Stay Productive With These Four Tips

It’s that time of year when many workers are in a “circle back in January” mindset. With so much going on during the winter holiday season, it often isn’t easy to stay productive. Productivity can often suffer when the sun sets at 4 PM.

Even outside of the holiday season, it can be difficult to stay productive all the time. Whether you’ve got an upcoming holiday, are just returning from vacation, or you’re just plain feeling unmotivated, sometimes you’ll need a little extra assistance regaining your productivity. Gain that needed productivity boost by embracing these stratagems and maintaining control of your mindset.

Prioritize

Does it often feel like you have too much on your plate and too little time to deal with it? This is a normal mindset, but it can be much more manageable if you learn how to prioritize what’s important and break down those work morsels into easy-to-digest bites.

Simplilearn suggests starting by planning your day out ahead of time and writing your top-three most important daily tasks. Not only will listing out your schedule make the day feel much more manageable but you’ll clarify what actually needs to be done on the day. Give yourself the time you need to focus on the big tasks, and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Minimize distractions

Of course, it’s easier to stay on target and accomplish those important tasks if you minimize your distractions. Whether you’re working in a crowded office or from home, whether you’re planning a vacation or dealing with the tribulations of holiday travel, there are universal ways to stay focused.

You may need your devices to check in with your team and be appraised on important tasks, but it can be a good idea to turn off your notifications from time to time, according to Luxafor. You can plan for “deep work” times by turning your phone off temporarily and focusing on your task at hand.

The Muse advises staying away from accomplishing personal tasks during work time. No matter the circumstance, it’s easy to lose track of time or let distractions snowball out of control if you put work tasks on the back burner.

Set boundaries

Those outside forces can’t be contained forever, and sometimes you’ll get requests that will disrupt your productivity. But don’t forget that not every request is mandatory. It’s okay to say “no” sometimes!

Not every meeting is useful or pertains to you, but you may feel obligated to attend. Green Geeks’ Michael Phillips says to recognize what tasks aren’t a good use of your time and to give yourself permission to decline.

This applies to minor tasks as well. Don’t feel bad about declining a lunch invitation or a quick, non-work-related conversation if needed. These distractions can be nice, but if you really need to stay focused, learn to say “no.”

“Stay focused on the plan for the day, and politely remove yourself from distracting situations and people. It may be one of the most challenging ways for many of us to become more productive, but it’s in our interest to give it a try.” –Michael Phillips

Learn to improvise

No plan survives contact with the enemy, and even if you plan your day out and avoid any unnecessary distractions, there will still be curveballs that come your way. Sometimes, you simply can’t say no. Instead, you’ll have to improvise.

Forbes’ Lisa Bodell writes to take the improv approach with “yes, if.” If something doesn’t sound feasible as is, find a way to turn into into a yes if certain conditions are met. For example, if there is some way to take pressure off of one of your pressing tasks, you’ll be able to use that time to assist with something else.

“And lastly, when you find yourself one breath away from saying “No, because we don’t have budget for this,” replace it with “Yes, if…we can use funds allocated to Y or Z to experiment or test this idea.” –Lisa Bodell

Learn how to choose your battles and decide whether a hard no or a compromise is a better solution because the time spent with that debate could be better used on your necessary tasks!

Wrap up

We all struggle to be productive at times, but if you take time to focus on your most pressing tasks, minimize distractions, set boundaries, and learn how to be flexible, you can put yourself in the right mindset and accomplish your goals. It takes some practice, but if you approach your work with a plan, you’ll find great success!

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Holiday Party Do’s And Don’ts

With the holiday season upon us and many COVID-19 restrictions over, many organizations will soon be gathering for holiday parties. No matter which major winter holiday, if any, you celebrate personally, holiday office parties are a great time to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and bond with your team or develop deeper networking relationships.

Seasonal parties are a great time to cut loose and interact with your coworkers in a different capacity than usual, but you still must maintain a sense of decorum. Make sure to maintain some professionalism so that your reputation is still intact when the new year comes around. Recall these guidelines during your holiday festivities:

DO: RSVP

The most polite way to respond to any party invitation is to actually respond to the invitation. Whether the party is at the office, a colleague’s home, or a neutral location, whoever is planning the event needs a reasonable headcount in order to get an appropriate amount of food and drinks for the group.

Unless you have a legitimate reason otherwise, try your best to go to the event. Career Advice Expert Randall Hansen says that not attending the event could hurt your reputation and make it feel like you aren’t part of the team. Try to make an appearance of at least 30 minutes to mingle.

DON’T: Bring uninvited guests

Generally, most office parties will invite spouses or plus-ones, but always make sure to check first. Generally, these events aren’t for the entire family, and they aren’t an excuse for a group of people to get free food. Bring only those guests expected to be there, and make sure they are also aware of these etiquette rules.

DO: Dress for success

Depending on your usual office environment, an office party might represent a chance to unwind and “let your hair down.” But don’t be fooled—this is still a business function. If you aren’t sure what to wear, go for a step above what you think everyone else might wear. Going too casually can send the wrong message.

DON’T: Overstay your welcome

We stressed the importance of attending the event and making sure you’re noticed, but don’t take it too far in the other direction and stay too long. The event may have a set exit time, and people will want to clean up before calling it a night. Have a good time, but you don’t want to be the last person there and have the hosts waiting for you to leave. Amy Castro suggests that if you see everyone else making a mass exodus, you should do the same.

DO: Talk about something other than work

Most of your interactions with your coworkers are probably about work. In a party environment, there’s no need to go over the same topics again. A party is supposed to be a celebration and a chance to interact as individuals. Keep the conversation appropriate, but find interesting topics to discuss. Your coworkers may see a fun new side of you!

