It’s an understatement to say that 2020 was one hell of a year. Thanks Covid. And 2021 won’t miraculously “go back to normal”. For a start – what will ever be “normal” again? And while most of us have had time off over Christmas and New Year, many couldn’t spend the holidays with family and friends because of lockdowns and border closures. With Australia Day next week, and school going back a few days later, workplaces are all kicking back into gear, and now it’s back to the day-to-day. At the end of January it’s usually difficult to get back into work, but this year it seems a lot of people are struggling even more with returning to work. Of course the warm weather doesn’t help – who wants to be at work inside all day when you could be at the beach or a waterfront cafe, sipping iced coffee while breathing in the fresh sea air?
However, work calls, and we all must get motivated to get back into it. And I have some tips for starting the new year at work energised, inspired and ready to go.
1. Book a holiday
Yes, I know. No overseas travel, and travel between states is still a bit iffy. But try for a local break instead. If you have nothing to look forward to, it makes it hard to get through the daily grind. Personally, I’ve just booked a long weekend in Nelsons Bay for February here. Let that inspire you and get Googling!
2. Write down your goals
They don’t have to be yearly goals – they can just be goals for the next month or week. Include anything that immediately springs to mind: find a new job, get a promotion, ask for training in a new area, redesign your website or just read a new book (I have a lot of suggestions – massive reader here! Just ask me).
3. Get your body moving
It’s been proven that exercise can boost your mood. Simply taking a walk or meditating can improve your mood, and a weights session or gym class can get your heart racing and those endorphins flowing. Exercise also gives you something else to focus on when the challenge of getting back to work gets on top of you. A lot of apps and online platforms allow you to try them for free before you commit, but there are also a lot of great free ones – check this list out to start with.
4. Deal with the easy wins first
When I get back from holidays, I like to make contact with clients and also clear my email inbox first thing. If I can respond and action something then and there, I will. Then I’ll file the email as done. Quick wins like this make you feel like you’re at least making headway with your workload. Then you can plan for the larger tasks.
5. Try something new
Whether it’s Marie Kondo-ing your wardrobe, or working on ways to switch off at the end of a WFH day, focusing on something new is the best way to change things up. After all, if you don’t do things differently, how can you expect things to change? Don’t stay stagnant, learn a new skill or branch out into a new area you may have previously dismissed.
What will you do differently this year? If you need any help with marketing, social media or copywriting, reach out and we can have a chat or a coffee. I’m always down for coffee.