them know that you aren’t yourself today, but you’ll be back on top of things in no time.

6) Ask for help: If this kind of suck is going to affect your ability to do the things your guild needs from you, don’t be afraid to rely on your officers or veteran members. You trust their judgment that’s why you promoted them in the first place, this is the kind of day where they get to earn their keep.

Lastly, focus on yourself and what you can do to get back on your feet. It’s tempting to feel drawn to what your guilds immediate needs are, but the sooner you can get over what’s got you bent out of shape, the sooner you can go back to being the guild leader your guild has come to expect you to be.