20 New Year’s Resolutions to Inspire You at Work

A new year is here, and, of course, we must set our usual resolutions; eat healthier, go to the gym, swear less, do more. These goals usually last a whole 30 days before they phase out and we resume our normal, indulgent lifestyle. This year, it is time to start something different; setting resolutions that can be done at work and will benefit your entire life. However, what career goals should you set, and how do you stick to them? 

Here are 20 resolution ideas that you can easily incorporate into your daily life and make your upcoming working year an even better one.

REVAMP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES

Look at your online profiles — are they in line with your professional image? If not, do not fall into the trap of making well-known social media mistakes, and give your pages a revamp. A study from CareerBuilder revealed, “70 percent of employers now use social media to screen job candidates before hiring them, up from 60 percent a year ago and 11 percent in 2006.” 

Ensure you only have information that you would want your boss or potential manager to see — it’s time to get rid of those embarrassing photos and replace them with something a little more refined.

DO SOMETHING FOR YOU EVERY DAY

It is human nature to be caught up doing things for others and forget to do something for yourself. This is your year to make a change and do something for yourself every single day. Whether it is going on a walk on every lunch break, treating yourself to a Coffee Boom coffee, or simply taking five minutes at the end of the day to gather your thoughts and unwind.

Find something that you will look forward to, and that will make your working day better — it is the little things that count!

BE MORE POSITIVE

Are you one of those people that think the grass is always greener on the other side? If so, it might be time to change your mindset to a more positive one. Be grateful for where you are and the job you have. You are there because you were excited about it at one point, so find that fire inside you and list what is great about your current situation. You will be amazed at the difference a mindset shift can have!

LEARN SOMETHING NEW

Are you struggling to keep up with the new version of Microsoft Word and can’t seem to figure out all the functions in Outlook? Maybe it is time to learn something new and develop your skills. If it is something that will enhance your current job, your company may even be willing to pay for it. If not, there are plenty of free or cheap online courses that can improve your knowledge. You could also dedicate 15 minutes of your day to read an educational article about your specific field or a new study.

MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS

Even if you are not looking for a new job, networking is something you should still put effort into. Going to networking events and connecting with peers online will help give you creditability and will help you create valuable and meaningful relationships. You will learn new things and will improve your social and professional skills. You could even network with colleagues in your office that work in a separate department outside of the office walls; when you need a favor, they will be more inclined to help you if you already have an existing relationship.

RETHINK YOUR PROFESSIONAL GOALS

Having professional goals to work towards can really help you advance your career. Do you want to develop your career and get a promotion or move on to a new career path? Think about what it is you want to do in the New Year and set yourself some goals to work towards your target.

BUILD YOUR PERSONAL BRAND

Your personal brand is a reflection of yourself, your experience, and the knowledge that you possess. If you do not have a brand, it is time to start building one. Use social media platforms to your advantage and create a strong and useful contact for your industry.

EAT HEALTHIER AT WORK

We are all guilty of over-indulging on junk in the workplace; whether it is a delicious chocolate cheesecake, your colleague brought in for their birthday or the donuts a client kindly sent as a thank you. This year learn to resist temptation and swap the calorific options for healthy snacks that will keep you just as satisfied throughout your working day.

EXERCISE AT WORK

This one might be a long shot, but if you cannot get yourself to the gym, why not squeeze in some exercise at work? If that is even a push, you can work out on the clock with simple desk exercises. Your colleagues will not even realize you are exercising with some of the routines!

REDUCE STRESS

If you are feeling super stressed at work, you need to take a step back and find out where the stress is coming from. You could be putting too much pressure on yourself for no apparent reason. Once you have identified the cause, find ways to eliminate the stress; this could be through better organization or more personal time to enjoy activities and unwind after work.

IMPROVE YOUR WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Are you guilty of staying late every day and rushing home with a takeaway in hand because it is too late to cook anything? Work-life balance is important; you need to know when to switch off and figure out what you can leave until the next day. If you are a supervisor, delegate your tasks among your employees to lighten your workload.

DEVELOP YOUR COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS

If you are terrible at delivering presentations or interacting with your boss, try taking classes to improve your communication skills. It will not only help you within the workplace but will also build up your general confidence.

VOLUNTEER MORE

Volunteering is a great way to feel good about yourself and will look great on your résumé and social media platforms. Find a cause that is close to your heart and round up your colleagues to help too.

STOP PROCRASTINATING

Are you guilty of procrastinating on the job? It is easy to be sidetracked by a news alert or a text from your best friend! We have all been there. That said, in the New Year, set yourself a new goal to stop wasting time at work. You can use the help of some great tools, like a time-tracking app or a social media blocker, to keep you focused on the work at hand.

IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL SKILLS

Improving your mental skills can help you stay more focused and alert throughout the day. So, if you want to start training your brain, you can use cognitive thinking tests, training games on your smartphone and herbal remedies that can increase your mental ability. For example, B12 is recommended for increased energy consumption and better functioning of your nervous system.

GET MORE SLEEP

Do you always yawn at work and end up falling into an afternoon nap while you struggle to keep your eyes open? If so, you most likely lack some much-needed quality sleep. To improve your overall energy levels and concentration, aim to get at least eight hours of shuteye every night.

SET PERSONAL GOALS

Personal goals are essential if you want to have a good work-life balance. So, as well as outlining your professional goals, as mentioned above, it is important to set personal ones, too. Do you want to be healthier? Learn a new sport or skill? Write it down! At the beginning of the year, create a list of goals that you want to achieve and review your progress every quarter.

GET A NEW PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT

Unless your company forces you to pose in front of the camera, it is unlikely that you have updated your headshot in a few years. That said, it is important to keep your headshot up to date, so hiring managers and connections have a good idea of who you are and what you look like. It is important to give an accurate representation of yourself. So, this new year, get yourself a new headshot to update your professional profiles.

EMBARK ON PERSONAL VENTURES

Is there a personal venture that you have been dreaming about, but you have not actually put the ball in motion to see it through? Well, now is your time to branch out and try your own thing! It does not mean that you need to quit your job. Instead, allocate some time each week to work on your personal goals. You never know, your side-gig might eventually turn into a profitable business!

WORK ON YOUR TIME MANAGEMENT

Even if you have impeccable time management skills, they can always be improved further. There is always more time to accomplish new goals and do more with the time that you have. So, in the New Year, try to improve your time management skills. You could do this with the help of time-tracking apps, to-do lists and other productivity tools. It is all about working smarter to work harder!

New Year’s resolutions are often a fad that people tend to forget by the end of January and that they aren’t able to keep. That said, this year, select a few that you really want to work on and try to achieve them. Don’t go overboard and attempt to turn your life around in a few months. Instead, be realistic and ensure your chosen goals are manageable.

What are your New Year’s resolutions?