Harnessing that ‘back to school’ feeling
Like me, I’m sure most of you still revert to the old school days’ habit of clearing your desk in preparation for the new school year. Not only can it serve as a boost of inspiration, that sense of a fresh beginning can do wonders for your productivity levels, positive mindset and creativity.
In the days leading up to everyone heading back to work, it’s worth thinking about how you can take what you learned from your school day habits and apply that to your work life. Here’s some ideas on how to make a proactive start to the last ‘term’ of 2021:
Clean up your workspace
Clearing and cleaning your desk is just the start. Take the time to install updates you might have skipped, clear out apps that you don’t use regularly and unsubscribe from ezines you never get around to reading. If you miss them you can always re-subscribe, but chances are you won’t! Whether you’re working at home or in the office, giving the space you work in a good spruce up helps to get your head into gear for the busy weeks ahead.
Refresh your look
As kids, shopping for new school clothes was a big part of getting ready - it felt good to head back to school looking smart and well prepared. As adults, we feel exactly the same despite lockdowns encouraging a more relaxed look! As we head into autumn, looking like you mean business will give you an extra boost of confidence, whether you’re heading into meetings online or in real life. Corporate dress codes will be more relaxed, so putting together a great new outfit needn’t mean spending a lot. Reusing something well-loved in a new way is also a great way to give yourself a lift.
Make a list of what you want to achieve
Remember when you used to sit in class and make lists about what you wanted the year to bring? Try doing this but make it relevant to your work life now. Maybe you’re setting new professional goals, or perhaps some life changes are on the horizon. There’s nothing more satisfying than making a list and checking it off!
Schedule a get together with colleagues
Now that some Covid restrictions have eased and there’s more opportunity for meeting up, a social get-together is a great way to touch base, introduce new team members and get to know each other better. Even more important if you’ve hired people in during the pandemic, creating a proper water cooler moment will help get your new team established and ready for work challenges ahead.
Record when you are at your most productive
Everyone has a ‘power hour’ – that pocket of time where you can get into a deep focus and tackle difficult problems. Depending on your personal circadian rhythm, you might work best first thing in the morning or much later in the day. Keep a tally on your most productive hours to figure out when you work best, then plan your time around these pockets of productivity. For example, if you find you power through your to-do list between 9.00 and 11.00am, make sure you don’t always fill that time with meetings.
Learn a new subject
Whether you’re picking up a totally new skill or improving on an existing one, now is a great time to hit the books and courses and enjoy learning again. For example, you could take up a language, learn how to draw, try dusting off your camera or learning how to use your phone camera properly. Not only can learning new skills improve your confidence, but it will also potentially introduce you to new people, expand your horizons and improve your wellbeing.
We’ve listed below some helpful learning resources and events for communicators, and if you’re considering your next move in communications, we’re here to help! Feel free to get in touch for an informal chat.
https://www.ioic.org.uk/professional-development/professional-development
https://iabc.learnupon.com/store
https://www.cipr.co.uk/CIPR/Learn_Develop/Training_.aspx
https://www.cim.co.uk/training/list-courses/internal-communications/
https://moderngov.com/course/effectively-communicating-in-a-hybrid-workplace/
Published by Tanya
