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5 Tips To Beat The January Blues At Work

Written by: Search Consultancy
Published on: 4 Jan 2021

Advice in partnership with Search Consultancy

Search Jan tips In 2020, the Christmas season was more important than ever before, as we cherished spending time with family and indulged in some much needed Christmas festivities.

Many people are looking for a much brighter year ahead, but for some of us, the after-Christmas blues can be difficult to escape. Pockets are smaller, motivation levels are low and stress levels start to rise. It’s no surprise that more than a third of all sick days are taken in January.  

If you need a bit of extra motivation to help you dive back into your job, read our 5 ways to beat the January blues at work in 2021.

1. Start your day right 

The way you start your day can massively impact your mood, so here’s some blues-busting tips you can try:

  • Give yourself plenty of time in the morning. Rushing around is bound to cause unwanted stress, so set your alarm a bit earlier to make for a calmer morning.

  • Listen to an upbeat playlist on the way to work; there’s plenty of research to show just how much it can improve your mood.

  • Eat breakfast; an empty stomach and January blues do not mix well together. A hearty breakfast will help give you the fuel you need to plough through those difficult first few hours.

  • Take time to prepare yourself for work or wear your favourite work outfit. Making yourself feel good will allow you to think more positively about the day ahead.

2. Beat the January blues at work by listening to your body

Although you may feel like you’re drowning in work, you should never put too much pressure on yourself to perform at an optimal level all of the time.

Instead, listen to your body and ease yourself into tasks. Try to complete the easier tasks first to get into the swing of things, and leave the more challenging tasks for moments of the day where you feel more energetic.

3. Plan for things to look forward to in 2021

Instead of dwelling on what has been, focus on the exciting things to come in 2021. Although you may be restricted in what you can do, there are plenty of socially distanced events and online events you can take part in.

4. Step away from the job and take a break

​According to Furniture Work, more than six in ten people agreed that having workplace friendships improves their happiness. Socialising with colleagues and spending time away from your desk is essential for good mental health. So, if socialising in person isn’t possible, why not catch up with your colleagues over a video call?

Remind yourself to physically step away from your desk and take a break, even when you’re working from home. This break doesn’t have to be as strenuous as working out, it could simply be going for a walk, or moving to a different room to finish off reading your favourite book- whatever you choose, remember to be kind to yourself.

5. Set yourself career goals for 2021

​Distract yourself from the January blues and aim to make 2021 your year by setting yourself some SMART career goals. Whether it’s to improve your presentation skills, take part in more CPD training or to be promoted, it’s important that you write these down and map out exactly how you are going to achieve them to help keep that motivation going.

Maybe improving or learning a new skill is one of your career goals for 2021, check out the courses that are available with the local education providers LoveLocalJobs.com work with. 

Find a new job or career in 2021

Sometimes, beating the January blues might involve a change of scenery and a fresh start. If you’re feeling this way, you are not alone, as one in five employees update their CV’s and search for new jobs in January.

With demand for jobs fluctuating, you may even be looking for a totally new career change. If you’re looking for inspiration for what your next career move could be, check out some of our career stories from Team Search or check out our video for more.

Take a look at some of our helpful blogs to improve your job search this 2021.

5 Tips For Finding A New Job In 2021

How to write a great CV

How to prepare for a video interview