New Year Career Resolutions

The new year is just around the corner and there’s no better time than now to make a few resolutions to make sure you get off a good start. Whilst any time of year is a good time to change your life for the better, there’s just something about the new year that provides that motivation you need.

We have all no doubt made a few typical new year resolutions in the past. Save money, lose weight etc. but have you ever thought about making career-based resolutions?

We spend so much of our lives working that it’s important we’re doing it the best we can. From getting organised to climbing the ladder, there are a number of goals you can set yourself to improve your career. In turn, that will improve your year and your life. So whatever industry you’re working in, make sure you take note of these career resolutions.

Clean Your Workspace

A tidy space equals a tidy mind, so it’s beneficial to take some time out to clear out your working space. Whether you’re an office worker who gets snowed up by piles of papers and post-it notes or you work in the trades and your van is covered in paint and dust while your tools are just strewn about the back. Invest some time into organising your things and invest a little bit of money into a way of storing your things neatly. Not only will it look a whole lot better, but it will also make it easier to find what you’re looking for. Just make sure you keep it up throughout the year and beyond.

Learn New Skills

It can be easy to get comfortable where you are and not think about progressing, but that’s when things can get boring. Take a step out of your comfort zone and learn something new. Not only can the process of learning a new skill be fun and exciting, mastering it will leave you with a rewarding feeling. And on top of that, it could help you progress to the next step in your role/career.

Improve work-life balance

Sometimes work can take over and soon enough you’re working early mornings and late nights whilst spending your time off thinking about your next job or task. Whatever job you have, it’s important that you allow yourself time to switch off and recharge before you burn out. This can be more difficult when you’re running your own business, but it’s essential. Making sure you take time off work for yourself, to spend time with friends and family and generally catch up with life will leave you feeling refreshed and when you do get back to work, you’ll be raring to go.

Get Organised

When it comes to admin and paperwork, it can be too easy to just put to aside for a later date. Something which 90% of the time, you will end up regretting when you’re snowed under by a mountain of paperwork. From now on, make a promise to yourself to get on top of it. Whether that’s making sure you do a little bit each day, employing someone else to do it for you or utilising apps and programs that make it that little bit easier.

Work Your Way Up

Depending on where you are, this will vary. If you’ve recently started out, why not make it your goal to gain a promotion within a year? If however, you’ve been somewhere for a while and/or a promotion to a higher role isn’t possible, work hard and see if you can bag yourself a pay-rise. And finally, if you have the ability,  drive and in an industry which allows it, why not aim to become your own boss?

Love Mondays

Living your life purely for the weekend is no way to live. We spend so much of our time working that it’s important we enjoy what we’re doing and aren’t filled with dread every time Sunday evening comes around. Not happy with your current job? Change it. If you’re sick of the 9-5 office life, have you thought about a hands-on career in the trades industry? If you’re already in the trades, why not become qualified in another area? With Options Skills, you can train to become an installation electrician, domestic electrician, gas engineer or plumber.

Be Healthier

It’s cliche, but this coming year, why not make it a goal of yours to become healthier? When you’re sat at a desk all day, it can be all too easy to snack too much and not move enough. Working on-site and constantly being on the go can often lead to poor food choices. Picking up a sandwich/popping to the local chippy for lunch is quick and convenient, but no good for your health. All you need to do is try to move more and eat better. Try to prepare lunches ahead of time so you’re never stuck without anything and forced to go to the nearest takeaway. Make sure you get up out of your seat at least once an hour – even just for a minute or two. Keep healthier snacks on hand for when you’re feeling peckish and choose water over fizzy or caffeine loaded drinks.

Social Network

Social networking can make a huge difference to your career. Working as a form of promotion, it also allows you to connect with others in your industry. Through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, you can share your work – utilising the platforms as a kind of portfolio. Your personality can shine through, personalising your work/business and with each person in your industry have their own tips, tricks and techniques, you can learn a lot from your peers.

Improve Your Marketing Techniques

As well as using the web for marketing, are you using the more traditional forms? Leaflets and newspaper advertisements are still appreciated by many people out there so it could be a good idea to invest some money into those. Branding your vehicle with your business logo and details means hundreds, if not thousands of people a day will become aware of your company. Have you thought about using branded merchandise? Make it your mission to improve your marketing and you’ll soon see an increase in work.

Celebrate Successes

It can be easy to get wrapped up in working and always thinking about the next thing to be done. Instead, take time this year to take a step back and appreciate your successes. That could be finishing a 6-month long project, surpassing a record, securing a new contract, etc. Lifes better when there’s something to celebrate so celebrate even the smallest of things. Because at the end of the day, you’ve achieved something and that’s a good enough excuse.

Don’t Give Up

Sometimes things don’t always go to plan and it can be disappointing, but that doesn’t mean you should give up. One small setback doesn’t mean you scrap your whole project. If something goes wrong, simply figure out a way to fix it and put that into practice. Alternatively, if that can’t be done, use it as a lesson. Make sure you don’t repeat the same mistake again. Things take time and soon enough, you’ll look back at how far you’ve come with nothing but pride.