It’s the first week back after the Christmas holidays, the kids are back at school, the weather is a little grey and many of us are on a dull detox. January can be a difficult time at work for staying motivated and productive, but there are lots of things you can do to keep your teams happy and motivated!

The Christmas hangover can be difficult for people to get through. Many have enjoyed a nice long break, over-indulging and enjoying time with friends and family. Returning to work can seem dull and depressing after a period of joy, so be patient with your employees. Allow them a few days to settle back into their routine and catch up on their daily duties. Putting pressure on your teams from the get-go, even if it’s in the name of motivation, can be quite daunting for those already struggling with the change in routine.

Whilst January is a time of detox, short days and de-motivation for many employees, it can be quite an exciting time for management as you start implementing your plans for the year ahead. Get your team involved in the planning process for the year ahead; share your goals, devise solutions and get everyone involved with idea sharing.

Whilst many people have put 2017 behind them already, it’s not too late to share the fantastic successes of 2017! Take the opportunity to review the achievements of the year just gone and provide opportunities for rewards and praise. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on the positive elements of 2017, giving them inspiration for an even better 2018!

Taking down the Christmas decorations is a stark reminder that the festive period is over for another year. Research has already shown that your work environment can make a big difference to productivity and motivation, so why not use the opportunity to create some new and exciting work spaces? Could the holly and tinsel be replaced with fresh and vibrant indoor plants?

Find out what New Years resolutions your team have made and help them stick to them! If they’ve promised to go to the gym – could you try to partner with a local gym to offer discounts? If they’ve promised to stop snacking on unhealthy food – can you introduce a free fruit bowl to help them along? If they’ve resolved to achieve a healthier work-life balance – can you organise activities which help them to do this?

By making it easier for staff not to give into temptation with their personal endeavours, they will be more likely to feel as though they are achieving their personal goals and stay positive.

January is the perfect time of year for a team building day! Whether this is a fun-filled day of team bonding at Go Ape, or a day of creative thinking designed to collectively work towards organisational goals, we couldn’t think of a better time of year to do it!

January is our busiest time of year for team building days and the reasons are obvious, but we still have availability if you want to arrange a day for your employees!

Get in touch with Richard at Brightstone if you want to give your teams a little January boost to beat those blues!