New Year, Same Desk: How to Ease Back Into Work After the Holidays

The Ultimate To-Do List For Kickstarting Your Year and Returning to Work (Without Losing Your Mind)

 

The confetti has settled, the champagne flutes are back in the cupboard, and you're on your seventeenth 'Happy New Year' chat of the day. But whether you’re feeling ready to take on the world or still dusting off biscuit crumbs from your desk, here's a checklist to help you get back into the swing of things and set yourself up for success.

 

1. Try Setting Your Alarm 10 Minutes Earlier Than Usual

I know 'earlier' has put you off already, but allow me to elaborate. Did you know waking up earlier - not to do anything extra, but simply allowing yourself a little more time to do your normal morning routine at a slower pace - can do wonders for your nervous system and improve how you feel throughout your entire day?

Engaging in predictable, repetitive activities - like getting ready for work - does actually already have a calming effect on the nervous system (helping to alleviate anxiety), but it's a part of the day we so often rush. By starting the day with a little more time to get through your morning activities, you can experience reduced stress, an enhanced mood, and increased productivity. But hey - if you're a 'snooze to the last possible minute' person - that's okay too. In 2025, do what works best for you.

 

2. Clear Your Desk (and your mind)

It’s not uncommon for a few lingering decorations or a touch of post-holiday chaos to still be hanging around - we’ve all been there. But clearing your desk isn’t just about tidying up... it’s about decluttering your mind and setting the tone for a productive year ahead. Not only does a clean and organised desk tend to mean less germs (and a better chance of avoiding whatever cold is going round this week), it also reduces distractions, improves focus, and reduces stress levels.

And there's proof... scientists at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute have shown that visual disorganisation drains our cognitive resources and reduces our ability to focus. So setting aside an hour to clear up your workspace can have a significant payoff, helping you start the year with greater focus and clarity.

3. Celebrate Progress

January is often a time of reflection, filled with setting goals and planning changes we want to make in our lives. And while growth and progress are undoubtedly important, having constant conversations around what we need to do better can leave us feeling bogged down and overwhelmed as the year begins.

So alongside any goals you may have, make sure you celebrate the progress you've already made and acknowledge small wins along the way. Whether it's running a 10k or just making it through the day, every improvement - no matter how small - is a step in the right direction and worth celebrating.

 

4. Have A Digital Detox

A digital detox (also known as stepping away from the endless glow of screens for an hour or two) can significantly improve mental health, focus, productivity, sleep quality, and physical activity. It’s like giving your brain a mini spa day, improving focus, sleep, and mental health, while freeing up time to reconnect with people and rediscover life beyond pixels.

For those in screen-intensive office jobs, it’s all about small, mindful tweaks: declare your lunchbreak a no-tech zone, read a book during your commute, or ensure a few hours of your evening are spent screen-free. A great practise to start (or continue) in 2025.

5. Reconnect With Colleagues Who Uplift You

As we transition back to work after spending lots of time with friends and family, re-connecting with supportive relationships at work can significantly boost your morale and productivity. Oranising a virtual catch-up, post-work drink, or lunchtime walk (good luck in these temperatures) can really help to inspire and motivate you. And if you don't have a colleague to lean on, try calling friends/family during your commute or breaks, to reduce stress and set a positive tone for both personal and professional growth.

 

To further ensure you get back into the swing, we're busy preparing our 2025 events to keep everyone up-to-date with the many moving parts of the plastics industry - because unless 2025 is your retirement year, the grind continues! From REACH, to Health and Safety, Productivity, to Recycling... we've got you covered. Take a look and register your interest here.

 

Good luck with the year ahead! 

 

 

Sources:

Clean Desk: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21228167/

Clean Desk: https://officepride.com/the-many-benefits-of-having-a-clean-desk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Morning Routines: https://medium.com/@francesco.saviano87/the-importance-of-a-morning-routine-for-mental-health-8a295b6d70d7

Celebrate Progress: https://www.simplypsychology.org/positive-reinforcement.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Digital Detox: https://www.ourmental.health/exhaustion/10-unexpected-benefits-of-taking-regular-digital-detoxes?utm_source=chatgpt.com

 

Author:

Rebecca Shortland - BPF Marketing Executive

 

*Please note that this article is not a press release. Do not use on your own website unless given specific permission from the author.