Career Tips

Winding steps to a successful career? We suggest a short cut. Here are a few tips to take you
higher up the corporate ladder - articles on stress management, managing change, workplace
hassles and more.

I just love Mondays!

How often have you jumped with joy at the thought of a Monday morning? For the sad majority of us, a visit to
the dentist for root canal treatment is a more attractive option than going to work on a Monday morning! To
make matters worse, as you manage to barely crawl into your office, there’ll be at least one person in the office
who’s full of beans and raring to go, who makes you feel at least a 100 years old. So, how do you make sure
that you stop dreading Mondays and actually look forward to an exciting time at work? While you may still not
be able to clap your hands with glee, you can put yourself in a positive frame of mind by following a few simple
tips.
Recovery blues
After a rollicking weekend, it’s difficult to plunge headlong into work, especially if you’ve been partying half the
night. One thing’s certain -If you are to look and feel alert for those all-important Monday morning meetings,
you’ll have to say goodbye to late nights. Fight the urge to slump in front of a TV till midnight. Keep your
socialising for Saturday nights. Avoid doing anything strenuous on Sunday evening. Hit the bed early and on
Monday morning you’ll feel rested. This way you also don’t tend to oversleep in the morning.
Take it as it comes - not a sound policy
If you just get up from bed and rush to the office, and expect to have a highly productive day, you may be in for
a slight disappointment. Things don’t fall into place automatically. While the strategy of taking it as it comes is
good for general life, it’s not recommended for your work. When you plan your work, you’re more in control of
what’s happening and can schedule your tasks effectively. The little time spent in planning can save you a lot of
heartache later. You don’t have to make a rigid work plan, but at least get an overview of the work to be done.
Out of sight, out of mind
Keep this plan where you can view it easily. Using the messenger service on your computer, set task reminders
for yourself. This way, if you do get caught in unnecessary work, the message will pop up on your screen to
remind you of what’s to be done now and what can wait. When you tackle all these on a Monday morning, it
helps you to start the week on the right note and the plan serves as a blueprint that you can follow for a highly
successful week.
Working smart, not hard.
To get rid of the ‘drudge’ factor, you’ll have to think up ways of getting more done, without slaving away all day.
Adopt ingenious techniques at work that will ensure speedier deliverance of the goods. Schedule your work in
order of priority, take fewer breaks, avoid procrastination and duplication of tasks, and meet a planned target
each day. This gives you enough breathing space to catch up on work related news and information.
With a little common sense, a dose of humour, and a commitment to yourself, you can give those Monday
morning blues such a beating that they dare not surface again!
Career Tips

Winding steps to a successful career? We suggest a short cut. Here are a few tips to take you
higher up the corporate ladder - articles on stress management, managing change, workplace
hassles and more.

I just love Mondays!

How often have you jumped with joy at the thought of a Monday morning? For the sad majority of us, a visit to
the dentist for root canal treatment is a more attractive option than going to work on a Monday morning! To
make matters worse, as you manage to barely crawl into your office, there’ll be at least one person in the office
who’s full of beans and raring to go, who makes you feel at least a 100 years old. So, how do you make sure
that you stop dreading Mondays and actually look forward to an exciting time at work? While you may still not
be able to clap your hands with glee, you can put yourself in a positive frame of mind by following a few simple
tips.
Recovery blues
After a rollicking weekend, it’s difficult to plunge headlong into work, especially if you’ve been partying half the
night. One thing’s certain -If you are to look and feel alert for those all-important Monday morning meetings,
you’ll have to say goodbye to late nights. Fight the urge to slump in front of a TV till midnight. Keep your
socialising for Saturday nights. Avoid doing anything strenuous on Sunday evening. Hit the bed early and on
Monday morning you’ll feel rested. This way you also don’t tend to oversleep in the morning.
Take it as it comes - not a sound policy
If you just get up from bed and rush to the office, and expect to have a highly productive day, you may be in for
a slight disappointment. Things don’t fall into place automatically. While the strategy of taking it as it comes is
good for general life, it’s not recommended for your work. When you plan your work, you’re more in control of
what’s happening and can schedule your tasks effectively. The little time spent in planning can save you a lot of
heartache later. You don’t have to make a rigid work plan, but at least get an overview of the work to be done.
Out of sight, out of mind
Keep this plan where you can view it easily. Using the messenger service on your computer, set task reminders
for yourself. This way, if you do get caught in unnecessary work, the message will pop up on your screen to
remind you of what’s to be done now and what can wait. When you tackle all these on a Monday morning, it
helps you to start the week on the right note and the plan serves as a blueprint that you can follow for a highly
successful week.
Working smart, not hard.
To get rid of the ‘drudge’ factor, you’ll have to think up ways of getting more done, without slaving away all day.
Adopt ingenious techniques at work that will ensure speedier deliverance of the goods. Schedule your work in
order of priority, take fewer breaks, avoid procrastination and duplication of tasks, and meet a planned target
each day. This gives you enough breathing space to catch up on work related news and information.
With a little common sense, a dose of humour, and a commitment to yourself, you can give those Monday
morning blues such a beating that they dare not surface again!