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5 TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH JANUARY

At the start of a new year, there is a lot pressure to get back into the usual daily routine after the Christmas break. January can be an especially challenging month for everyone, but with a little effort you can set yourself up for success this year by trying our 5 tips to get you through January that will help you by reducing stress levels and encouraging productivity. From learning a new skill to staying social, these methods are simple yet highly effective approaches towards making sure you hit the ground running this month. If you’re ready to discover how you can get through this January in the most productive and healthy way possible, read on!

Start a New Hobby

Did You Know?

Art helps to increase the connectivity and plasticity in the brain. New or complex activities will lead to the creation of new connections between brain cells.

When it comes to life satisfaction, starting a new hobby can be incredibly rewarding. Not only does it open up the opportunity for you to gain knowledge, but it also sets you on the path to discovering and improving your capabilities in other areas of life too. Enrol in an art class or try your hand at knitting, two cosy skills for these cold, winter nights. Learn to play an instrument or join a sports club. These can be rewarding hobbies that can impact your future in very positive ways, from meeting new friends to discovering talents you never knew you had.

Go for a Lunch Walk

It’s important to find meaningful ways to spend our lunch break while the sun is out and make the most of our valuable time during the day. In January it’s dark in the mornings and dark when work is finished so it’s difficult to get some sun rays. Some great options are taking a walk or jogging around the neighbourhood or local park to get that vitamin D in. Not only does this help you stay physically fit, but it can also be great for recharging mentally. Studies say the best time to get some Vitamin D from the sun would be between 10 o’clock in the morning and 3:30 in the afternoon. Ideas will be flowing when you return to work and you’ll be feeling more productive after that 3 pm slump.

Eat Healthily

To stay healthy in the colder months, aim for around 2,000 calories a day for women and 2,500 calories a day for men. This is the same as your recommended daily calorie intake, but you need to increase it slightly to keep warm!

Winter can be a difficult time for healthy eating habits; with holidays like Christmas and New Year’s, there can be temptation around every corner, like finishing off that box of Quality Streets. However, by learning some new skills in the kitchen, you can set yourself up for delicious and nourishing meals for the rest of the winter. It is important to keep your immune system strong during winter and to create dishes that are good for both your body and soul.

Try these 3 simple ideas:

Start your day with porridge which is filled with energy-boosting iron, and add sliced fruit to make it more flavoursome.
Eat smaller but healthier meals by portioning them out by hand instead of emptying them out, which can leave you eating more than your body needs making you feel lethargic.

Hand Portioning Guide:

A portion of protein is 1 palm.

A portion of fat is 1 thumb.

A portion of vegetables is 1 fist.

A portion of carbohydrate is 1 cupped handful.

A snack portion, if needed, would be the complete size of 1 palm.

3. Cook and then freeze nourishing soups and stews to keep you warm and full during these dark days. TIP: Adding some ginger to them can aid in warding off flues and colds.

Apply for that Job/Course

Job hunting can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be. With the right preparation and guidance, you can take your career in a new direction and make strides towards achieving your dream job! Whether you are applying for a new position or want to explore potential courses, there are many options available that could help move you closer towards achieving your goals. From researching job openings to preparing resumes and cover letters – begin with baby steps in January and work your way towards the end goal. Recruit Island’s New Year New You blog gives you the current job openings available now. It could be the boost you need to start your new career journey.

One company with current vacancies, offering further development courses is Servisource, who have a Learning and Development programme that provides internal staff the option to develop their leadership potential, and confidence, and equip them with the necessary skills to become future leaders within the business.

Another useful learning platform is LinkedIn Learning, it provides video courses taught by industry experts in software, creative and business skills and is a subsidiary of LinkedIn. All the courses on LinkedIn fall into four categories: Business, Creative, Technology and Certifications.

It can be a great way to learn while working, with plenty of options to choose from. There are so many different upskilling courses, just begin with the first step of applying/joining and you’ll be a pro in no time!

Stay Social

Did You Know?

Loneliness is associated with higher rates of:
Depression, suicide, heart disease and dementia.

It’s important to stay social and avoid hibernating during the month of January. As January begins and winter continues to bring feelings of isolation during these challenging times, it is more important than ever to stay connected with friends and family. It’s the perfect time to rekindle relationships or build new ones that can help you feel connected in an isolated world. It should be a priority for you in order to prevent feelings of loneliness and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of mood disorder, a variant of major depressive disorder (MDD) associated with seasonal changes during the winter months.

