Posted by Well, we’re officially into the ‘party season’, when it seems like all the good habits people build up over the year go flying out of the window! But December doesn’t have to be a month of indulgence and hangovers… it could be a month of transformation.
Here are 5 tips from me as to how you could shake things up and really make this a month to remember.
Decide today that you’re changing the script
So what if everyone else is going to parties and generally going a little bit crazy during the festive season? Maybe that’s what you’ve always done before, but could this be the year that you change the script and don’t spend December in a hangover fog, feeling ill and unproductive?
It might seem like there’s constant temptation to go out every night and overdo it through December – I’ve had a few of those years myself in the past – but you don’t have to join in. Keep some strategies in your back pocket if you think you’re going to give in to temptation, and remember that it’s OK not to do what everyone else is doing, especially if you know that it’s going to leave you with a sore head and an upset stomach!
Rather than winding things down, wind them up – finish the year strong.
Something I see over and over in December is people saying they’re ‘winding down for the year’. Now, that’s all well and good, but what I find is that they then find it that much harder to get going come January!
Don’t use the festive season as an excuse to do less – if anything by doing that you’re going to make the New Year all that harder. By doing more, you’ll not only achieve a sense of accomplishment but also set a positive tone for the upcoming year. Look at the remaining weeks as an opportunity to make significant progress, turning what might be seen as downtime into a period of productivity and achievement.
Set a challenging stretch goal to achieve before the end of the year
What’s a small, achievable goal that you could complete before the New Year? Identify an ambitious yet attainable objective that can be completed by the end of the year. It’ll serve as a driving force, helping you stay focused and engaged during the festive season.
Break down the goal into smaller, manageable tasks with specific deadlines to ensure steady progress. Completing a challenging goal will give you a sense of accomplishment and momentum heading into the new year.
Remember the acronym SMART to help you – make sure it’s Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound – it’s no good saying ‘I’m going to be Marathon-ready by Jan 1st’ if you haven’t put on a pair of runners since the summer!
Celebrate your success over the holiday but don’t overindulge, get back at it.
So you’ve nailed some goals and wrapped up projects – that’s awesome! Take a moment, pat yourself on the back, and celebrate those successes.
But here’s the thing: while celebrating is crucial, try not to let the party vibe take over completely. It’s easy to get caught up in the festive mood and go all out on relaxation mode. Don’t let the celebrations turn into a productivity black hole.
Think of your celebration as a pit stop rather than a full-on holiday. Enjoy the festivities, but resist the urge to slip into a never-ending break. Set a limit on your celebration time. Decide in advance when the party ends, and when it does, make a beeline back to your to-do list.
Getting back to the grind promptly is the secret sauce. Enjoy your downtime, but remember that the clock is ticking. Promise yourself you’ll jump back into action once the celebration timer hits zero, and (here’s the key), actually do it. This way, you keep the good vibes flowing without sacrificing your productivity.
Stop procrastinating and putting things off until January, start today.
I keep seeing memes on Social Media of people saying ‘That sounds like January’s problem’, basically people saying ‘it’s December, I’ll deal with it in the New Year’. It might be tempting to put things off when you’re knackered and just want to have some fun with everyone else, but really, what’s the point?
If you’re putting off a difficult work task, you know as well as I do that it’ll be at the back of your mind all over the holidays, until it builds itself up into some massive scary thing. If you get it crossed off your list now, the chances are that it won’t be half as difficult as you think it’ll be, and then you also have the added bonus of going into the break knowing you’ve done it!
Whatever you do, don’t avoid the task. It’ll need to be done eventually, so you may as well get on with it now. Try the three-minute rule, where you tell yourself you can stop after three minutes. The reality is that at the end of those three minutes you’ll probably find you just carry on.
Sometimes simply starting something is enough to get you going!
January doesn’t have to be a month of regret and new year’s resolutions. By embracing a proactive mindset during the festive season, you’re not only celebrating your achievements but also setting the stage for a seamless transition into 2024. Instead of playing catch-up, you’ll be ahead of the game, fuelled by the momentum you’ve built up. So, as the holiday season unfolds, relish your successes, revel in the festivities, and remember, you’ve already laid the foundation for a productive and fulfilling year ahead!
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