New Year’s Career Resolutions You Can Keep

It’s that time of the year again. You’ve thought about everything that’s transpired and started to come up with a list of things you’re going to do better or differently next year. Yes, we’re talking about New Year’s Resolutions. They’re always well-intended. However, the reality is that most of them are forgotten by the end of January. Whether you just don’t have time, or lose motivation, the truth remains, New Year’s Resolutions are tough to keep.

When it comes to your career, you have goals you want to reach. Maybe it’s becoming a Team Lead or a Chief Engineer. In order to reach those goals, you need to have specific steps that are going to get you there. What better time than the start of the New Year to set about making those smaller steps a priority? Here are a list of New Year’s Career Resolutions that you can keep:

Brush Up Your Resume

Even if you don’t have plans to look for a new job right now, you never know when an opportunity might present itself. This simple exercise keeps you from losing information you might need in the event that you decide to look for something new. The process can be reflective as well. When you look back at your past jobs and accomplishments, you can be proud of how far you’ve come. Conversely, maybe there’s a hole in your resume that needs filling and now’s the perfect time to get to work.

Update Your LinkedIn Profile

When was the last time you looked at your LinkedIn profile? A lot has changed since the days when people threw up a professional picture, their schooling and titles for jobs they’ve held. Now, more than ever, your LinkedIn profile is part of your professional brand. The information, style and layout should be up to date. How’s that professional summary coming along?

If you need some inspiration, check out the profiles of some of your connections. Chances are you’ll learn a thing or two.

Subscribe to a Blog

We’re all guilty of wasting time during the day. Whether it’s scrolling through Instagram or checking fantasy football scores, the time can add up. The truth is though, we all need a mental break at some point. Why not put that time to good use and subscribe to a blog you find interesting? It doesn’t even have to be related to your industry. There are literally hundreds of thousands of talented writers out there sharing their perspective and information for free. If you’re not sure what kind of blog you might be interested in, ask around. Your friends and colleagues will have plenty of ideas.

Send One Thank You Note Per Week

Even though most of our communication takes place electronically, there’s still no substitute for an old-fashioned hand-written thank you note. Whether it’s to a person from another department that helped you out on a project or even just a friend, personal thank you notes are memorable. They don’t take long to write and are a great way to practice gratitude – something we could all use more of.

Add a New Skill

The ways in which we work are constantly changing. As a result, your skills need to be current. Set aside some time each week to learn a new skill. It doesn’t matter if it’s learning a second language, new computer program or becoming a better public speaker. The point is that you’re bettering yourself and enjoying the process.

Take Care of Your Health

We all know about those New Year’s Resolutions focused on weight loss. “This year I’m joining a gym.” “Starting in January, I’m going to do yoga three days a week.” Just like most New Year’s Resolutions, it’s only a small percentage that are actually seen through.

The good news is you can take some smaller steps to improve your health and well-being. Buy a stand-up desk for your office. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Bring your own lunch instead of eating from the cafeteria. Replace that comfy computer chair with a Swiss ball. There are all sorts of easy ways to be healthier at work. The key is to find one or two that work for you and, stick to them.

Find a Mentor

Even if you’re the company President, there are still people in your organization you can learn from. Find someone with some skills that you particularly admire. Approach that person and ask them if they’d be willing to mentor you in a specific area of your job. Together, you can set goals and have some fun along the way.

Become a Mentor

Maybe there’s someone on your team who seems to go above and beyond. You can tell this person is passionate about what they do and is driven to meet their goals. You can’t be everything to everybody but, if you make an effort to take an exceptional employee under your wing, they’ll be more than thankful. Giving back makes you feel good. Better yet, chances are you’ll learn something too.

Get a New Professional Photo

You like the picture on your business card. Unfortunately, it’s 15 years old. Yes, you have a little more gray hair now but, that baggy suit hasn’t been fashionable since Y2K. As trivial as it might seem, people are going to judge you by your professional picture. Whether it’s in an email signature, on your LinkedIn profile or on your business card, your professional picture is often the first chance someone has to put a face with your name. Why wouldn’t you want to look good?

Most New Year’s resolutions fail for one of two reasons. First, they’re too big to tackle. Second, they aren’t specific. The good news is it isn’t that hard to make some small improvements to keep you on the track to success. Create some daily habits that don’t take a ton of time but are fun and rewarding. You just might surprise yourself with the difference you see.