So call that friend and go for that coffee, join a Meetup group or call a family member and check in.

Similar to other depressive disorders, SAD tends to be more prevalent in women than men.
SAD is generally first diagnosed between the ages of 18 and 30, but SAD can and does affect any age group.

It’s good to take care of yourself during January and these tips will help you to do just that. Working long hours can take its toll, especially in the winter months, it’s important to stay on top of your routine and remain positive. Soon January will be over and spring will be blooming in no time.

Check out our current vacancies and opportunities today!

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International Volunteer Day

Today December 5th marks International Volunteer Day celebrating the theme of solidarity through volunteering.

This year’s campaign highlights the power of our collective humanity to drive positive change through volunteerism. There are many advantages of volunteering, it is an excellent way to meet new people, give back to the community and help people in need. It gives you a sense of purpose while also increasing your social skills. It can even help your chances at gaining employment as it looks good on your CV, showcasing your commitment to improving yourself and helping others in society and the world.

Did you know? International Volunteer Day

60% of hiring managers see the act of volunteerism as a valuable asset when making recruitment decisions.

92% of human resource executives agree that contributing to a nonprofit can improve an employees leadership skills.

6.5% of working-age people worldwide engage in formal volunteering via an organisation or association.

3 Types of Volunteer Work

There are many different types of volunteering programmes and it can be difficult to choose which one is the best for you. Here we list 3 types of volunteer work where you can put your skills to good use and help out.

Volunteering for Environmental Issues

As people are becoming more environmentally aware, volunteering in this area is becoming more popular. People know that it is vital to act sooner rather than later when it comes to our environment. This type of work can include farming, environmental conservation and even working with ecovillages. It can be fun if you like the outdoors, like animals and don’t mind getting a bit dirty.

2. Volunteering in Healthcare

This is an ideal situation for medical students in order to gain training however, you don’t have to be a medical student to do this type of volunteering. You could simply visit patients in hospital to keep them company, work in health food shelters or even fundraise for cancer research, the list is endless.

3. Volunteering in Education

This is a great way to give someone the knowledge you possess and can involve working with children or adults. There are a range of countries where you can travel to and do this. It will allow you to gain teaching experience as well as helping those in need.

Servisource and Volunteering

At Servisource and CPL, we have the opportunity to get involved in a volunteering programme called INSPIRE, an online mentoring programme. we believe in giving back to the communities in which we operate, which is why we actively encourage our people to avail of this chance to get involved. With our Volunteering Time Off initiative, we ensure that employees get paid for any days off used to volunteer. The programme aims to match a young person with a professional role model to support and guide them. We know that mentoring works and having a positive role model in life is critical in order to prosper.

About the Mentors

INSPIRE works by matching a young person with an experienced professional. We want you to be that positive role model and make a difference in a young person’s life. Volunteer mentors commit to regular meetings with their mentee for up to one year and Innovate Communities provide the required training and support to help them become a successful mentor. This mentoring programme is online as you could be matched with a student from anywhere but if proximity permits you can meet them in person.

This is what the mentors have to say:

Ciaran – Senior IT Developer

I find I’m feeling quite energized seeing how the mentee is drawing on my expertise. There is a real sense of satisfaction about being able to help someone younger from my community. I’m learning there’s more to these young people than I may have thought. I see my mentee’s confidence building with every meeting. I see him leading more with every interaction and being more and more specific and honest about what he needs from me.

Marian – HR/Training Consultant

I’m really enjoying it. I’ve noticed my mentee’s thought process has widened from when we first met. She is thinking about the bigger picture, the longer term and about her career.

About the Mentees

Mentors are currently working with over 150 young people aged between 18 and 25 years of age. These mentees are diverse– Irish, Migrants and Immigrants (First Generation), Irish Black, Irish Asian and represent many different nationalities. They are HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) students studying Business & Management, Computers & ICT, Health & Social Care and Science and Pharma etc. The majority are the first in their family to go to college, don’t have a professional network to engage and have voluntarily signed up to INSPIRE to receive access to a mentor.

There are a range of volunteering opportunities to choose from around the world. With an array of benefits from it such as valuable work experience, learning new things and making new friends, why not give it a try and see how your help can benefit the world. You can find out more about the INSPIRE mentoring programme here and even sign up with their online application form.

So happy volunteering and let’s help each other in solidarity throughout the world!

Is Hybrid Work the New Normal?

