A new approach to New Year planning?

I saw a new trend emerge over Christmas that has stirred a interest. Are times changing?

This winter many more posts suggest we step into the new year in a slower, more gentle way, instead of launching straight in with big goals. These posts are nudging us to enter 23’ with kindness and compassion, self care and trust and feel a very long way from the usual combat-style leap into milestones, resolutions, targets and sharp outputs.

I find this shift fascinating and hopeful. I for one am moving at my own pace, turning down the volume on the deadline-driven target postings. I’ve taken the pressure off finalising all my KPIs by the end of the first week back, and deliberately extended the planning time to think about the ‘what’ more deeply.

I’ve adopted this slower route for some years. It might change in the future as my needs do but for now I have found it works well to reignite my energy. I see it as a ‘re-gathering’ of professional self after the family commitments over Christmas.

So it is great to see a sizeable increase in the number of new year posts prioritising wellbeing before ‘workbeing’. We have suffered substantially in our wellness from the past few years - the pandemic has left us in trauma which is clearly emerging now - whilst also given us space to rethink our priorities. Any leader will know that mental health is ever more paramount to team and company success, not least employee retention.

The shift will undoubtedly reflect the different pressures on gender roles too, and the rising awareness in company culture that flexible working must accommodate family commitments. Companies need ever more to acknowledge and adapt their working policies to take care of their employees.

So how are you making the transition? What flexibility are you allowing your team?

The shifts I have made in my own winter workings include adjustment time and wellbeing as priority.

>> Unless the urge or need insists upon working I take a proper break. Creating expectation that I am going to get my head into ‘work mode’ while surrounded by children and family is unachievable. I will engage fully in work mode only after they go back to school, my desk is cleared and the house is back to some kind of normal.

>> I diary in ‘regrouping’ time, self care, several deep sighs and a few walks in fresh air.

>> I don’t rush my 22’ review or 23’ strategy planning. I go at my own pace and listen to what’s happening in my mind and body.

Christmas consumes not just the bank account but personal capacity, sleep and energy. Its time we took time to fill up and return to work with a positive mindset rather than struggle at the outset. If we’re not back at our best it will reflect on everything else we do - especially work.

Slow down, tune in and fill up - balancing personal and professional re-alignment leads to productivity and performance.

If you would like to explore this more just send me a message.

#burnout
#KPIs
#wellbeing
#leadership
#performance