#TheShakeback: Getting Back on Target After A Hiatus
Welcome to 2020! We’ve entered a new year and new decade, so you know what that means...new goals and more accomplishments! While the thought of achieving more usually comes with lots of excitement, getting to the tasks at hand can sometimes be difficult. Moreover, many of us often struggle to get motivated after taking time off to regroup. These breaks might be after finishing a program, starting a family, making a career change, or simply needing to care for your overall well-being. However, once the break is over and it’s time to get back to work, the shakeback can be difficult...but it’s not impossible!
So what needs to happen in order to get yourself in gear again? Here are a few tips that I’ve picked up along the way:
Create a plan. Consider all of the significant things that you’d like to get back to working on. What matters most? Are these tasks achievable in a reasonable time frame? Writing out a general list of items is a great place to start!
Get organized. Being organized is essential as you go through the process of ranking the order of the tasks from your list and prioritizing segments of your timeline. A brand new planner, notebook, journal, or dry erase board just for organizing and mapping out these items is always a great jump start. My favorites are any organization tool that has motivational quotes included that I can draw on for inspiration. For you techies, consider using digital or web-based list and task management systems to keep yourself organized on the go.
Establish a reward system. Positive reinforcement is real people! As you work to get yourself on tack, the road won’t be easy and it will be full of distractions. Make sure that you “plant” small rewards (days off, a massage, movie night, etc.) for yourself along the journey back to productivity to reinforce positive emotions and keep you motivated.
Get disciplined and get to work! Lastly, in the words of my favorite sneaker brand, “Just do it!” The true first and most important step is to make the decision that it’s time to get back on track and about your business. It won’t be easy but standing firmly in doing your life’s work always seems to add a few ounces of courage to the shakeback elixir. You’ve got this!
Ebonies, what are your go-to shakeback routines and inspirations? Share your tips and tools with our #EITI community below in the comments!
