Failure to meet New Year’s resolutions – check.
Can no longer fit butt into jeans – check, check.
Haven’t seen the sun in over twelve days – check, check, check.
And to top things off, your newly-organized self has an inbox stacked taller than the Tour Eiffel!
It is imperative you fight the winter blues and failed attempts at “resolving,” for the sake of your sanity, your productivity and ultimately (since this is a work blog) your clients. Here are a few homegrown ideas that seem to be working in the Cookerly Public Relations motherland – at least in my cube – to get innovative and inspired.
1. Customize your cube: Hang up some photos of family and friends or things that inspire you. Personalizing your daily surroundings will make your office feel more permanent; it’s your space – make it pretty.
2. Toss it: Still have notes from a meeting in January of 2008, or a newspaper clip from 2009? TOSS.IT! Here’s some news, it’s 2011.
3. Revamp your wardrobe: When you dress frumpy, your work is frumpy. Dress to impress; you never know where the day will lead. Add a touch of a color or a great print to your dreary black and grey winter ensemble. It will brighten the mood… in your cube (I could write a whole post on this).
4. Replace a smoke break with a social media break: Forget nicotine. Get your afternoon fix by perusing Facebook and Twitter for interesting articles, up-to-the-second news, and fun photos. Keep it professional, so you don’t get too distracted.
5. Do it like Phoebe: Recall that Friend’s episode when Phoebe and Rachel are running through Central Park and Phoebe runs like a maniac fool?
Her energy level is incredible, she goes further faster, plus it’s far more fun. Take a minute to jive down the aisle or flail your hands in the air. Exert pent-up energy, it will revive you and help you refocus. I particularly like number one in this article, Zippity Do Dah! Feel free to share your co-workers reactions with us!
6. Set short-term goals: Too much on your plate? Feel like you’re jumping from one project to the next without really accomplishing anything? Compile a “to do” list starting with your simplest tasks. It’s amazing what crossing off a few assignments can do to motivate and encourage taking on bigger projects throughout the day.
7. Reward yourself: Don’t hesitate to pat yourself on the back for a job well-done. Or better yet, step outside, take a 10 minute walk and breathe in some fresh air.
8. Reward yourself part deux: Yesterday, at 4:12 p.m., my cubemate, Matt says above the typing, “Everyday at 4 the agency should have a happy hour, snack or coffee.” I think that’s brilliant, Matt, and what would make it better? Combine the three!
Matt, Ada, Sarah, Brittney and I have a good cubical culture going here… sometimes it just needs that added zing. We’d love to hear your ideas for fighting winter blues and afternoon delirium. So please, do share!
As senior vice president at Cookerly, Mike Rieman specializes in building and maintaining relationships with the media and has an excellent track record of landing significant placements in print and broadcast media including USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and Money Magazine.
As design director at Cookerly, Tim serves as the creative lead in the development of branding campaigns, print collateral and digital media for clients across a broad range of industries, including consumer, professional services, healthcare and technology.
As vice president of Cookerly, Sheryl Sellaway uses her extensive corporate communications background to lead consumer PR efforts, deliver strategy for marketing programs and share expertise about community initiatives.