Christmas and the December festivities are well and truly over. New Year’s resolutions have been set (some have already failed) and some people are still figuring out how they’re going to make the most of the year ahead.
The January blues have fully kicked in and instead of being focused and ready for the year, you may feel a bit deflated. You’re back to work, getting back into the routine and swing of things and all you’re thinking about is how long is this month going to last?
The long, cold nights are still here, the repetition of hearing someone say ‘new year, new me’ is upon us and every fad diet and workout plan is popping up on ads everywhere… but it’s okay, it’s January; what do you expect?
However, it doesn’t need to be a month of doom and gloom, we’ve listed some tips below so you can beat the January blues and make the most of your working days and weekly routine.
Get some fresh air
Yes, the cold and frostiness outside doesn’t look appealing but going out for a short walk or run can really make a different to your wellbeing, productivity and energy levels. Try and incorporate some sort of walking into your daily routine so you can get out and get some fresh air at some point of your day (especially if you’re working from home). Whether that’s walking the dog, walking to pick the kids up from school or walking to your local coffee or food shop on your lunch break, there’s plenty of options to choose from that could work around your schedule with a bit of planning.
Create a realistic routine
Don’t buy into an unrealistic ‘influencer’ daily routine which doesn’t suit your lifestyle at all. Before creating a routine and setting out a plan, write down what you need to do every day/week and when your highest productivity levels are. Are you an early bird or a night owl? Do you prefer to get bits done outside of work in the morning, on your lunch break or after work? How do you spend your weekends? How much spare time do you need to relax and focus on yourself? Once you’ve figured out the basics, it will help you to form something that is achievable but also very sustainable in the long run.
Write your list of goals, focus on lots of small ones too
Yes it’s cliché, but January is the best time to focus and create new goals. However these don’t always need to be huge ones, these could be small, and very realistic, goals which could be achieved month by month or even just over a few weeks. Try and incorporate these small goals into an overall ‘rough’ plan for the year and map out which points you want to and can accomplish them by.
Plan time to do something you love or learn a new skill
Is there something you love to do but never seem to fit it in your schedule? Or is there a new skill or hobby that you’ve been eager to learn but just never got round to doing it? Now’s the time to do it and incorporate it into your routine. If you make time around your working day to do something you like doing then it will help to increase your productivity and improve work-life balance.
Take a break when you need it
It’s important to realise that when things get a bit too hectic and you feel like you need some space, then take a break. You need to take some time to relax and reset before getting back into it, whether that’s a quick 5-minute break, making the most of your lunch hour or chilling out on a Sunday afternoon. Getting back into a routine or starting a new one can take some time to get used to so make sure you schedule in breaks and take spontaneous ones if you need them to avoid burning out.
We hope you found these tips useful, have a great January and 2022. If you’re looking for a new opportunity or looking to hire, get in touch with our team on [email protected].
