Fighting Fourth Q Fatigue

The fourth quarter is often stressful for executives—if it’s not the holidays, it’s making your year-end numbers, and, if you’re lucky, scoring a bonus. When we get stressed, our good habits usually fall by the wayside as we try to cram more work into less time. We can end up burning the candle at both ends as we try to fit in the holiday party. Beyond being bad for your health, falling off the “health” wagon is often bad for your career.

Holidays are high-visibility time in most companies and industries. Opportunities abound for mingling regardless of your level or role. It’s a great time for you to create or reinforce perceptions of yourself with the influencers in your field. It’s in your best interest to show your best self, but making good impressions is much more difficult when you’re exhausted, burnt out, and not in the best of moods.

What can you do to help yourself without expending a lot of energy? Beyond the obvious strategies of getting enough sleep and eating well, there are daily tweaks that will keep you on your game.

Mix it up.
Make small changes to your daily routine. It doesn’t have to be major, just walk a different way to work. Or take a different path to the bathroom. The idea is to stop with the zombie walk and be aware of your surroundings. Doing so engages your senses and gives you energy.

Chat.
Spend a few minutes with coworkers or friends who are always upbeat. Look for funny cartoons or jokes that make you laugh and share them. Beyond strengthening your relationships, you’ll end up soaking up their good vibrations.

Rock out.
And speaking of vibrations, listen to your favorite tunes. They’ll energize you and put you in a good mood without taking much time.

Having a positive, energized perspective puts you in a much better position to leverage the opportunities—and in fact, see the opportunities—that the holidays provide. Give yourself the best chance you can by making these small changes.