Once again, this time of year, many of us make resolutions to change our lifestyles for the better, read more books, and save more money. But here’s the thing: maintaining the customary New Year’s resolutions can be difficult to find the time and motivation for. Think about it: after a long day at work, would you rather spend your evening reading a book on the finer points of persuasion marketing… or binge watching Game of Thrones? Or if the office java just doesn’t give you the same zing as the jet fuel/espr, are you really going to walk the five blocks from the subway station to the office when you can easily drive to work and leave the car in the parking garage next door?
It is obvious that there are numerous excuses or reasons to forget about your resolutions, depending on how you look at it. The difference is that you are being paid to get better when it comes to your career, and everything you do to advance your career is an investment in your future. And now more than ever, when technological advancements are rapidly changing the workplace, you need to make an investment in your professional development.
- Do five things to stay healthier at work. …
- Learn a new skill. …
- Read one career-related or motivational book. …
- Update your resume. …
- Create at least one new professional networking connection per month. …
- Review and improve your LinkedIn profile.
Why is making career resolutions important?
Making career resolutions is crucial because it appeals to the executive function of the human brain, a set of cognitive skills that aids in goal-setting and achievement. This means that consciously setting goals increases the likelihood of success by giving people a clear vision and direction for achieving them. Making career resolutions is crucial because it can assist you in organizing your objectives according to their perceived value for your career.
18 career resolutions
Consider making some of these 18 career resolutions:
1. Learn a new skill
No matter how much experience you have, you can always learn more work-related skills. Try to pinpoint the areas where you can improve, then gather fresh knowledge regarding how to develop those skills. Depending on the circumstance, your company might be willing to pay for a variety of training courses.
2. Improve your professional social media profiles
The extent of your professional network may determine how far you can advance in your career. Utilizing a professional networking website to get in touch with important coworkers and stakeholders in your field is one of the most time- and money-effective networking strategies. You typically need to update your profile with your most recent accomplishments and actively pursue network growth in order to do so effectively.
3. Clean out your desk and file cabinets
Having a well-organized workspace can improve your efficiency. It facilitates the elimination of various documents and objects that you no longer need in addition to making things easier to find. A relatively simple way to increase workplace productivity is to resolve to regularly clean your workspace.
4. Join a professional organization
The majority of professions have associations where colleagues can get together and exchange ideas. By joining one, you can increase your professional network and keep up with the most recent changes in your industry. You can ask your coworkers or conduct an online search for a professional organization if you’re unsure which one to join.
5. Reassess your work-life balance
Unhappiness with how you divide your time between your personal and professional lives can have a negative impact on both. Identifying your ideal situation and how it differs from your current one is the first step in evaluating your work-life balance. You can also get opinions from close family and friends to get a different viewpoint.
6. Get a new certification
Learning new skills or honing already existing ones is typically required to advance in a career. Obtaining a professional certification can be a good way to do this and is also a powerful way to demonstrate to others that you are equipped with certain skills. The advantages certifications can provide for your career should be taken into consideration even though obtaining a pertinent certification can be expensive and time-consuming.
7. Stay active at work
If you work in an office environment and are not required to be physically active while at work, you run the risk of developing a number of long-term health problems. By finding small ways to stay physically active during work hours, you can overcome this and have more energy. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, go for a walk every day during your lunch break, or use a standing desk as some examples of things you can plan to do.
8. Update your resume
Regularly updating your resume can be beneficial even if you are in a position where you are already well-established. Even if you don’t currently have any plans to change jobs, you can make it a career resolution to review and update your resume once a year. The main advantage of this resolution is that you can have an updated resume available for the application process with your most recent information already included if you ever consider applying for another job.
9. Improve your communication skills
Some of the most transferable professional skills are communication skills because they are helpful in any job that requires interacting with others. Your career may benefit from developing your interpersonal skills with coworkers, superiors, clients, suppliers, and other people you work with. You can achieve this by making small changes, such as responding to emails more quickly, asking others how their projects are going, expressing gratitude to those who have helped you, and being more accessible for communication at work.
10. Practice mindfulness
In order to practice mindfulness, one must put their attention in the present moment rather than on the past or the future. Making decisions with mindfulness can help you avoid being influenced by unimportant factors, which can lead to better decisions. Additionally, you can use it to raise your levels of happiness because mindfulness practice can reduce stress related to work.
11. Read more books
Reading about topics you’re interested in is a good way to broaden your knowledge. Making a career resolution and allotting time for reading each day or each week can help you learn new things and advance your skills if you have trouble finding the time to read. Audiobooks allow you to learn while doing other things, such as exercising or driving to work.
12. Plan a tech-free weekend
Despite the fact that modern technology generally increases productivity, using it excessively can lead to burnout and a loss of focus. Every now and then, taking a weekend without using any technology can help you regain focus and organize your thoughts. If it’s challenging for you to put your electronics away at home, think about spending a weekend in a natural setting.
13. Define your next career step
Despite the fact that planning your career may be challenging due to a number of unknowable factors, you can resolve to determine your next course of action. Having a short-term career objective can help you stay motivated and focused while working on your skills. You can determine the next step by asking your manager about their expectations for your career development. You may decide that it’s time to look for new career opportunities if you find that there are few opportunities for advancement at your current position.
14. Research your companys goals
Career advancement frequently depends on the success of the company where you work. You can help your company achieve its objectives by determining what it needs to do to expand its operations. Knowing how your work will affect the company’s future can also serve as a motivating factor.
15. Improve your physical fitness
Although improving your fitness is primarily a personal goal, it also has advantages for your career. Exercise also helps you gain confidence and clear your mind, giving you more energy and stamina to carry out your professional duties. A specific fitness resolution, one that may aid in creating a schedule for various physical activities, typically has higher chances of success.
16. Get your dream job
Making a career resolution and establishing a timeline for when to reach your ultimate career goal can help you achieve it if your current position is different from your ideal role. Make a plan to consistently work toward the requirements you currently don’t meet until you achieve the level you desire. Then you can ask about available positions and recruiters who might be able to help you find opportunities in your desired role.
17. Track your achievements
Positivity about your career can motivate you to work harder and make future plans. Making a commitment to keep track of your accomplishments in a notebook or computer file will ensure that you remember all of them. You can increase your career satisfaction by reviewing them once a year.
18. Take on a challenging project
If you consistently try to push yourself, you can advance your personal career goals. By doing this, you can expose yourself to a variety of challenging circumstances, and tackling them can result in self-improvement. You can resolve to volunteer for the next difficult job opportunity as part of your career.
How to Keep Your Career Resolutions
FAQ
What are 5 most popular resolutions?
- Exercise more.
- Lose weight.
- Get organized.
- Learn a new skill or hobby.
- Live life to the fullest.
- Save more money / spend less money.
- Quit smoking.
- Spend more time with family and friends.
What are good resolutions for work?
- Keep a journal. …
- Have regular meetings with your boss. …
- Connect with other people. …
- Expand and enhance your knowledge. …
- Improve your personal branding. …
- Evaluate your big projects. …
- Stay focused all year.
What are your career goals examples?
- Advance to a leadership position. …
- Become a thought leader. …
- Work toward personal development. …
- Shift into a new career path. …
- Experience career stability. …
- Create a career goal.
