It's easy to become distracted at work as the end of the year approaches. With the holidays drawing near, many people start thinking about their upcoming time off and making plans with family and friends. But it's important to not let this joyous time of year get you off track at work and put you into a holiday slump.
A sluggish finish to the year could easily spoil what was mostly a good year on the job. The good news? It's possible to enjoy this time of year and continue to crush it at work!
Here's how...
Get A Jump On Next Year's Goals
Chances are you have already started outlining goals for the year ahead. So, why not start on them immediately? It's even likely that some of your goals from the previous year may carry over into the new year.
You don't have to wait until the clock strikes midnight to begin working toward your goals for the year ahead.
Write down all your goals, professional and personal, and determine a good starting point. Working from ahead not only gives you a good sense of pride, but when the time does come to take some time off for the holidays, you'll be able to enjoy it more.
Take Some Time To Bond With Co-Workers
While you don't want the holidays to interfere and distract you from your work responsibilities, they do provide a great opportunity to bond with your co-workers. Whether it's through a company gift exchange, or some form of holiday party (even if it's virtual), take some time to check in with your co-workers, and recognize them for all they do to help the company, and make your job easier.
Having a cordial relationship with your co-workers is something that takes constant work, so it's extremely important to show appreciation when you can. The workforce doesn't have to be best friends, but it's good for overall morale, and sometimes job performance, that everyone gets along and respects their colleagues.
âTake Stock Of Where You Are In Your Career
This is an opportunity to do an honest assessment of yourself and where you are in your career. By doing this assessment, you can chart out and adjust your long-term career plan. This is a much larger task than just setting goals for the year. But doing this at the end of the year is beneficial, as you have another year's worth of information to help guide your thought process.
If things aren't going well, you'll want to come up with potential solutions, and if one of those solutions is a career change, it's best to begin planning immediately.
While starting the new year with career uncertainty isn't ideal, approaching this challenge with a plan in place will give you confidence and focus for the year ahead.
As long as you find ways to remain focused and have something to work toward, it's very possible to avoid a holiday slump and enjoy the end of the year. It's all about balance!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.