It’s no secret the pandemic has upended our lives. With remote work becoming more commonplace, hybrid work has become the new normal for many organisations. Hybrid work is a combination of working from your own space as well as a company location. This may come in the form of say 3 days at home and 2 days in the office or any other combination.

It’s not an easy process moving from a fully remote working environment into a hybrid one. It may take time to adjust back to office life, after all, the pandemic is still present in society and it’s important to put health first, especially your mental health. Employees have become accustomed to the working from home ways with many starting new roles fully remotely, this is why most employers want to ease their employees back, instead of forcing them into how work life was pre-pandemic.

3 Ways Businesses Can Make Hybrid Work a Success:

1. Develop a work culture based on mental health and well-being. Whether it’s creating a free counselling programme for employees or organising online meetups such as Pilates classes, ensuring a happy work environment should be a priority. At Servisource we have a dedicated space for our Mental Health Toolkit which can be accessed by all employees of CPL. It includes group exercise activities, virtual cafes to discuss important topics relating to mental wellbeing as well as access to a free counselling service. This gives employees the reassurance that their employer knows how important they are.

2. Create a safe office working environment with health monitoring systems in place such as hand sanitisers available at desks and perhaps allowing only a certain amount of people in workspaces at the one time. If someone’s sick, it’s best for them to stay at home in case other people are infected. These small changes can help people feel at ease who might have some lingering anxieties about returning back to the office.

3. Sending the proper work equipment to employees so they have the ability to work efficiently during their workdays at home. This allows them to feel confident while away from the office. Many companies use the hot desking system in the office whereby desks are allocated to workers when they are required or on a rota system, which ensures everybody has a desk when they are working from the office.

4. A proper work/life balance is important and this is why Sevisource has created a new Balance Time scheme for its employees. This is a flexible time currency for everyone in CPL to cater for all of the non-work commitments as and when they arise. It is our unique flexibility offering, reflective of the people that work for CPL. Whatever your reason, we want to empower you to best balance your time and to be proud to do so. This means if you have an appointment or task that you need to fulfil during the working day, Balance Time can be used. You essentially take the time to fulfil the appointment or task, but you make back the time within 1 week.

Technological advances since the pandemic began also make it easier to stay connected remotely. This has resulted in the popularity of flexible working arrangements throughout the workforce. Workspace systems such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom can allow workers to message and video each other, enabling everything to run more smoothly.

However, just like everything else, there are some advantages and disadvantages to the hybrid working setup. Let’s take a look at these.

Advantages of Hybrid Work:

The hybrid working environment can allow employees to have a nice balance between home and office life. Having the option to go to work and see colleagues but also spend more time at home with family, is ideal for most workers. They have the ability to look after their children or older family members and it allows them to be more flexible.
That work camaraderie is still present when they are in the office which prevents feelings of isolation from creeping in. Stress levels are also lowered because of this flexibility and less time spent travelling to work in heavy traffic. Costs on office expenses and travel are also avoided.

Advantages of Hybrid Work

Improved work/life balance
Lower stress levels

Flexible hours
Less time commuting to work
Lower costs

According to statistics, the most frequently mentioned benefit of homeworking was increased well-being through avoiding the commute (46% of survey participants), followed by enhanced well-being because of greater flexibility of hours (39%).

Disadvantages of Hybrid Work:

However, there’s a real probability that when you work from home you end up spending too much time at your desk and work time can eat into your personal time. You might end up going over your required work hours without realising it or going back to your computer to finish something off. It’s important to separate your work time from your personal time while working the hybrid life.

Disadvantages of Hybrid Work

Feelings of isolation
Work intrusion
Reliance on technology

Distractions at home
Scheduling difficulties

Statistics also state a reduction in distractions while working hybrid also featured at 33%, although given that lockdown enforced homeworking regardless of home circumstances, some employees were still dealing with increased distractions.

There’s also a reliance on technology and if the WIFI happens to malfunction, then certain tasks can no longer be fulfilled. A stable internet connection can be difficult in rural areas, but it has greatly improved since the pandemic. Distractions while working at home can also occur especially when taking care of family members. A comfortable environment with a proper work set-up is important which allows you to keep on top of work duties and schedules.

What does the above tell us?
Overall, there are advantages and disadvantages to working hybrid, both for the employers and the employees.
Companies are making time to allow employees to work in a way that is most comfortable to them, especially in a world that has changed so much since the pandemic began. Mental health is important and when you have happy workers, you have a happy, thriving business.

