How can you stay motivated at work during the holidays, you ask? Whether you work from home (hi Belle team!) or you work at an office, you can feel the shift in the air. Clients are answering emails a little slower or maybe demanding even more of your time. Gift Guide requests are coming in strong, and most of them have nothing to do with your other clients (oy!). Let’s face it, a lot of people are already checked out, planning their upcoming travel, stressed about spending time with family or just looking forward to getting a break.
Don’t let the upcoming holidays stop you from continuing your PR magic. We’ve created a short list of easy and doable things you can do to stay motivated at work during the holidays. Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas or Kwanzaa, take these five tips into consideration so your work doesn’t suffer from the holiday blues.
1. Create a To-Do List
It’s almost 2016 already, so why not get ahead of yourself here and create a to-do list to keep yourself focused and motivated at work. Think about what you’ve accomplished in 2015 and what you still haven’t done. Is there a news outlet you haven’t explored for your client? Perhaps there’s a new angle or pitch you’ve been sitting on (we don’t recommend this) that could be perfect for the holiday season. Add it to your to-do list and…do it!
Greatist has some great tips on how to actually get items on your to-do list done! There’s no better feeling than making a list, checking it twice…and checking things off. We learned this early on from Santa.
2. Keep Sharing New Ideas
When reporters or clients are silent, it doesn’t mean you have to be. Since most people are clearing items off their desks or minds for the end of the year, why not share a new idea? Try to think of something timely, different, maybe even innovative, that is a value add to your client or just what a reporter was looking for. Inc has some fun tips on how to generate new ideas, so start brainstorming.
3. Start a New Project
There’s no reason to wait until 2016 to start a new project. If you’re the proactive type, you can suggest some new processes or even a new social media tool for your agency. We’re working on strategy and have some great ideas brewing over here at Belle, and we’re sure that you have a few things up your sleeves. Use great tools like Basecamp or Podio to keep your project organized.
4. Advance Your Career
One of the best ways a PR professional can succeed is to keep learning. Before the year ends and you’re busy gift shopping, why not invest in yourself first. There are a number of fun workshops and webinars you can sign up for that are ongoing and will keep you learning new tips and tricks well into 2016. Our good friend Shonali Burke just launched her 4-week Social PR Virtuoso master course on all things Social PR. You may even want to check out Michael Smart’s PR training group, The Inner Circle if you need a little extra boost for your media relations.
5. Revamp Your Online Profiles
If you have a little down time, you should look at your online profiles. If someone Googles you in 2016, will they feel like you’re in-the-know or in the past? Update your Linkedin, maybe even get a new headshot and add some new content to your Instagram or blog. Forbes saved you the time and provides some of the social media trends we’ll see in 2016 if that helps you prioritize what you want to update first.
Jingle All The Way…
…to a fun and productive end of the year. Remember to take some time off but don’t lose sight of your goals and the goals of your clients too. Think about what you want to accomplish, how you want to accomplish it and things you just haven’t done or completed yet. We’ll be right here cheering you on, and bring in the holidays with a big plate of goals and a glass of eggnog!
Have any more tips for staying motivated at work during the holidays? Let us know in the comments below!
