Eagerly awaiting Spring and all its bounce? -Most of us are still flatlining our way out of another beginning; a new year.
It’s said the number one reason for feeling the SAD and looking even sadder is failing to launch into a new year with a new career prospect in hand.
Not everyone will be ‘full of the joys’. If you’re battling blues from the weather, feeling the lag and have crossed over into 2018 but mentally are still processing that it’s another year and not yet another job, here are some ways to motivate yourself to get back in the fast lane. Retreat and reload…
The Great Outdoors
Let’s face it; life is what you make it. Sitting indoors or in the office at lunchtime, despite cold snaps, this time of year, will inevitably make you feel worse. Swathes of depression do nothing for the self-esteem, shrug off those thoughts and go for a walk. It won’t be easy, we know. Reward yourself with a hot tea (fewer calories than anything frothy with lots of milk and sugar), it’s 10 minutes out of your day, you can manage it. Blowing away the cobwebs will curb condemnation of career qualms. Harvard studies prove these alfresco luncheon jaunts will not only make you happier but improve concentration. Win-win.
Food for the Soul
Music. We’re talking the happy kind. If the thought of the former is beyond comprehension, remind yourself this is 10 minutes thinking time and an opportunity to pack in at least 3 songs of choice. Walking while listening to your favourite tunes could help you re-evaluate your entire day and feel positive about the application process to jump-start your new job search.
Focus on the Self
Yoga, positive thoughts and meditation, we all know we ought to be asana-ing our way through the more miserable months but even for the skeptic, here’s a reminder that dwelling on the exodus of colleagues won’t bring you closer to your own goals. Visualise your dream job and make a plan. It could be a denary list of “what to do next”, who cares if it takes 3 weeks to execute. By next month your next chapter will be well underway. Directional thought will keep you en-route to success.
Eating your way to Happy
We’ve talked before about the importance of staying hydrated now we’re talking -making food the fodder of thought and ensuring smart choices keep you energised to hunt down those new prospects. If you’re sluggish, tired and fed up, you won’t be motivated to push the CV out, nor will you be looking fresh for your looming interviews. An apple can help us to be more alert in the morning than a coffee ever could. Fruit is always your friend. Cold day? Porridge is slow release in energy and doesn’t have to be fattening.
A Product of your Environment
Are you doing all of the things and not getting the results you want? Eating well, exercising, focussing on future plans and still feeling ‘meh’? It could be your surroundings bringing you down.
If you’re feeling a bit wilted it’s perhaps time for a biennial make-over. Look around you and change what you don’t like.
Even at work. Most employers won’t mind the introduction of a plant on your desk, a photo of a loved one. Simple actions like opening the blinds. If it’s lighter, you’ll feel brighter. Where ever you spend most of your time: start there.
Relax, Don’t Do It
If all else fails, maybe you need a rest. Retreat until you’re ready to reload. Spa’s are aplenty in continental Switzerland and those folks know a thing or two about ‘quality of life’. Good spa days can be found online and needn’t break the bank. We all need a break from time to time. Go ahead, treat yourself.
