Ever feel like you’ve lost sight of your career goals? That you lack focus, procrastinate about the smallest things and feel disconnected from your job?

bonhomme sourireWhen that happens to me, I realize it’s time to take a step back and ask myself where I’m going, to check out my internal GPS so to speak to make sure I haven’t lost my way. I’ve noticed that this feeling happens a lot when I get back from vacation, this sense that I can’t seem to find my bearings at work. It can also happen after a spree of non-stop activities; my body is telling me to stop but my mind keeps plowing away anyway on pure adrenaline. If I do nothing, things inevitably get worse as I keep chugging away, rudderless.

Fortunately, I’ve also noticed that making small changes is sometimes all it takes to get your second wind and find your bearings at work. Nothing complicated, just simple, easy things that you can easily fit into your schedule, a sort of jump-start to get you back on track!

Ready? Here are eight simple tips to get your second wind back:

  1. Rethink your goals and commit to them for the next three months. Take 30 minutes to think about what you’d like to do by the end of the year. Answering the following five questions may help:
  • What can you no longer tolerate and need to change? In what areas of your life do youpossible think, “enough is enough”?
  • What things would make a huge difference to your daily life if you were to change them?
  • What would you most regret not doing by the end of the year?
  • What are your top three work priorities for the rest of 2014?
  • What could you do this week to bring you closer to your goals?
  1. Update and energize your workspace. Add more life to it by putting up inspiring pictures, affirmations, drawings or quotes. And while you’re at it, make sure that the things you use all the time are easily accessible, get rid of all the junk, and treat yourself to a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Creating an attractive, organized workspace is like telling your brain that you’re in control!
  1. Take a few deep breaths when you start your day. Did you know that taking deep breaths can give you more energy? Breathe in slowly through your nose, inflating your stomach like a balloon, hold for three seconds then slowly exhale through your mouth. Do this for two minutes. Inhaling more and exhaling less actually oxygenates your blood and gives you more energy! Do this as often as you like during the day.
  1. Change an old habit that sabotages you. Take a moment to examine the things that do you in (sabotage you) on a daily basis. For example, after checking my email in the heure du changementmorning, I will often realize that it’s already 10:00 or 10:30 am and that time has flown so quickly that I haven’t even checked my to-do list for the day! If you’re guilty of the same thing, a good habit to get into is to quickly scan your emails, reply only to the important ones, and deal with the rest later so you can promptly tackle your to-do list. Use an alarm to faithfully manage your time, and set aside a little time to check your emails so you can reply to important ones. Have another bad habit? Find a way to change it!
  1. Shake up your daily routine. Write down the things you do repetitively every day and circle the ones you can change (a little or a lot). When you wake up, write in a journal or meditate for 15 minutes, try a new type of tea or brand of coffee, and get out and breathe a little fresh air, if you can. Get in 30 minutes of exercise every day to release tension (why not go out after lunch and walk it off?). In a nutshell, just do things differently! Answering these three questions may give you other ideas:
  • What can you stop doing to make room for something new?
  • What would you like to change to shake up your routine?
  • What new ritual would you like to start?
  1. Manage your energy, not your time. If you take a moment to think about it, you’ll probably notice that you’re more productive during certain times of the day. For example, my creative energy is higher in the morning, so I use this time of day to write, do coaching or mentor my clients.
  1. Turn off your Smartphone and tablet and put them in another room or somewhere celwhere they will be out of sight. This way, you won’t be as tempted to check your texts, go on Facebook, Twitter, etc. And the less time you waste on electronic distractions, the more time you can spend on important things.
  1. Connect with your WOW Have you ever noticed that simply thinking about the things that make you happy can inspire you? When do you feel the greatest sense of pride? When do you feel most alive, like you have wings at your back?
  • Identify your WOWmoments: vacations, outings with friends, volunteer work, your kids, projects you’ve accomplished, challenges you’ve overcome…
  • Make a list of the values, strengths, talents and qualities that are brought out in your during those times.
  • Think about what you get out of those times, what gives you the greatest sense of pride, and find a way to use that energy to reinvigorate your life.

Looking back, I can see that it’s critical for me to ask “Why am I doing this?” from time to time so I can more easily figure out “How do I do this?” I have no doubt that the tips that made a difference in my life can also make a difference in yours. Have your own tips that you’d like to share with us? Write to me, I’d love to hear them!