Making the first day of work count

Every year it's the same - Christmas and New Years Eve comes around, we drink, we eat, we be merry, and for alot of us we have a bit of a break from the 9 to 5. It's amazing...until that first day of work post holiday hits and you find your brain grinding through the gears trying to avoid work at any cost. For small businesses in particular it's a very interesting part of the year - retail has a bit of a boom, but us office workers seem to have a dead patch where the important jobs are put off, clients don't get in touch too often, and you find yourself having to make yourself motivate to work.

This blog has stemmed out of that start of the year haze. It's our completely unscientific observations about how you can turn the usual lull at the start of the year, into a bit of a boom period for your company. It all comes down to making the most of those few weeks where alot of people have low expectations. Client's and customers don't necessarily expect you to be at work, so even though alot of us hit the office floor very early in the year - the phones stay a little more silent than usual. Our musing on this stunning NZ day - use that time well.

What constitutes well? It could be a number of things for your business. It might be getting your finances in order, making sure you've identified your companies running costs and pulled them back to a level that increases profitability. It might be planning, we certainly spent most of our first week strategising for ourselves and our clients, devising a general plan for the year. It might be marketing, investing in advertising (particularly online) that will run for a few months while you have a slow period to think about your own business. Or, and this is a crucial one, it might actually be relaxing. When the time comes for the work to really flow through the doors you are going to want to hit it with a zen state of mind. Particularly in New Zealand, take a few extra hours in the day to get out, work out, or sit lake, pool or sea side. Take a minute to appreciate what's around you - after all, it's why we grind away everyday.

As for employees - the same advice probably applies. It's a great time of the year to do a little forward planning and clear the decks for busier times to come. Your boss may not enjoy you escaping the office early, but if the opportunity arises, get out in the sun and improve that state of mind. You'll love your work far more if you love your life - and employers should remember that.

As the year gets rolling along properly, we'd love to hear any of the tips you might have for getting the year started. Comment below!