New Year’s Resolutions for Your Career

The new year is right around the corner, and with it will come flying cars, teleportation devices, time travel, UFOs, and if my calculations are correct, we will finally learn the true identity of the entity known as Bigfoot. Yes friends, it will be an exciting year indeed, but we must also remember to keep our feet on the ground and our eyes on our goals. That’s why the new year is also the perfect time to make some promises to ourselves to improve our lives and our careers. Here are some great new year’s resolutions to help you in your professional life.

Assess Your Career

Are you happy in your career? Do you want to make any changes? With the new year, take stock of how your career has been going, where you want to see it go, and any adjustments you can make to improve it in both the short term and the long term. This could include taking on new projects at work, changing the way you handle daily tasks, or even something as simple as updating your work attire.

In the event you’re unhappy with your current job or even in your chosen career, don’t let it get you down. This year is the perfect time to seek out that exciting new job, or to find a more fulfilling career. Remember, it can be tough to nail down exactly what you want to do in your career, so give yourself plenty of time and space to consider what you’re truly passionate about.

Learn a New Skill

Are there any areas in your career where you feel you’ve been lacking, or do you think there’s something more you can offer at work? Take inventory of any skills you might want to develop this year. Maybe you’ve overheard your boss talking about needing more project management around the office—well then, this is your chance to swoop down and be the hero!

In certain cases, your employer might even pay for trainings or certification classes, so don’t be afraid to ask. If not, there are plenty of ways to learn new skills on your own. While you’re at it, take note of any new transferable skills you might learn this year, as they can be invaluable in your career moving forward.

Update Your Resume

When was the last time you looked at your resume? Often, people will forget all about their resume once they land a job, and that’s a surefire way to lose track of all your progress in learning those new skills we just talked about. Your resume is a reflection of your professional experiences, and is another aspect of your life that requires regular maintenance.

This year, set some time aside once in a while to update your resume with any new information or skills you’ve acquired. By doing this you’ll remain in touch with your experiences, which will make talking about them during an interview seem like second nature. This will be particularly helpful if you want to make a big change in your career.

Refine Your Social Media Profiles

What do your social media profiles say about you? Take inventory of the content you put out and how you interact with others. Nowadays, most employers check out the social media profiles of their applicants; the contents of which can determine whether or not an applicant is hired for the job.

The goal here is to be yourself, while also avoiding controversy or anything else that might make you unappealing to potential employers. A good rule of thumb is to avoid hot-button topics such as politics in your regular interactions with others. Keep it light, and put out content that is aligned with your career goals once in a while.

Tend to Your Well-Being

With any career comes stress, fatigue, and even burnout. In order to combat these negative effects, create a new plan to take care of your mental and physical well-being. While at work, avoid office politics or any other conflicts that may arise. If you’re a positive force at work, those around you will be more inclined to follow your example. This will help to foster a healthy workplace environment.

This year, do your very best to strike a fair balance between your work and home lives. Eat healthy foods, start an exercise routine, and allow yourself plenty of time for rest. This will keep your energy levels high, which means work will be more manageable, and when the day is done you’ll still have plenty left in the tank to enjoy your personal pursuits.

Try to see the new year as a fresh start. Make the promise to yourself to let go of previous struggles, and to put time into caring for yourself and your career. When we feel happy and fulfilled, every aspect of our lives improves, and we are surely on the path to realizing our full potential. This New Year’s Eve have fun, be safe, and look forward to a happy and healthy 2023!