With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, many of you may practice certain traditions, such as having champagne to celebrate the New Year. In Latin America, things work a little differently. People have practiced a Spanish tradition known as The 12 Grapes of Luck for many years. This popular tradition includes eating 12 grapes and setting a goal for each grape that you hope to achieve in the New Year. We decided to write 12 goals for the 12 grapes to help you become the best possible remote worker:
Start With Your Hardest Task First
Many remote workers strongly believe that starting with the easiest tasks is the best way to go. It sounds like the right thing to do, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not! Starting with simple tasks will leave you far less productive later on when you finally get your hands on the more complicated work. Make it a goal to focus on completing the hardest work first. That will leave you feeling more confident in your abilities, which means that you will strive through the rest of the day, knowing that it will be a breeze compared to the complicated tasks you have already completed.
Keep A Regular Work Schedule
Be sure to have a regular schedule without getting stuck at work 24/7. Push yourself by being as productive as possible during your workday without working extra hours unless it’s a project that needs all of your attention with a deadline around the corner. Set a new goal to make sure you log off when you’re at the end of your workday. It’s essential for mental health, especially for those working from home. We are confident in saying that if you don’t follow your work schedule, you’ll feel drained within a few weeks and sadly produce far less than your true potential.
You Need A Break
Going hand in hand with the previous statement, we would like to discuss how important it is to take breaks. And by taking breaks, we don’t necessarily mean that you should take a 15-minute break from work to lie on your bed. Yes, we all need it, but there’s more to it. It might make you feel more tired. By taking breaks, you should consider going for a walk, drinking a cup of tea in the garden, practicing yoga, or even mindful meditation. Do whatever works best for you, as long as you take your breaks to refresh and start with a bang once again!
Pay More Attention
Distractions are inevitable when you’re working from home. Make it a goal to put any distractions away, including your mobile device. Whenever friends or family show up at your doorstep during your working hours wanting to hang out, politely explain to them that you still have an important job that needs all of your attention even though you’re working from home. Attention to detail is crucial in the field of remote work, and if you want to become the very best at what you do, this goal is a must-have on your to-do list for 2022.
No Pajamas At The Office
Who wouldn’t want to walk in their pj’s all day, every day? It’s comfortable. But as much as we love wearing pj’s, we fully suggest that you should take the time to dress for work as if you were on your way to the office. Dressing for work will shift your mindset by lifting your spirit and bringing more energy to your work.
You Can Learn More
Add this to your goals for next year to learn more about your job. It’s the perfect opportunity for you to rise above the rest. You might already know a lot, but there’s always room for improvement. You can grow daily by learning more about the software you use, hacks on being a better remote worker, managing your time, and everything in between. Subscribe to online newsletters like “The Quack,” where we give you weekly tips on improving yourself as a remote worker. You will grow so much in your field that your colleagues will end up asking you for advice, leaving you feeling satisfied as you know your hard work paid off.
New Year, New Office
As we already mentioned, “it’s a new year, new me.” But how about changing that to “new year, new office.” Changing your office setup and spicing things up will motivate you to achieve greatness in the upcoming year. Add your personal touch by hanging art or motivational wallpaper quotes, and each morning before or during work, seeing these pictures will drive you to become the best version of yourself. Furthermore, you can keep your home office fresh by adding a family photo and a small plant to make your daily work more delightful. You will never be bored of your surroundings but rather excited about working in your home office.
Avoid Long-Term Injuries
Now that we’re on the topic of refreshing your office let’s keep on talking about this topic, this time around, bringing your physical health into the conversation. How many workers working in front of a desktop or laptop complain about neck pain or back problems? It’s a real thing, and you could have long-term conditions such as lower back injuries and muscle strains if you don’t take good care of yourself. Save up money to buy yourself a supportive chair to keep your back straight. Follow us on Tik Tok for excellent posture tips. Ensure your monitor is above eye level and an arm’s length away. Move your office equipment close to a window to ensure fresh air. All of these tips will positively benefit you, not only for your physical health in the long run but also mentally.
Say No To Junk Food
It’s easy to reach for some chocolates, pizzas, or other sugary candy when you work from home, and it’s so good we don’t blame you. But it’s not healthy, and we all know why. It’s really important to pay attention to what you put into your body. Make it a goal to create a healthy diet to follow this upcoming year. Salmon, green tea, nuts, water, and fruits, to name a few, can all be part of your diet. Did you know that fruits have more vitamins and minerals than processed foods? Furthermore, fruits are high in fiber with health-boosting antioxidants. According to an article by Daina Kenins of Domani Food, fruits, and nuts will boost your productivity with the benefits of a steady stream of energy, better moods, improved memory, less stress, and lower fatigue levels. Grab yourself a healthy snack and enjoy the vitamins!
Get To Know Your Team
For some, working as a remote worker leaves them less confident to ask for assistance from their co-workers. The idea of communicating online and not seeing their peers in physical form can develop trust issues and let them believe that they are on their own in the company. Whether you feel that way or not, you should set a goal to communicate more with your team members to build a stronger relationship, not only for you but also for the company.
Having frequent conversations with your team, keeping them updated on the progress of your tasks, and congratulating one another after completing a project will help you grow to become a better remote worker. You will feel more confident knowing your team has your back. You’ll be able to trust more and ask for advice without feeling shy or stressed out about it. And it’s up to you and your team to have some conversations after work, getting to know one another. Nobody who sees the world’s view from the highest mountain climbed it by itself. It was, is, and always will be a team effort.
Believe In Yourself
We want to challenge you to write down everything you’ve accomplished in the past. Furthermore, make it a goal to write down everything you accomplish daily for an entire year from now on out. Whether it’s completing the biggest project of the year at your company or making a stranger smile by complimenting them, your actions have a meaning, and we live in such uncertain times that it’s challenging to find the right amount of motivation to say “I am enough.” If you want to become the best remote worker that you can be, you have to trust yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you.
Show Your True Potential
One of the most important goals you can set for the new year is to meet your deadlines and exceed expectations. You should feel honored that your boss selected you for the specific role that you’re representing in the company. You should also remember that everything can be taken away in the blink of an eye, as there’s always someone else willing to do your work. Acknowledge or volunteer for extra assignments and learn new skills. The best remote workers are always eager to take on tasks and learn new skills, but they also know how to live the perfect work-life balance.
We hope you enjoyed this week’s blog and that you’ll set some goals to conquer in the new year! Tell us what you learned from this article and if there are any of our goals that you’ll try for yourself. We love your feedback!
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As always, stay safe!
The Job Duck Team
