Adopt a “Back to School” Mentality

back-to-schoolEven if you don’t have a child in school most people will get the “back to school feeling” in September. I know I do as soon as the weather starts to cool down. Summer Fridays are over and it’s time to buckle down for another winter. September is also a great time to do a personal and professional status check. Are you happy with your job? Your career? Your home life? If not, now is a great time to start making new goals.

Here’s a list to help get you back on track this September:

Look at your job through the eyes of your intern – Whenever I get down on my job…I think about the excitement of what it was like when I showed one of my interns around for the first time. They are always in awe of all the equipment in the control room, the buzz in the newsroom and the energy in the studio. It’s easy to forget these things when you’re walking in there every day. Make sure you don’t take your awesome space for granted.

Envision happiness and make changes – What would you be doing with yourself in your ideal life? What you envision might look nothing like your job now or it might be very close. Make a list of all the things in that picture. Once you know what you want, ask for it! Propose a dream project, ask for a more flexible schedule or more responsibilities. If your only other option is leaving, than you don’t have much to lose.

Look up your dream job – Find some vacancies for a job you’d love. What kind of experience are they looking for? Write a list of goals you want to achieve within one year, and another list for five years. Keep a diary and write down exactly what you’ve achieved and what you want every night. This helps your subconscious to re-affirm your goals.

Find a mentor – While it’s tempting to try and find your mentor in your current workplace looking a bit further can be more beneficial. Try looking at local community groups such as business or women’s associations, or non-profit organizations. I’ve had many mentors in my career and the common thread has been their willingness to share.

Smile more – The one thing you can change is your own attitude. Be more thankful for the help your co-workers give you and don’t let the more difficult ones ruin your day. Work may take up a large portion of you day, but it’s not the be all and end all. Smile when you walk into a room and say hello to your co-workers. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference that can make.

How are you going to revitalise yourself this September?

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