End-of-year fatigue is setting in with a vengeance, and while it may be tempting to let things go in the workplace with the intention to set them straight again when work resumes in 2020, it is possible and indeed preferable to end the year strong and start the new year on a high note, a workplace expert said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re heading into the final stretch of what has for many of us been a really challenging year,\u201d said Georgina Barrick, managing director at Cassel & Co, a division of ADvTECH Resourcing.<\/p>
\u201cThe economy has been tough, the political landscape unnerving and the sword of downgrade remains hanging firmly over our heads.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo while it\u2019s tempting to throw in the towel and start planning for 2020, it really is possible, even at this late stage, to take a few small actions to finish strong.<\/p>
\u201cBecause sustaining and building momentum now is the smart way to end the year off with a sense of achievement, and enter 2020 from a position of strength.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barrick said taking one or more of the following actions \u2013 each of which are not much more than small and achievable mind shifts \u2013 can make an outsized difference in the following month while tying up work strings and looking toward the future:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Recommit to one goal:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cYou may have started the year with many goals.<\/p>\n \u201cOr, you may be one of those people who don\u2019t believe in \u2018goal-setting\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless, pick one thing to do and see it through.<\/p>\n \u201cDecide what you need to do to achieve this goal and give it your all,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u2022 Become self-aware:<\/strong><\/p>\n Self-awareness can help us move from being eager starters to consistent, strong finishers, said Barrick.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing self-aware allows us to identify and focus on our strengths, while acknowledging and accepting our weaknesses.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd this is how goals are achieved.<\/p>\n \u201cTo reach this point, you may need to have an honest conversation with yourself about what you have done well this year, what has been in your blind spot, and how to leverage your strengths and take away the power of your weaknesses next year,\u201d said Barrick.<\/p>\n \u2022 Take daily action:<\/strong> \u201cMove faster. Create urgency. Action conquers fear.<\/p>\n \u201cMake your action steps effort-driven, for instance by undertaking to answer all email requests within an hour, rather than outcome-driven, by for instance deciding you will improve customer service.<\/p>\n \u201cThen evaluate how you\u2019ve approached your goals in 2019,\u201d Barrick said.<\/p>\n \u201cExplore what you\u2019ve been doing and decide what you need to stop doing, keep doing or start doing \u2013 and implement this immediately.<\/p>\n \u201cNo need to wait for the clock to strike midnight on New Year\u2019s Eve to start doing the things you want to be doing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Set deadlines:<\/strong> \u201cSo, if the work that you\u2019re doing hasn\u2019t been set a deadline, set an artificial one for yourself.<\/p>\n \u201cDeadlines get you moving,\u201d said Barrick.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Beware as scammers are more active during the festive season<\/a><\/p>\n Handy holiday health checklist for a stress-free festive season<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 Renegotiate your relationship with perfect:<\/strong><\/p>\n For many Type A personalities, their battle with perfectionism often translates into procrastination, said Barrick.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you constantly value work that is perfectly presented over work that is done, it might be time to move your boundaries on perfect.<\/p>\n \u201cRemember that the pursuit of perfection, where it takes time to tweak, change and make things perfect, or even to just get started out of a fear of the end product maybe not being good enough, is at odds with the need to get it done and delivered.<\/p>\n \u201cAt this point in the year, finding the delicate balance between perfection and delivery is important,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u2022 Manage energy, not time:<\/strong> \u201cEarly risers might find that they\u2019re at their most productive and alert early in the morning.<\/p>\n \u201cFor night owls, the opposite is true.<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless of when you\u2019re most productive, always choose to do your most important tasks when your energy levels are at their best, and your productivity levels are bound to rise,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s late in the year and we\u2019re all weary.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the mental energy and positive outlook to be gained from upping your game at this stage, rather than dropping the ball and postponing the inevitable consequences, can\u2019t be over-emphasised.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t give up until the finish line is crossed, and be sure to exit 2019 with gusto.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Ashley Kiley (Journalist)\u00a0ashleyk@caxton.co.za.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Also follow us on:<\/p>\n
\nBarrick said it can be very empowering to do something every day which moves your closer to your goal.<\/p>\n
\nFor many people, not much gets done without a hard deadline, as seemingly more urgent and important things constantly crop up.<\/p>\n
\nEnergy levels fluctuate throughout the day, Barrick noted.<\/p>\n\n
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