The year ended with people scrambling to use up their remaining vacation time. The conference room table was littered with an endless supply of junk food. And your boss even left you alone for a little bit. But nothing is permanent.
A new year is upon us. For those of us fortunate enough to be returning to work after a lax holiday season, it can be difficult to put your “work” hat back on. There are new goals to meet. Quotas to hit. Meetings to attend. It’s not easy. Here are a few tactics that work for me.
– TIE UP LOOSE ENDS. If there is anything still unresolved from 2009, I urge you to close it out as soon as possible. Do whatever it takes. Work nights, weekends and holidays – just get it off your plate. It will be hard to face a new year and new challenges if the ghost of last year is still present.
– SET GOALS. Not resolutions, goals! These are work objectives that have quantifiable numbers attached. Make them public or share them with a friend. Hold yourself accountable.
– THERE IS NO BEGINNING. The calendar gives us a beginning, middle and end. Looking ahead and seeing a blank slate can be a daunting task for some people; a thrilling prospect for others. If you are in the former camp, do not get mired down in arbitrary cycles. Tell yourself that the new year is more of the same. You choose when to make a change. You don’t need some lunisolar variables controlling your life.
– TAKE A VACATION DAY. I know it sounds odd. Why would you use a vacation day after you’ve had some time off and a light work load? Well, the reality is you probably spent much of that time prepping for the winter holidays. This would be a day off devoted to YOURSELF. Many people fall into the trap of hoarding their days until the end of the year (guilty!). Odds are you will not run out of days, and many employers are ‘human’ about borrowing days in an ’emergency’ situation. Don’t be stingy with yourself.
– GET ORGANIZED. There are a million blogs already covering the productivity beat, and plenty of Web-based tools that can help keep your work world in order. A few of our faves:
– BE HAPPY. Here are 10 reasons why happiness is the ultimate work productivity booster.
We wish our loyal Jobacle readers success and happiness in 2010! Thanks for making us a small part of your day.
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