Fading Away like Black Friday

In The long good buy: Black Friday's importance is fading, Brian Sozzi, CEO and Chief Equities Strategist at Belus Capital Advisors, describes Black Friday as “a relic of years gone by.” Between Cyber Monday and earlier discounting due to the weak economic recovery, it seems Black Friday no longer holds its former glory. But Black Friday isn’t the only thing likely to fade during the holiday season.

When the holidays come around, motivation can easily spiral down. Though CNN cited one Accountemps survey which indicates 32% of senior managers actually believe their employees are more productive during the holidays, it’s not necessarily easy to stay motivated. Check out these tips to stay motivated, boost productivity and improve performance at work during the holiday season.

Self- Motivation Tips:

Smile!
Due to added obligations, such as shopping, magnified budgeting, heavier workload and more, the holidays can easily induce stress (Mayo Clinic). It seems silly to sit around and force a smile across your face when you don’t feel very happy, but smiling actually does improve your mood, which will help you tackle your responsibilities.

Focus
Certain tasks are not as appealing as others. If there are tasks that keep being put off, focus on the outcome rather than the process. This will help you finish the project.

Exercise
Don’t sacrifice fitness due to a busy schedule. Even if you can’t keep up with your usual yoga, dance, swimming, going to the gym or your favorite sport from childhood, walk up and down the stairs a few times on your lunch break. Exercise releases endorphins making it easier to think happy thoughts and boost motivation.

Plan
You likely already refer to a calendar, but keep it more visible during this time. With added holiday parties and time off approaching, it’s good to be aware of timeframes left to accomplish work goals. It is easier to stay on top of your time management skills, than to play catch up later.

Self-Talk
Watch and listen to your internal dialogue.  The most important conversations that influence your life are the ones you have with yourself.  Approach every situation, coming from a place of positivity.

This holiday season, help make your supervisor one of the 32% that noticed improved productivity, and avoid sacrificing work life balance in the process. Don’t let your motivation slip away, like Black Friday. These pointers will get you through the holiday season and the return-to-work funk that follows.