A new year is here, and that means new expectations. Only a few people are lucky enough to rejoice when they return to work, so we thought it would be of value to brainstorm 8 healthy work habits to set you up for a better year. You might be interested in improving your working hours or be interested in engaging an HR consultant in Australia. Whether you are management or casual, there are actionable steps that you can implement today, so let’s not wait until a Monday to get started!
1. Work with HR on your PDP
Some businesses will push their employees to create robust professional development plans (PDPs), and some businesses will leave that ball in your court. Regardless of what situation you find yourself in, consider working with your internal HR team or an HR consultant in Australia. This is going to set you up with a plan for the year ahead, and likely a few steps beyond that. Prioritise your growth and development this year.
2. Put your commute time to good use
Rather than scrolling aimlessly on your commute, or listening to the car radio chatter away – allocate that time to something important to you. Maybe it is putting on a meditation track, learning something new through a podcast or even learning a language. If you are still working from home, you can still allocate your ‘would be’ commute time to this task. Imagine what you can learn and be inspired by with this healthy work habit?
3. Better lunches and snacks
It’s a great feeling knowing that you have a delicious lunch only a couple of hours away when working, not to mention that 3 pm snack. Start the year off right with some lunch and snack ideas that are easy to put together and going to give you the fuel you need to finish the day strong. Bliss balls, homemade protein bars and even fruit salads don’t take too much time to make but they make all the difference. If snacking on bad food is a habit you want to kick this year – then get organised sooner rather than later.
4. Observe work hours
Working smarter and not harder is the only way forward, and that is good news for your calendar. Don’t fall into the trap of working longer to impress peers or prove your worth, let your world speak for itself and show the office that you can kick goals within your allotted work hours. Observing work hours is something that everyone will have a different opinion on, but behaviour change happens when we all start to work our hours and cut ‘hustle culture’ from our society.
5. Keep informed
If you are getting your news from social media, you are, unfortunately, not alone. It is so convenient to scroll through and see what headlines are capturing the attention of our peers, but it is important to keep informed through an independent source. Yes, this is easier said than done – but you will enjoy holding greater knowledge and being across issues that are impacting your country, state or local community.
6. Move your body
We all set out to go for a walk and stretch our legs every hour or so, but our emails and work commitments don’t always make that possible. This year, do your best to get out there and move your body as it will aid better sleep, digestion, and contribute to your overall health. It cannot be overstated how nice it is to step away from the work computer and get some fresh air and a new perspective, if only for a few minutes. Try and block out small windows in your calendar so you can make this happen.
7. Start a bookclub
Start a book club this year to hold you accountable for reading more. You could put your feelers out and see who is interested in your office, or you could even make it a book club with only one member… you! This is going to be great escapism, and it gives you something to look forward to at the end of the day or in between events that aren’t digital. Fall in love with this beautiful analogue practice and hunt out your next read today.
8. Get to know your coworkers
We always enjoy ourselves more when working with those we have a good relationship with. This year, why not set a goal of getting to know the people in your physical or virtual team, with weekly chats or trivia sessions. You might also find that your coworkers also want to implement some healthy work habits. When all you do is talk about work things with your peers, that relationship can feel pretty hollow, so start the year by shaking up the dynamic with your peers and see if you surprise yourself about what you learn about those people.
We cannot believe that a new year is here already! We hope these habits will create a healthier and happier year for you, and be sure to reach out and let us know which ones are working and any that we need to add! Want more inspiration? Why not follow the best mindful podcasts of the year.
