January is often a time to reflect and set new personal and professional goals. A new year presents an opportunity to reassess and boost your happiness at work. One of the most miserable days of the year is supposedly Blue Monday, the third Monday in January. We’ve put together some tips to help you manage those January blues and ignite your motivation to take the necessary actions to improve your health, happiness, mindset, and career prospects at work.
Get some exercise
It’s a well-known fact that taking breaks throughout the day can boost productivity, creativity and even reduce stress. Take the time to step away from your desk during your lunch break and go for a walk, or even take a yoga or gym class. This will release lots of endorphins and really get your blood pumping. By making this a regular habit at work, you’ll soon see the positive impact to your mood.
Meditate for mindfulness
You can focus on the present and alleviate some of your anxieties or worries by incorporating some regular meditation, either before or after your workday. It’s an excellent way to start your day as it can help you feel less anxious and be more resilient to stress. If you’re particularly lacking motivation or feeling a little overwhelmed, medication can soothe your mind and offer different perspectives to help find solutions.
Limit your screen time
Ensuring you don’t spend too much of your lunch break looking at a screen will do wonders for your mind. Whilst we all love to check in on the world and our social media updates, it’s important to limit screen time so you can take a mental break before you tackle the second half of your workday. A great way to take time out is to read a book or listen to music.
Reflect on your success
Take the time to reflect on your achievements. It will service as a motivating reminder of your accomplishments, no matter how large or small, whether you’re looking back over a year, month, or even just a week. Acknowledging them will help you understand your strengths and recognise your weaknesses. This is a good way to clarify your goals for your career and assist you in making future decisions. Maybe it will instil renewed motivation for your current role, or maybe it’ll inspire you to consider an entirely new career direction. If this is the case, we can help you; contact us today.
Plan something to look forward to
January might have you down after the excitement and festivities of the Christmas period, so it’s a good idea to start planning for the next event. A wedding anniversary or birthday party, or even a holiday or short weekend break away, having something positive to look forward to can improve your mood and motivation.
Learn a new skill
The brain benefits from mental activity to be healthy. Think about a new skill you could learn to test yourself. Perhaps there’s some workplace training that your manager could suggest, or look into evening classes around such things as art or technology. You could even begin learning a new language using a phone app such as Duolingo!
Learning can boost your confidence, stimulate your mind and perhaps even advance your career. Maintaining your knowledge and abilities is tremendously satisfying.
Speak to someone
If you do need more support with your mental health and are feeling particularly down around this time of year, speak to someone such as a close friend, relative or even your manager.
If you feel none of those are an option, there are still people who can support you and want to help you such as the Samaritans. More information can be found here.