DON’T: Completely unwind

Don’t swing too far in the other direction, though. It’s a party, but it’s a work party. Make sure to keep the conversation light and playful without getting inappropriate. Keep any grievances to yourself, and don’t mention any questionable activities. CNBC Make It’s Ashton Jackson also says not to be flirty or make advances on someone.

DO: Show gratitude

Your organization is throwing the celebration to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and thank the team for a wonderful year. Be sure to do the same for them by showing your gratitude as well! Thank your team for hosting or planning the event.

“Of course, this is also a perfect time to thank all your co-workers who have been helpful or supportive in the past year.” –Carol Kinsey Goman, Forbes

DON’T: Drink too much

Different cultures have different views on this, but alcohol is commonly served at many office parties in the United States. It’s okay to enjoy a few drinks, but you never want to be the drunkest person in the room. Never feel like you need to drink more, even if the boss is having a few or encouraging you to. Many experts advise a two-drink maximum, but you know your body more than anyone else. Know your limit, and stop well before you need to.

Wrap up

Holiday parties are a wonderful time to relax and enjoy the accomplishments of you and your team, and a little bit of well-earned revelry is good for the soul. But an office holiday party is still a professional event, so you must be aware of your surroundings and be sure to behave appropriately. Once you understand the differences between a work holiday party and one with friends or family, you’ll be able to have a fantastic time with your team!

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Making A Career Change During The Holiday Season

For many, the winter holiday season is a time of reflection and contemplation. Regardless of which individual holidays you celebrate, there is a common theme of togetherness and gratitude that make it easy to get into this contemplative mindset.

As a result, many put together New Year’s resolutions of goals to accomplish or things to change about themselves, and these resolutions are often work-related. Maybe taking an extended time away from the day-to-day of your job provides a different viewpoint when the holidays end. Maybe talking to family and friends during gatherings gives you new ideas or allows you to refocus on what’s important in your life.

Whatever the reason, holidays are a perfect time to take stock of your life. Because of this, many find themselves looking for a career change. Searching for a new career during the holidays can already be a difficult but rewarding challenge, as we discussed recently. Yet in this post-pandemic world, more individuals are reassessing their careers than ever before, and the holidays can actually be a smart time to start working on a career change.

A desire to change careers is normal

Planning a career change can be scary no matter what time of year it takes place, but know what you’re not the only one considering it. According to Washington Post’s Heather Long and Scott Clement, almost one-third of workers under 40 considered a career change during the pandemic.

“Many people told The Post that the pandemic altered how they think about what is important in life and their careers. It has given them a heightened understanding that life is short and that now is the time to make the changes they have long dreamed of. The result is a great reassessment of work, as Americans fundamentally reimagine their relationships to their jobs.” -Heather Long and Scott Clement.

The pandemic forced many layoffs and career changes, and time away from the office made people reflect on the work itself according to Yale School of Management’s Amy Wrzesniewski (reported by MarketPlace.org’s Kristin Schwab).

“It shakes people up. It makes them really think about how they’re spending their time, who they’re spending it with, what they’re spending it doing. What seemed tolerable before may not seem tolerable anymore. It may seem very different.” -Amy Wrzesniewski

While the holiday season is a much different source of reflection, the downtime can lead to the same conclusions about one’s career. If your reflections do lead you to the idea of a career change, Northeastern University has a helpful list of signs it may be time to take that leap. They provide a detailed guide on how to assess your career situation and what changes can be made.

Meanwhile, hcareers.com’s Deb Ward recommends making a personal development plan this holiday season while providing additional questions to reflect on.

Why the holidays?

Maybe you’re thinking, “It IS time for a career change, but shouldn’t I wait until the new year?” In our previous holiday job search article, we suggested that while there are challenges to looking for a new job in late November and December, jobs are still out there, and there are a plethora of ways to take advantage of the holiday season.

The lack of competition is one of the mightiest boons of the holiday season, especially if you’re switching to a new industry. A common myth is no one is hiring during the holidays, which leads to a lack of applicants. This can be used to your advantage!

The holidays also provide perhaps more networking opportunities than any other time of the year. Professional and personal office parties provide a chance to mingle and gather information. Holiday cards are a great way to stay in touch with contacts in a personal manner.

Camden Kelly’s Carly Weiner offers even more advantages to a holiday job search. Companies oft have ‘use it or lose it’ budgets at the end of the year. For HR managers, the best way to make sure they don’t lose it is to hire someone before the new year. You may not start your position until January, but you’ll be in the books and ready to go.

It’s also easier to take some time off for any potential interviews if you’re still at your current job, Weiner writes. It’s common for employees to take more time off in December for holiday commitments, and that can make it easier to fit some searching and interviews into your routine.

Ultimately, if you’re set on a career change, there are zero reasons to put it off until January, writes Forbes’ Jack Kelly. Amid this time of uncertainty, many people search for a career to make them feel fulfilled but slow down during the holidays when they should be ramping up instead, Kelly believes.

“Since we are in a new type of world where everything seems possible, why not start on improving your work life right now? View today as the start of the new year and work life. It’s your chance to get ahead of the crowd, as most people put off their job searches during the holiday season and resume it again in the first few weeks of the new year.” -Jack Kelly

Wrap up

Take some time to really contemplate where you’re at in your professional life this holiday season. If you find that part of life wanting, know that you aren’t alone. More workers are considering career changes than ever before. The holiday season may not be the easiest time to find a new job, but it offers some perks no other time of year has. If you’re really invested in a career change, there’s no time like the present. ‘New Year, New Me’ your way into a new career by using this time to your advantage.

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