The start of a New Year often means resolutions and brand-new goals. It is the perfect time to say goodbye to bad habits and start introducing positive behaviors, not only in your personal life but in the office as well.
Set More Deadlines
(and actually stick to them!)
If you don’t already use a list to keep track of daily goals, we strongly suggest starting this habit. Spending a few minutes at the start of the work day to map out what your day is going to look like can help you to be more productive. A recent study showed that organizing your day when you first get in can lead to less feelings of anxiety.
Spend Time During the Day Meditating
Taking time for yourself each and every day is important. Studies done by Harvard University neuroscientists have found that meditating every day, whether it be five minutes or forty minutes, can literally lead to a larger brain. Many parts of the brain, including areas that control learning, memory, mind-wandering, compassion, and emotions can be enhanced after just a few weeks of meditating. Finding a quiet space in the office for a few minutes by yourself is beneficial to your well-being
Learn a New Skill
Being able to bring a new skill to the table every once in a while makes you invaluable in the office. By going above and beyond on your own, you not only show initiative, but also that you continually learning to better your ability to perform your job well. Even a small improvement can get you noticed and impress a manager.
Respond to All Emails by 5:00 pm
Now this may seem like a stretch for some with how busy they get during the course of the day, but leaving the office with zero unread emails feels phenomenal. According to one study, fifty percent of all responses are sent within two hours of receiving them. Of course, this isn’t always possible, but setting a goal of the end of day is much more feasible. Make it a point to get your work for the day done sooner so that the last minutes of the day can be spent working on responses.
Working on a few of these simple changes to your daily work life can really improve your overall attitude toward work. Not only will you feel more accomplished but who knows, you might even learn something new!