Whether you were clearing leave or your office was closed during the festive season, here’s how you can get your groove back after a break from work.
No matter how much you love your job, it’s hard to deny that going back to work after holidays is going to be a bit of a bummer. But there are new projects to start work on, and those 874 emails accumulated in your vacation aren’t going to be magically cleared from your inbox. Clear the cobwebs from your mind with the following tips and tricks.
Discuss the goals and objectives for the months ahead
When you have the long-term big picture in mind, it would be easier for you and your team to stay motivated. Try conducting this meeting off-site, such as at a cosy coffee shop or over lunch. The informal setting might encourage people to be more candid about any issues they might want to bring up.
Have your eye on the prize
Whether you’re gunning for a promotion or a pay raise, continually reminding yourself of your personal career goals could be the push you need to stay motivated. If possible, try to draw up specific timelines of when you wish to achieve these objectives. Then, regularly revisit these goals to see whether or not you’re on the right track.
Draw up a workout schedule … and stick to it
Regular exercise won’t just keep your waistline in check; it will also have a positive impact on other areas of your life. A study conducted by researchers in Israel has shown that workers who participated in some form of regular fitness activity were less likely to experience depression and burnout, with the best results coming from those who worked out an average of four times a week.
No matter how busy you are, try to make regular exercise a non-negotiable part of your workweek. Plus, when you finally find a workout you enjoy doing, it will give you something to look forward to at the end of the day.
Remind yourself what you achieved in the previous year
Oftentimes when you go back to work after holidays, the workload seems like one long slog without an end in sight. Rather than rushing from one assignment to the next, try to slow down and take stock of what you’ve achieved in the past year. It could be that you hit all your KPIs, or that your boss thought you capable enough to put you in charge of several important projects.
Reminding yourself of how far you’ve come could be the impetus you need to keep moving forward.
