Feel like you’ve been in fight or flight mode all year? We get it!
The good news is it’s not too late for you to end the year on a positive career/business note. Follow our 12 Days of Christmas Calendar to set you up for success in 2021!
1. The work-changing magic of cleaning up
What better way to start the New Year than with a clean slate (or at least a clean desk and desktop). We challenge you to clear your desk, wash those coffee cups, clean your keyboard and empty those drawers and file those file-able things.
When your desk is looking like it’s from an IKEA catalogue, then tackle your computer desktop. That’s it, open those files and your dreaded downloads folder, and clean house!
2. Unboxing your inbox
Now that you’ve had a taste of digital decluttering, head to your inbox and be ruthless. Unsubscribe from those emails that no longer serve you, organise your folders, calendar and categories. Then delete or file the emails sitting in your inbox taking up precious space.
Why not set up some rules for next year to avoid the inbox overload? Oh, and don’t forget to schedule your out-of-office.
3. Get motivated
Choose a motivational book, podcast or course to complete before the new year or in the new year. Think of an area you’d like to build on, such as time management or a new skill that could help you next year. Think of the most effective way for you to commit to and learn – would a podcast on the commute to work be best or would you prefer to attend a class?
Whatever it is and however you do it, working on yourself is just as important as working on your business. Check out our free podcasts to learn a thing or two for the year ahead
4. Book that appointment
Book that appointment, use that voucher and attend that event!
Have a list of ‘should do’s’ laying around in your head? Or a soon to expire voucher? It’s time to conquer the list.
Looking after yourself shouldn’t be put off indefinitely, use this time to look after yourself or attend a networking event that you’ve been meaning to.
5. Jingle all the way online
Before the silly season starts, take a long sober look at your online presence. What message is your website and social media account portraying? Is it user-friendly and reflecting your business or personal branding? Or has it been neglected for too long?
Now’s the time to make sure your online presence shines in the new year and here’s where to get started.
6. Send Christmas cards and gifts – on time
Sometimes we enter the festive season with the best intentions – like buying Christmas presents before the mad rush and actually sitting down and writing those Christmas cards. Well this is the year to keep those intentions. It’s not too late to send your clients cards or e-cards but you need to get your skates on and if you need it we can help!
Think how much more you’ll enjoy the silly season if you can wear the smug smile of someone who nailed it this Christmas.
7. Try time blocking
If you feel the day is getting away from you, you’re fighting constant interruptions and are being pulled away in meetings, then it may be time to try a new way of working and take back your workday.
Time blocking is a time management method where you divide your day into blocks of time. Each block is dedicated to accomplishing a specific task and only that specific task.
Learn how to implement time blocking in your workday here.
8. New Year, new calendar
Too quickly do our months fly buy and we’ve forgotten to post on our socials or send out our eDMs. By creating your content marketing calendar for the year ahead, you’ll be able to stay on track (and kept in check) for getting your content out there regularly.
9. Discover pain points
The end of the year is a great time to reflect on what’s working and what isn’t. Is there a process that needs improving? Or something that your team is spending too much time on? Now is the time to get to the root of the problem.
List the pain points at work or in your business, dig deep and get other’s opinions as to sticking points in their day as well.
10. Brainstorm awesome solutions
Now that you have your list of pain points, it’s time to brainstorm some practical solutions.
Let all the ideas flow onto the paper before reviewing and editing what could work, how it will work and when it’s to be implemented.
Don’t forget to review the new process in a few months to see if it’s fixed your pain point.
11. Start dreaming again
You started your business or job with a dream. Whether it was to grow, earn more money, learn a new skill or have more work/life balance. Now’s the time to review if you’ve on the path to achieve those dreams or if you’ve got caught up in the day-to-day and missed the mark.
It’s time to dream big again. If this year has taught us anything, it’s that we’re a resilient and innovative bunch, so what have you got to lose by setting some big goals again. Make it happen.
12. Take a break
There, you’re all set to start 2021 organised, motivated and ready for success.
So now it’s time to switch off the computer, hang up the suit and enjoy time with your family, friends and fur-baby. Soak in some Vitamin D and remember why you work so hard in the first place.
Congratulate yourself on surviving a difficult year and recharge yourself to be ready for whatever 2021 will bring.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Focused Marketing team!