Start the new year off right with an effective return to work strategy

By Mary Harcourt, founder of CosmoGlo.

The prospect of getting back to the daily routine of work after the holidays can be daunting, but the New Year is actually a great time to reevaluate your work habits. It's easy to fall into old patterns that don't use time efficiently or actually increase your workload. This can lead to mental strain and possibly burnout. Having a strategy you can refer to when you're in a slump is key to staying focused. Implement these tips daily to stay efficient and reduce mental strain in 2023.

Task management

The most overwhelming part of getting back into the rhythm is often the sheer number of tasks you have to complete. It's easy to see them as a giant mountain to climb and wonder how you could accomplish everything you need. With good organization, your perspective changes and the mountain becomes much smaller. Here are three steps that can help you manage your tasks effectively:

Start the day by getting organized.

Write down everything you want to do in the coming weeks. You want to have a tangible list to reference, and you can add to it and cross off as you see fit throughout the month. It can help free up mental space and help you feel overwhelmed.

Prioritize your tasks.

Keep an organized to-do list. Tasks that were not completed the day before can be prioritized for the next day. Prioritizing your tasks allows you to focus on the things that need to be done first as things fall lower and lower on that list, and so does your stress level of feeling like you have to do everything at once. time.

To delegate.

Take your to-do list and see which ones you can assign and delegate to others to make sure they get done. You may find that someone else enjoys doing this task more than you do. We often think we have to do it all, but using your resources allows you to accomplish more with less exhaustion.

Management of time

Do you sometimes feel like your to-do list is longer at the end of the day than at the beginning? Or that you're always in a hurry but can't catch up? If you have a good idea of ​​what needs to be done but never find the time to do it all, you may not be using your time effectively. Here's how to better manage your time to make the most of your day:

Limit your time on social media.

Social media can indirectly rob you of valuable time and give you very little value in exchange for time invested in apps. Save the scroll for times when you need a mental break and give yourself a time limit. A few times a day for 10 minutes while waiting for your coffee to brew can act as a mental break. Scrolling aimlessly around your desk several times a day can encourage procrastination for tasks at hand. A safe rule to apply is not to use apps while sitting at your desk.

Be open to asking questions.

We don't know everything. Don't pretend. When you get stuck, don't hesitate to ask for help or find the answers instead of trying to figure things out on your own. It can be as simple as asking a colleague about their experience, finding a quick video tutorial on YouTube, or finding the most relevant answers on Google. If it's a bigger topic to understand, a short online video course can easily give you all the valuable information formatted in an easy-to-understand and digestible method. It can save you an incredible amount of time and the hassle of trying to figure it out on your own.

Take breaks.

A fresh perspective and a rejuvenated mind can win over more than one burnout sufferer. Stop and take 10 minutes to take a short walk a few times a day to get your blood pumping and your creativity fresh. Challenge yourself to leave all devices in the...