There’s no better time than now to make a few resolutions to ensure you get off to a good start this year. Whilst any time of year is an excellent time to set goals, there’s just something about the new year that provides the motivation you need.
We have all, no doubt, made a few typical new year resolutions in the past. For example, saving money, losing weight etc., are the most common (Source: Statista) but have you ever thought about making career-based resolutions?
So whatever industry you’re working in, make sure you take note of these career resolutions.
1. Clean Your Workspace
A tidy space equals a tidy mind, so it’s beneficial to take some time to clear your working space. Whether you’re an office worker snowed under by papers and post-it notes or a tradesperson with a van covered in paint and tools strewn about the back, invest some time into organising your things and a little bit of money into a way of storing your items neatly.
Not only will it look a whole lot better, but it will also make it easier to find what you need. Just make sure you keep it up throughout the rest of the year.
2. Learn New Skills
It can be easy to get comfortable 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.
Learning a new skill can be fun and exciting, but 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.
3. Improve Work-Life Balance
Sometimes work can take over, and soon enough, you’re doing early mornings and late nights whilst spending your time off thinking about your next job or task. Whatever job you have, you must allow time to switch off and recharge before burning out. Time off can be more difficult when running your own business, but it’s essential.
Making sure you take time off work for yourself, 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.
4. Get Organised
When it comes to admin and paperwork, it can be easy to just put it aside for a later date. Something which, 90% of the time, you will end up regretting when a mountain of paperwork snows you under.
From now on, make a promise 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 easier.
It will improve your work-life balance, allowing you more time to relax and recharge, and help keep you healthy mentally.
5. Work Your Way Up
Depending on where you are, this will vary. If you’ve recently started, why not make it your goal to gain a promotion within a year? If, however, you’ve been somewhere for a while or a promotion to a higher role isn’t possible, work hard, upskill, and see if you can get a pay rise.
And finally, if you have the ability and are in an industry that allows it, why not aim to become your own boss?
6. Love Mondays
Living your life purely for the weekend is no way to live. We spend so much time working that we must 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? For example, you can become an installation electrician or gas engineer with Options Skills.
7. Be Healthier
It’s cliche, but this coming year, why not make it your goal to become healthier? Sitting at a desk all day, it can be easy to snack too much and not move enough. Likewise, working on-site and continuously 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 not good for your health. All you need to do is 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 out of your seat at least once an hour – even just for a minute or two. When feeling peckish, keep healthier snacks on hand, and choose water over fizzy or caffeine-loaded drinks.
8. Social Network
Social networking can make a massive difference in your career. Social platforms also allow you to connect with others in your industry as a form of promotion. In addition, you can share your work through social media platforms – utilising the platforms as a kind of portfolio.
As a result, your personality can shine through, personalising your business. And with each person in your industry having their own tips, tricks and techniques, you can learn a lot from your peers.
We’ve seen a significant increase in tradespeople using social media. From electricians and gas engineers to plumbers and other tradespeople, they use social media platforms to network, grow their community and boost business.
Unsure where to start? We’ve created a step-by-step guide to help!
9. Improve Your Marketing Techniques
As well as using the web for marketing, are you using the more traditional forms? For example, many people still appreciate leaflets and newspaper advertisements, so investing in some could be a good idea.
Branding your vehicle with your business logo and details means hundreds, if not thousands, of people will become aware of your company daily. Have you thought about using branded merchandise? Make it your mission to improve your marketing, and you’ll soon see an increase in work.
10. Celebrate Successes
It can be easy to get wrapped up in working and always thinking about the next thing to be done. Instead, consider making one of your career resolutions to celebrate successes. That could be finishing a 6-month long project, surpassing a record, securing a new contract, etc.
Life is better when there’s something to celebrate, so celebrate even the smallest things. Because at the end of the day, you’ve achieved something, and that’s a good enough excuse.
11. Support Others
When your career is going well, why not share that success and make one of your career resolutions to help others?
You could do this by offering extra support to a colleague or sharing a particular skill you have. Alternatively, you could become a mentor to someone entering the industry.
12. Don’t Give Up
Sometimes things don’t always go to plan, but that doesn’t mean you should give up. One minor setback doesn’t mean you scrap your whole project. Instead, if something goes wrong, figure out a way to fix it and put that into practice.
Alternatively, if you can’t fix it, use it as a lesson. Make sure you don’t repeat the same mistake. Things take time, and soon enough, you’ll look back at how far you’ve come with nothing but pride.
Learn A Trade
If one of your career resolutions this year is to join the trades industry, look no further.
We’re one of the UK’s leading trades training providers, delivering gas, electric, plumbing and heat pump training courses.
