We all come back to work in January feeling revived and refreshed. Which makes it so, so easy to dive right back into work. Where we can quickly find that we’re reacting to others vs. doing work that really lights us up with joy and purpose.
Before you book those meetings, read those emails, and get back into it, pause and think about what you want in your work life this year. How can you light your professional spark, and keep it burning brightly?
Remember when. When you first took on your current role, started your career, or created your business… why? What attracted you to the role or business niche? So many different things can make work appealing – location, salary and benefits; the opportunity to work alone or help others; the chance to blaze your own trail or settle into a well-defined pathway, and so much more. Remembering what appealed to you at the beginning can help you focus on the most meaningful aspects of your role today.
Unplug and let your mind wander. It’s easy to feel like you need to be “on” all the time, at work, at home, and in your community activities. Put down your laptop and smart phone for a while and do something fun to recharge. This will keep you fresh, and it might even boost your creativity.
Watch for glimmers. Glimmers are small moments that spark joy or other good feelings. When today did you feel a sense of achievement or confidence? What made you feel peaceful, happy, or appreciated? These glimmers make work feel satisfying and rewarding. Tuning into them will boost your spirit now and can help you thrive longer-term.
Share your spark with others. It feels amazing to share your gifts and passions with others. So get out there and teach a colleague how to do something new, speak at a career day, start a community food drive… whatever appeals most to you. By sharing your time and passion with others, you’ll keep your own spark shining brightly. A gift shared is a gift multiplied!
Make room for joy. It’s helpful to block time in your diary to unwind and recharge, share your passion with others, and tackle the important work tasks first. You might want to create a daily reminder appointment that tells you tackle a key task. Or you might want to define your work hours in your calendar app, so you can then silence all notifications that come through at non-work times.
Trying one or more of the above techniques can help you start 2024 with purpose and joy. Cheers to a great 2024!
If getting your work life more organised is on your 2024 to do list, have you considered adding a virtual assistant to your team? Our virtual assistants can help you handle routine administrative work (which probably doesn’t light your spark) and defend your time for the things that really matter. Check in with us to find out more.