The New Year always brings with it a sense of change and possibility, of growth and development. At the turning of the calendar, many of us resolve to make changes in our personal and professional lives.
The beginning of the year is the perfect time to think about where you’d like your career to go. Establishing a professional New Year’s resolution will help you achieve your goals faster by providing a clear destination to aim for.
Here’s our realistic New Year’s resolution ideas to help you buildout your career in 2022…
Set Your Goals and Stay Accountable
Get some clarity on your career goals and what you want to achieve during 2022. What will it be like to accomplish your goal; will it be a promotion, a new career opportunity, advancing your skillset? Getting specific on why the goal is important and how it will affect your life is key to tapping into the drive that wills you past inevitable obstacles and failures. You could even ask a trusted person in your personal or professional network who will check in with you periodically to see how you are progressing and offer encouragement, this is a great way of holding yourself accountable.
Measure Your Job Satisfaction
While job satisfaction is not a quantifiable measurement, it’s important to sit back and understand what part of your job and workplace you are enjoying, and which parts require improvement. Is it something you need to change yourself? Or do you need to rely on others to make changes to improve your job satisfaction? These factors can contribute to setting yourself tangible objectives for the New Year or deciding whether you need to go down a different route in your career.
Review and Improve your LinkedIn Profile
When it comes to your career and the professional world, LinkedIn is crucial to your overall personal brand. Just like on your CV, you need to keep the information and look of it up to date, it’ll often be the first place a hiring manager looks when considering you for a role. But even if you aren’t currently looking for a career move, it is also a good way to keep relevant connections in your industry and beyond.
Learn a New Skill
Whether you’re aiming for a big promotion, or simply wanting to be better at your job, there’s plenty of reasons why you should always spruce up your skill-set. Learning a new skill will often be of value not only to you, but to your company, so what better way to utilise your environment than by developing your skill-set in the workplace. It’s a great place for you to explore and gain in-depth knowledge in various fields.
Stay Healthier at Work
Make small changes to your working day that can help you stay mentally and physically healthier. You spend a large portion of your life at work so consider what you can do for your health while you’re there, even the smallest of changes can make a difference. Whether that be: preparing yourself a balanced lunch, deciding to walk or cycle (where possible) even if it is at lunchtime, set a good routine, drink more water or even just clearing your desk. All of these little things will make you happier and healthier in the long run, which is not only beneficial to your health but you’ll also be able to perform better at work and prevent burning out.
Challenge Yourself
Show an interest in something new or perhaps ask your boss to see if you can take on a new project. Often it’s when you push yourself out of your comfort zone that you start to really feel challenged. Make a commitment and stick to it. By taking a leap, you force yourself to think faster and more creatively, which will enable you to think outside of the box and develop new skills.