Check out our related blog below:

Mental Health-Finding that Work/Life Balance

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Employer Advice

Managing Employee Performance and Engagement levels – Succeed or fail

As an employer, managing employee performance and engagement levels is your responsibility. Unfortunately, employees can’t reach their full potential at work 100% of the time as workload can build up, causing a dip in productivity and creativity. Being happy in one’s role at work is one of the most important factors to an employee giving their best efforts and for a successful company. Low morale leads to a high turnover and poor efforts which hinders the company from succeeding.

Managing employee performance in 12 easy steps

1.Training

New employees should receive proper training and induction. This will give the employee clarification on what exactly they should be doing and how they should be doing it. Training should also be provided to long-term employees so as they can continue to develop skills and performance.

2.Communication

Communication is essential. Employees prefer it when they are firstly treated as a person and then an employee. Keep employees up to date with everything that is going on within the company, this will make them feel a greater sense of importance and responsibility.

3.Set Goals

Clearly setting out the company goals and visions lets the employee know exactly what is expected from them and what they are supposed to be doing. Discuss with employees what their employment/career goals are and work towards them. To learn more about setting career goals check out our article How to set and achieve long-term career goals.

4.Encouragement

Encouragement is a win-win. Support employees and let them know what they are doing is worth it and not going unnoticed. Encouragement will make you feel good as you build your relationship with employees and it will encourage employees to keep up their hard work.

5.Team work

Set tasks for employees to complete in teams.

6.Feedback

Provide feedback to employees. This allows the employee to share their opinions and inform of any struggles that they may be experiencing. Providing feedback can also be a good motivator for the employee to do better or change how they are doing something. Feedback provides openness which allows honesty and loyalty.

7.Delegation

Delegating roles on to employees gives them the opportunity to learn and grow. It shows that you trust them to do the job and it also frees up your workload. Involve them in decision-making roles, ask for their input and ideas, if they have been involved in every step of the process and invested a lot of time in it, they are more likely to be emotionally invested in it and put more work in.

Making your employees feel loved

8.Rewards

Give employees gratitude when they are doing a good job or rewards for teams if there is a huge increase in sales from hard work. Rewards are the biggest motivator.

9.Work Environment

Create and encourage a work environment that allows everyone to voice their opinions and that ensures their opinions are heard, for both management and staff. People are more likely to express innovative ideas to those that will listen.

10.Social Activities

Social days and team building activities allows employees to blow off steam and to build on their relationships. A lot of employees spend more time with their co-workers than they do with their family. Strong working relationships are important as there is personal and professional gain.

11.Competitions

Holding competitions gets the adrenaline pumping and people go the extra mile to win if it is a competition. They also make for a fun office environment.

12.Take a Break

Studies show that not everyone takes breaks while working. Lunch breaks should be encouraged as working non-stop in the same environment can have negative effects on creative thinking.

Some Tips on managing employee performance from Office Manager Patricia Mackin

Introduce a clean desk policy, this ensures employees are working in a clean, fresh and comfortable environment which increases productivity. It also reduces stress as everything is organised – A place for everything and everything in its place.
Plants offer more than just visual value. Studies have shown they also help reduce stress, enhance employee attitudes, increase productivity and improve air quality.
Drinking water is critical for productivity and mental alertness, it also increases energy levels and relieves fatigue. Experts suggest drinking at 2 litres per day. Providing a water cooler ensures your staff can avail of a continuous supply of filtered cold drinking water on tap all day long.
Provide employees with the right technology and training so they can enjoy their job more. It will enable them to work to the highest standard giving them a sense of satisfaction.
Effective communication can form a good working relationship between Managers and Staff. The result of a team that works well together is high productivity, integrity and responsibility.
Providing Tea & Coffee in the workplace is a small bonus that staff really appreciate. Adding additional treats throughout the year such as biscuits, cakes etc. is a simple way to keep your staff happy and make them feel appreciated.

To learn more about managing employee performance and problems we recommend this short course available on lynda.com: https://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-tutorials/Managing-Employee-Performance-Problems/144199-2.html

5 TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH JANUARY

Check out our current vacancies and opportunities today!

International Volunteer Day

3 Types of Volunteer Work

Servisource and Volunteering

About the Mentors

About the Mentees

You can find out more about our opportunities below.

Is Hybrid Work the New Normal?

3 Ways Businesses Can Make Hybrid Work a Success:

Advantages of Hybrid Work:

Disadvantages of Hybrid Work:

Check out our related blog below:

Managing employee performance in 12 easy steps

Making your employees feel loved

Some Tips on managing employee performance from Office Manager Patricia Mackin