January always feels like the longest month of the year. But with a few small tweaks, you can stay focused, energised, and help improve employee wellbeing.
Here are some quick, easy wins to get you through the darker months:
Jump to
- Quick win goal setting
- Light up your day
- Block out time for you (and your tasks)
- Take more micro breaks
- Automate one repetitive task
- Creating a work-life balance
Why it helps:
When you’re running viewings, onboarding new tenants and juggling 19 tabs, your brain is already overloaded. Setting small, realistic goals helps you create structure without pressure, perfect for busy winter days.
How to do it:
Pick 3-5 achievable goals for the week and add this to a to-do list. Think simple, practical wins such as:
- Organising your email inbox
- Sorting your office “junk” drawer
- Rearranging your folders or desktop
- Clearing one admin task you’ve been avoiding
These micro goals help keep momentum without overwhelming you.
✨Fun stat: People who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them. Not bad for 30 seconds of scribbling.
Why it helps:
One key challenge during winter is the reduced sunlight, which can lower serotonin levels. This decrease in daylight can negatively impact motivation, focus, and mood, often making the workday feel more burdensome than usual.
How to do it:
- Get outside for 10–15 minutes during daylight hours
- Take your morning coffee on a short walk
- Stand outside for a quick “sunflower moment”
If you can’t get out, brighten your workspace by:
- Moving your desk closer to a window
- Adding a warm, bright lamp
- Keeping blinds and curtains fully open
Even small changes can seriously boost your energy levels.
✨Fun stat: People who work next to windows report fewer headaches, less drowsiness, and noticeably better mood than those in darker spaces — up to 84% fewer eye strain symptoms thanks to natural light
Why it helps:
With constant calls, appointments and walk-ins, it’s easy to go an entire day without touching the tasks you need to complete. Protected time ensures your admin doesn’t pile up and your stress levels stay manageable.
How to do it:
- Block out one 30-minute slot in your calendar each day, just for focused admin
- Treat it like a meeting with yourself
- Close your inbox, silence notifications and stick to one task
You’ll be amazed how fast the backlog shrinks.
✨Fun stat: Workers who use time-blocking strategies are shown to be boost productivity by 40% and increase attention by 23%
Why it helps:
Heavy workloads can negatively impact mental health and lead to burnout, particularly when remote working. Being isolated in one place all day can intensify this strain. Taking 2-10 minute micro breaks daily helps refresh your mind, alleviate stress, enhance creativity, and improve workplace productivity, especially during the winter months.
How to do it:
Take tiny breaks throughout the day:
- Make a cuppa
- Do a lap around the office
- Stand outside for a minute
- Stretch, breathe, drink some water
- Look away from your screen every 20 minutes
These little resets stop the afternoon slump before it hits.
✨Fun stat: Short breaks have been shown to increase productivity by up to 13% by improving focus and cognitive performance.
Why it helps:
Automating just one repetitive process can instantly reduce admin pressure and free up mental space. This enhances workplace productivity by allowing trivial tasks to be handled automatically, enabling focus on the important stuff.
How to do it:
- Identify the task you repeatedly sigh at
- Ask: “Can this be automated?”
- If you’re a letting agent, you already know the answer: utility registrations
With Notify, you can register tenant utilities in 60 seconds, removing hours of calls, waiting times and supplier admin.
✨Fun stat: Automating utility registrations can save agencies up to 53 hours per month.
Want to learn more how Notify can start reducing your agency's utility admin? Find more information here
Why it helps
When work and home life start to blur, it becomes harder to switch off, recharge, and stay motivated. Over time, this can lead to increased stress, reduced focus, and burnout especially when energy levels are already lower. Creating clear boundaries helps protect your wellbeing and keeps work feeling more manageable.
How to do it:
Set small, realistic boundaries that work for you:
- Log off at a consistent time where possible
- Avoid checking emails after hours
- Create a clear “end of day” routine (a walk, gym session, or switching devices off)
- Remote workers: Keep your workspace separate from where you relax, even if it’s just packing your laptop away
These simple habits help your brain reset, so you come back feeling fresher the next day.
✨ Fun stat: Employees with a healthy work–life balance are 21% more productive and report significantly higher overall wellbeing.