We've made it through winter!

Congratulations everyone - we’ve made it through winter!

By BGA and KBIS blogger Vet Nurse Lucy Fletcher.  

The evenings are lighter, the mud is starting to dry up and we’ve already experienced some t shirt/ fly rug weather!

January/ February time is always dull and hard work which brings me to my topic this month ‘motivation at work’.

I think generally people feel less motivated around this time of year as the transition moves from winter to spring and people feel like they need a change.
I’ve been monitoring this behaivour for a little while this year and have tested my conclusion by putting out a question in the local horse groups on Facebook asking what keeps people motivated at work.

For me, I like to set goals throughout the day with little rewards to look forward to, this usually involves cake, chocolate or coffee but even something as simple as a morning cuppa can really motivate you on a cold morning to get those stables mucked out, hayed and watered in good time.

The answers I got from my Facebook question actually resulted in very similar answers from people who worked as grooms, trainers, farriers, lecturers and the majority said that client satisfaction was top of their list to boost them at work, closely followed by appreciation, just a simple thank you and feeling worth-while at work goes a long way.

We hear all too often about how employees feel underappreciated by their employers and this can then lead to a high staff turn-over which does not bode well for the reputation of the workplace.

I’m extremely lucky at work as my colleague nurse loves baking so I’m pretty much always motivated when I’m at work!! I love the yard when it’s absolutely spotless and all the work is done so when I come in for night duties I have more time for cuddles with the patients which is highly motivating for me.

It’s all too easy to get stuck in a rut and lose motivation so here are a few of my top tips to help get you going:

• Remind yourself why you want to do something – What will the end result be and how will you feel once you have completed the task ahead?
• Give yourself occasional breaks to avoid burnout. With horse wok this is not always easy but you should never get to the point where you are so tired it becomes dangerous to work with horses, don’t be afraid to ask for a short break if you feel you need it.
• Promise yourself a reward once you get your work done, again I feel the cake beckoning!
• Make activities fun. Time yourself mucking out and try and beat the time from the previous day.
• Avoid negativity, a negative mind will have a huge impact on your physical performance.
• Be organised. Having a daily to do planner not only ensures that you do not forget jobs to be done but frees up your mind if it’s written down.
• Remember, the horses and ponies will always appreciate what you do for them, even if you feel like your boss doesn’t!

I’m going to sign off now as I still have stables to sort and ponies to feed, and a motivational glass of something nice at the end of it!

Lucy x

Don't forget if you are feeling a little unmotivated and struggling to shake it off then have a look at Grooms Minds. 

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