Riding the Post Christmas Dip

Your waistline, like the fridge, is still groaning. Festive telly is churning through the decent Christmas shows that have been good enough to survive the winnowing of the passing years.? Humphrey Bogart and Vivienne Leigh embody comfortable brilliance through a haze of port and calories. But, erm, to quote Des Lynam “Shouldn’t you be at work?”

The period between Christmas and New Year often proves to be a challenging time for individuals to muster motivation or to do much at all that involves straying beyond the sofa, let alone to pull themselves up to do a little work. There is a seasonal set of circumstances that make focusing on a set of tasks a formidable endeavour.

You are feeling sleepy

First, the winter break is typically associated with abandoning routine in favour of hedonism, relaxation and general confusion over what day is the week it is. The festive atmosphere, coupled with gatherings of family and friends, fosters a sense of leisure. Transitioning from this, Santa inspired, ambiance back to a work-oriented mindset can be jarring as a tax bill. The contrast between the ‘what bank balance?’ holiday spirit and the demands of work is frequently a stark one.

Second, the end-of-year period is a natural time of reflection and introspection. The evenings, walks and firesides offer splendid opportunities to contemplate the past year's achievements, setbacks, and personal goals. This introspective phase may well exacerbate a sense of winding down, making it challenging to summon the energy and focus required for work tasks.

It is usually the New Year that generates a psychological fillip, setting us all up for the guaranteed successes of achieving every resolution and becoming beautiful, intelligent, eco-warriors by Easter. Well, OK, at least it is the new beginnings that help us to concentrate on immediate work responsibilities.

FOMO, but have you seen who IS working?

For now, though, it doesn’t help that so many offices are closed and everybody else seems content to test the cushions as well. And there is also that nagging concern that somebody, somewhere is stealing a march and not abiding by the Slackers’ Charter. Look at those smug, teacher's pet types on LinkedIn. Look, they are “super excited to be Christmas networking” or posting those abysmal feel-good quotations. Like this - genuine - quote from today.

“Growth happens when you start doing the things you’re not qualified to do.”

FFS (I think is the correct abbreviations); surgery anybody, financial advice? Who are these people? They are as active, but also as sharp, as a passing roll of boulders down a hillside.

But even so, smug and/or walnut brained though these people may be, they probably aren’t still in their jarmies at lunchtime wading through empty After Eight wrappers and looking for a lonely mint to start breakfast.?

With many colleagues on vacation and a general slowdown in business activities, the workplace can feel less dynamic and urgent. This reduced external pressure can lead to a decrease in personal motivation.

Chillax dude

Moreover, the festive season often brings with it a degree of fatigue, both physical and emotional. The culmination of holiday preparations, social engagements, and travel can leave anybody drained, making it challenging to summon the mental and emotional reserves needed for productive work.

The contrast between the holiday atmosphere and work responsibilities, coupled with the natural inclination for reflection and the reduced urgency in the workplace, collectively contribute to the difficulty in motivating oneself during this lazy, dozy time.

You are not alone, even as you scratch your belly button and wonder idly if you could live forever on nothing but Nestle products. Within an all too short space of time you will re-engage with work responsibilities and overcome this motivational dip. This delicious motivational dip (tacos anyone?).

So to those of us grazing from the coffee table; to the hordes living on chocolate and pies, and to those setting roots in their favourite chairs. To the people swapping libido, work – and indeed any kind of effort – for nothing more strenuous than hunting the remote control. To all of us, know this. This time will pass, sadly, it will pass. So damn well enjoy yourself. Happy New Year x

#NewYear #Psychology #motivation

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