8 ways to make your new year better
Inspiration for a successful new year. Project 2023 begins. Enter it with positivity and determination to make it as successful as possible. We have some tips for you on what to focus on.
In the article you will learn:
1. Choose your physical activity
The pandemic and lockdown have cut many of us off from physical activity. A normal day used to include so-called non-exercise activity, such as walking, climbing stairs, lifting and moving objects. With covid having caused a digital shift in the job market by more than five years, the situation may not change for the better at all, which is why it is important to indulge in movement. This does not mean work hard at the gym for six-pack and crying over romaine lettuce drizzled with pumpkin seed oil. Physical activity and movement are important for our physical and mental well-being. It can be varied and contributes to overall physical and mental well-being. It includes activities such as running, swimming, cycling, aerobic exercise, weight training. Treat yourself to a few long walks each week with (or without) the dog, gardening or other forms of physical activity. It is important for individuals to engage in regular physical activity as it has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, muscle mass, bones, metabolism and mental health and stress.
2. Approach mental health responsibly
When to go to a psychologist? You don’t have to be on the brink of depression or burnout. Nor do you go to the dentist when all your teeth are falling out, or to the doctor when your body hasn’t taken in nutrients from your diet for half a year. Some problems are dealt with preventively, by prophylaxis. At a meeting with a specialist, you will learn what to do for your mental well-being. It is very likely that most of the time you will be doing the talking. You may find that something is bothering you subconsciously or that you are neglecting something.
3. Get enough sleep
Sleep is too often neglected – for work, for partying, but also for early workouts and late movies. Healthy sleep has a huge impact on your mental health and improves your physical fitness, which is a key factor in maintaining overall health and well-being. When asked about healthy sleep and how many hours of sleep is recommended, this can vary depending on age, an individual’s physiological need and lifestyle. Someone needs seven hours, another requires nine, and there is a certain percentage of people in the population who only need a few hours and can function almost unaffected. The rest of us, however, suffer from sleep deprivation and it can take a toll on our perception, coordination, and judgment. In essence, sleep deprivation is very similar to drunkenness. Some tips on how to sleep better:
- Try not to look at the screen for at least an hour before bed, both because of the light and the dopamine.
- Between 10PM and 3AM limit your exposure to strong light, which blocks the production of melatonin.
- In the evening, use lighting below eye level, minimize using large chandelier lights.
- Go to bed at the same hour. The body responds to a regular rhythm, and if you keep changing your bedtime, it gets confused.
- Do not eat before bedtime. Not because it makes you fat, a calorie is a calorie at any hour of the day. More importantly, the body will work on digestion and get less rest.
Equally important are healthy sleeping positions, which can contribute significantly to a comfortable and good quality sleep, minimize the risk of neck or back pain and ensure that all parts of the body are adequately circulated. In addition, we definitely recommend you read Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep for even more tips on how to get your sleep routine right. However, you’d better not stay up too late because of it!
4. Set aside time for conscious thinking
We all think – without it, we couldn’t do most things in our lives. However, the more often we do an activity, the faster it becomes automated. This phenomenon was described in Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman using System 1 and System 2. There are two types of thinking – one is precise, slow, cautious, the other is automated, abbreviated, efficient. Our brains try to save us time, but many times this effort is counterproductive – for example, when we have little information and the brain tries to cobble it together from previous (sometimes unrelated) experiences. So set aside time to think without sensory perceptions. Engage with your thoughts for at least half an hour a day and see where they take you. You can use this approach in work projects and personal challenges.
5. Change the job that is killing you
Going to work reluctantly is exhausting. Even the simplest tasks become difficult without motivation because it takes forever to start them. But before you decide to change jobs, check out the advice from the experts at Power Coaching. You may find that a change in mindset or reprogramming is needed to be satisfied. Mind reprogramming is the process of changing or modifying existing thought patterns, beliefs, and habits in order to bring about positive changes in behavior, performance, and quality of life. Mind programming is often used in the fields of personal development and psychology. However, if you can’t do it without changing your job, it’s time for a good dose of courage – not only to change your job, but also to change the field in which you work. Did you know that many people at msg life Slovakia had no previous experience of working in IT? Many of our colleagues first worked in logistics, finance, public administration, some even as scientists. But they decided to try their luck and it worked out, because every smart person gets a chance here. Check out our job offers and read stories about our team.
6. Learn a foreign language
Learning a new language develops your associative skills. You compare the new language with your native language or other languages you know. You find connections between them, your view of familiar objects, phenomena and situations changes. You discover new ways, because the beauty of language as a means of communication is that it offers multiple possibilities to convey one meaning. There are, of course, pragmatic reasons to learn a foreign language. One of them is work. By learning a foreign language, you increase your chances of finding a job in the job market. Many of our colleagues had no IT experience before joining us, but thanks to their knowledge of German, they quickly found a job. If you want to develop your language skills, there’s nothing easier than choosing one of the language courses available online:
Duolingo, a language learning app with gamified lessons and a rewards system, is a great way to get you started.
7. Expand your skills
New skills will enrich your life, broaden your scope, give you a competitive edge, new enthusiasm for work, opportunities to relax, explore, spend your free time… And we could go on forever. Learning something new is never a bad idea. There are plenty of online and offline courses, groups and associations or mentors available to help you develop skills in a new area or discover your hidden talents. When we write about skillsets, we don’t always think of the working. We also have a life skill set. Are you interested in coffee and want to be able to make it in a way that will “blow visitors’ minds”? Take a barista course and learn all about filter coffee or espresso and the highest quality coffee beans.
8. Mind comfort zone and its consequences
The mental comfort zone refers to a psychological state in which a person feels comfortable and secure while avoiding situations that might be stressful or unfamiliar. It is the idea of living in the setting that everything will go smoothly and in order. Staying in a mental comfort zone can have a variety of consequences that affect an individual’s personal and professional development. Some of the possible consequences include limited personal growth, loss of opportunities, repetition of behavioural patterns, impaired mental health and stress. The challenge is to get out of our comfort zone and open ourselves up to new experiences and challenges. This doesn’t have to mean immediately throwing ourselves into new experiences or projects. It may also have to do with anticipating the challenges we are preparing for. Adapt Alan Watts’ idea of the law of opposites. By accepting a negative experience, you make it a positive experience. If you accept the negative, you can learn from the situation, analyze it, and take steps to prevent it from happening again. We hope that this year will be a successful one for you in both your work and personal life. Don’t be afraid of change, it’s usually worth it. If you’re thinking about working in IT, our employee benefits may also inspire you!
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