5 Tips to Boost your Return-to-Work Motivation

After a busy 2021, how can you start 2022 on a positive note? Here are 5 tips for starting the year with some extra motivation.

Let’s face it, 2021 was tough. Government action prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic led to growth in infrastructure investments and residential construction projects, as described by Troy Olds, president of the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS). For building surveyors, this meant extra workload and chaotic schedules amongst lockdowns and travel restrictions. The holiday season was a welcome break, albeit too short. The real issue is getting back into the swing of things for 2022, which is shaping up to be even more challenging with the growing focus on Continuous Professional Development (CPD) requirements. Here are some tips to make the year more manageable, enjoyable and rewarding, whatever it holds in store.

1. Recognise what you have already achieved

2021 wasn’t easy, but you got through it. But perhaps you feel that you didn't receive sufficient appreciation for what you've achieved. So before setting out on the journey for 2022, take a look back over the past year and identify your greatest successes. Completing a particularly complex project, moving ahead with professional development, gaining unsolicited expressions of recognition for your work — these things are easy to forget. Write them down before setting out the new resolutions. If you’re clear about the landmarks you have already achieved, you can think about how to attain new goals more realistically.

2. Map out the year

A year is a long time, and the health situation is yet to be resolved. So what’s the point of planning the entire year? But this is the right time to take a pause and spend time thinking about the big picture. Where are you now in your career? Where do you want to go? What are the intermediate goals that you want to achieve in 2022? The AIBS recommends meeting Continuous Professional Development (CPD) requirements and the respective deadlines as the industry moves towards mandatory CPD on the National Construction Code. If you are part of a team, it’s a good idea to do this planning collectively as well. Motivation is easier when you know where you're going.

3. Reorganise your daily routine

After planning your year, the next step in increasing motivation can be to plan your day and the places where you spend most of your time. Whether you're back in the office or working from home, it's worth taking a look at your work environment, organising it, tidying it up and archiving completed projects. The same applies to your virtual setting, sorting out your computer and mobile, storing docs on a hard disc or the cloud and freeing up space. This all helps you to refocus on the upcoming tasks with extra clarity.

4. Commit to a workout routine

You know about the need for physical exercise. Often a super-busy schedule and low energy levels create massive obstacles for your fitness goals. But physical activity is good for motivation in many ways. It keeps your mind focused and gives you time for reflection. Regularly completing an exercise circuit can boost your productivity and mood at work.

You could start by revamping your workout regime. Review your equipment. Invest in new running shoes that provide support and shock absorption tailored to your physique and style. Break out of your comfort zone and try something different: if the gym is your usual, grab a bike and hit the road.

Is your daily walk or jog always pretty much the same? Try going a little further, or time yourself and record your improving performance. Use an app to stay on course with your fitness plan. If you have a spare 15 minutes, invest the time into some sort of physical activity. Savour the boost of mental energy that it gives you, helping you coast through the rest of the day.

5. Turn dreams into motivation

With 2022 looking to be even busier than last year, it’s easy to lose sight of your secret ambitions, but your dreams can be an important source of motivation. Whether it's hiking across the polar icecap, getting a private pilot’s licence, or writing a book about Cymbidium orchids, it’s worth setting aside a few minutes every day to your life-defining goals. It offers a different perspective on your professional career, in which you spend a lot of time putting out fires. You can decide how to use the time left over, so make a conscious decision and move a little closer to your dream.

Motivation from direction

In short, when you're conscious of where you're going and what you want to achieve, it's easier to find the energy you need to jump-start the year. Self-appreciation, planning, organising, physical exercise and leveraging your secret ambitions are all ingredients that can help boost motivation. Grab a coffee and have a great 2022!