January is great for a lot of things (MUST. KEEP. POSITIVE) but after an extended period of revelry, friends, and, if your lucky, time off work, getting back into the swing of real life can be really bloody hard. Look, we get it; even if you are working in a career you love, there's nothing quite so difficult as extracting yourself from your duvet burrito on a cold, dark January morning and getting your nose back to the grind - it's up there with dragging yourself away from the adorable kitten videos on TikTok the night before.
If this feels all a bit like we're making things worse and have got your anxiety spiking prematurely, rest assured there are ways to make it that little bit more bearable.
1. Keep the spirit of Christmas alive
No, we don’t mean spiking your morning coffee. This is all about trying to keep the feeling of togetherness and joy alive while Sarah from HR chews your ear off non stop about your targets less than five minutes after you sit down at your desk. Maybe you got a useful Christmas present that you can bring in on your first day like a new diary or laptop bag that’ll make you smile when you use it. Or maybe you had some good news over the festive break that you can share with your colleagues. NB – if you got engaged, tread lightly. Some humble bragging is expected but don’t expect people to ask anything more than “Have you set a date?” There’s only so much interest co-workers can feign.
2. Get started on your resolutions
If you opted for the failsafe “Get Healthy” New Year’s Resolution, then now is the time to get cracking. Download a pedometer app and start taking the stairs on the Tube and at work. Buy yourself a nice water bottle, that way you’ll definitely want to use it and you’ll soon be on your way to eight glasses a day.
3. Go for lunch with your work BFF
Nothing breaks up a seemingly never-ending Monday like popping out for lunch with your work bestie. Chances are you’re both probably broke so pick somewhere cheap and cheerful or take your packed lunches to a coffee shop (cheeky we know) and swap Christmas horror stories. If you don’t have a work BFF, you’ve just found your next NYR – get a work BFF.
4. Make a list
There is something about making a To Do list that brings out the Type A in all of us and the New Year is the perfect time to do it. You can start small and just do one for the day to help you get over the hump or go one further and organize your diary for January. If you’re feeling really wild, why not have a proper think about what goals you want to achieve this year. They can be work oriented or in your personal life but dream big. A friend of mine starts every year with brand new lists of what books she has read, films she has seen, gigs she’s been to and plays she has seen. Then at the end of the year she’s able to look back at all the fun stuff she has done. Bonus positive points if you make your list on shiny new stationery. Never underestimate the power of a new notebook.
5. Plan something fun to do this Friday night
If work really is hell on Earth (and yes, we’ve all had those jobs) then the best thing you can do is remind yourself that as of 6pm on Friday you are a free woman. For about 60 hours anyway. Get in contact with one of your mates who you might not have seen with all the Christmas madness and plan a fun night out on Friday. If cash flow is a problem, Netflix and chill with your beau is a perfectly acceptable plan for the first Friday back. Whatever it is, get it in the diary and honestly – having something to look forward to will make this first week easier.
6. Start putting the feelers out for a new job
Look, the last couple of years havewrought havoc on the job market and have even been dubbed The Great Resignationthanks to the number of people quitting their jobs. Quiet quittinghas become A Thing and loads of people went freelance or retrained all together as they navigated leading cities in record numbers for pastures new.
So if the dread of going back to work after some time off at Christmas is seriously getting to you, to the point where you might be feeling depressed or anxious, it might be time to start putting the feelers out for a new job. First thing's first: make sure your CV is up to date, so if you do stumble across a role that looks perfect, you can send an application right away. There's loads of resources out there to help you get started, and with the added January motivation, it might be the perfect time to give your career and overhaul.