“Work is a way of bringing order to chaos, and there’s a basic satisfaction in seeing that we are able to make something a little more coherent by the end of the day.”

– Alain de Botton

Wellness Tip:

Don’t Make Resolutions (Do This Instead)

We all know that New Year’s resolutions don’t work. But what should you do instead?

Firstly, don’t do anything! This really is a good time to pause, reflect, and make a fresh start. Think about what you want and set measurable goals. Then (here’s the critical part!) put systems in place to keep you working toward them.

What do we mean by “systems”? Your Panda Planner is one! By writing down your weekly and monthly goals, you’re creating guideposts along the path to where you want to be. Your daily priorities and tasks are the steps that lead you from one guidepost to the next.

Before you know it, you’re making progress, building positive habits, and crushing your goals (all year through). 

What do you think? Are you ready to set (and smash) your goals for the year?

Productivity Tip:

Invite Feedback

You know what’s hard? Receiving feedback at work. Let’s face it, having someone tell you what you did wrong kinda sucks.

But you know what else is hard? Giving feedback. That’s why lots of people avoid it. The result is a missed opportunity for you to grow and become better at what you do.

So, what if you saw feedback as a valuable gift and went out of your way to invite it more often? You’d learn more, evolve faster, and help create a culture of open communication.

When asking for feedback, it helps to know your goal, prepare the right questions, and get in a growth mindset so you can make the most of it. 

Read more about asking for and receiving feedback here. Why not give it a try?

Routine Breakdown

Jeremy Poland, CEO of Nutri-Genetix

Entrepreneur Jeremy Poland likes to wake up naturally: “It’s far less stressful than being ripped from your sleep by an abusive alarm!” He:

• Wakes naturally between 6–6.30am.
• In the transition phase between sleep and waking, reflects on priorities and any problems that need solving.
• Listens to podcasts. A favorite is What You Will Learn. “They do book reviews in 30-120 minutes and cover all the business classics.”
• Does 45 mins of a CrossFit-style HIIT or weights workout at least 3 days a week.

Why it works:

• In surveys, people who wake up naturally feel more rested and motivated.
• The moments upon waking can be great for problem solving (more on that below). 
• As well as the info they deliver, podcasts have broader brain benefits.
• Morning workouts are good!

That dreamy state as we’re waking up (the hypnopompic state) is little understood, but many find it’s ideal for making connections and thinking creatively. As BBC Futures puts it, this state allows us to infuse our waking thoughts “with a dusting of dreamworld magic.” 

Have you ever tried mulling over problems as you wake? How does it work for you?