PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT S P O T L GI H T
AS THE SUMMER FINALLY ARRIVES AND THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS BEGIN, IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO REMAIN FOCUSED AT WORK AND IGNORE THE PULL OF PADDLING IN THE SEA, UNROLLING PICNIC RUGS IN A PARK OR JUST GAZING OUT OF THE OFFICE WINDOW AT THE SUN-DRENCHED PAVEMENTS. AMANDA THOMAS OFFERS SOME WORDS OF ADVICE
D 1
2
o you ever find yourself stuck doing mundane tasks at work, and not enjoying them? Looking out of the window to see the sun shining, or wishing it was and imagining yourself
on a beach somewhere instead of focusing on the job in front of you? It gets tough to motivate yourself in this situation, and productivity can really suffer. But who is really at fault? OK, so the job might not be engaging but it’s our attitude to it that makes the difference. Here are a few top tips for keeping motivated at
work – even when the weather man is telling you it’s too nice to be stuck inside!
Reward yourself
Boost your own morale by recognising your achievements. When you reach a goal, or complete that task, give yourself a little reward. Knowing there is a treat at the end of it will spur you on, and that feel-good factor of a little pat on the back or an extra chocolate biscuit will soon have you using the technique time and again.
Learn something
No matter how long you have been in a job there will always be more to learn. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and look for that opportunity every time; you’ll get a great sense of achievement knowing that you gained something for yourself along the way and it could contribute to your CPD.
www.britishparking.co.uk
3 4 5
6 7
The power of deadlines Love them or hate them, deadlines give us a sense of purpose and focus. Set yourself a deadline and strive to meet it. You’ll feel good about hitting the target, and it’s an easy way to keep momentum at work when you would normally start to slow down. This achievement is motivation in itself.
Get results
Set mini targets, or choose little goals to keep a good pace along the way. It’s
like passing certain points on a long and boring car journey – each point signifies one step closer and keeps you moving forward. If it’s a repetitive task, try challenging yourself to find smarter ways of working.
Sleep well It’s an odd fact that being bored at work can drain our energy more than being
busy. When you feel drained, you’re likely to stay up longer, doing trivial things that still aren’t challenging your brain. The result: poor sleep, and a return to work the next day even less motivated than before. Try doing something in the evenings that stimulates you; learn something new or get outside and get some fresh air and exercise. You’re likely to sleep much better, and to wake feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day.
Exchange ideas
Meet people who are doing similar jobs to see if they have got smarter ways of working. Ask your boss for something more challenging or find out if the business has any training courses you can attend to develop your knowledge and skill. This will ultimately boost your motivation level.
Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and look for that opportunity every time; you’ll get a great sense of achievement
Prioritise daily
Set out your tasks for the day, and stick to them, but be realistic. There is nothing more satisfying than ticking off tasks as you go, and keeping on track. When you look back at what you have achieved at the end of the day, you’ll feel like it was a day well spent. Be sure to limit the list, though, as there is no sense in having unachievable goals and feeling deflated at the end of the day.
JULY 2010 27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60