Start the New Year with a Clean Slate?
Every New Year, we talk about starting off how you mean to go on and making plans at the start of January. However, the reality is that most of us start the year by picking up where we left off! December is often a short month for many of us as we look to take time off between Christmas and New Year and along with the festivities of the season, some jobs will simply slip through the net.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons New Year’s Resolutions are so hard to stick to – there simply isn’t the time in the day to see them through!
Here we give some top tips on getting things done before the end of the year to allow yourself to start the New Year with a fresh slate.
Prioritise
However you choose to organise your tasks, be it via an app, your diary, or a series of post-it notes(!), now is the time to take stock and plan for how you’re going to get everything done. Consider deadlines and order your jobs accordingly. Rather than burying your head in the sand, make a start on the meatier tasks first, topping up with smaller tasks in between or as a break.
Stay focused
A festive gathering here and a quick Christmas shopping browse there can quickly mount up to many hours being lost during December. Get your Christmas planning, shopping and preparation done early to allow you to maintain better focus for the remainder of the year.
It may also be a good idea to give your ‘to-do’ list a good cleanse. If there are jobs on there that no longer need to be, or would be better allocated to another member of your team, remove it/pass it on. Having fewer jobs will make the task of getting through the list seem less imposing, allowing you to focus better.
Delegate
When looking at your ‘to-do’ list, you need to be realistic about what you can and can’t achieve in the time available. Tasks that do not require your direct input or are not time sensitive could potentially be delegated, giving a greater chance that they will get done and also allowing you more time for the key jobs on your list in the process. It may be that regular jobs take up a disproportionate amount of your time and could be outsourced to ease congestion. By arranging this before the end of the year, you can start the New Year knowing you will have more time, therefore immediately reducing stress and pressure.
It’s been a tough couple of years for many businesses. The festive season is a great chance to relax and reset, and by reaching Christmas with a clean (or at least cleaner!) slate, you can start the New Year feeling refreshed and ready for any new challenges.
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