Bank holiday blues | 5 ways to stay motivated

The month of May is a disruptive time for UK workers; with a slew of bank holidays, topped off with the half-term break for schools, the month can be a taxing period for those faced with a large workload. And whilst it’s undoubtedly positive for workforce wellness, as employees can take an extra day to unwind in the sun, concentration and motivation often slips as routines are altered.

So, what can you do to ensure that you’re staying motivated after time off, and with the promise of summer just around the corner? According to Professor Gemma Calvert, a Neuromarketing Expert at Curry’s PC World, the key may be to shut out the rest of the office with a podcast. “Podcasts create intense activity in areas of the brain associated with attention, emotion, memory, understanding and actions,” she told CityJobs. “For motivation and inspiration, documentary-style podcasts involving travel and adventure help stimulate the brain.”

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Whilst podcasts may kickstart your brain, one essential key to boosting productivity is to simply face your workload head on and start by taking on the toughest tasks first. Whilst work can be broken down into bitesize chunks, our natural perception of a large workload is one giant block; tackling the hardest jobs first will help to chip away at your workload, whilst easing your anxiety.

For those who feel sluggish at their desks, CEO of Downyourhighstreet, Daniel Whytock, told CityJobs that he believes the key to motivation is exercise. “I’m a firm believer that to have your mind fully tuned it, you need to tire your body out, or at least satisfy its exercising needs,” explained Whytock. “I do so by participating in a GRIT workout class at 6am most mornings. You bump shoulders with many like-minded people aiming to get focused for their week and build great connections.”