7 career resolutions you can actually keep in 2017 - Viewpoint - careers advice blog Viewpoint careers advice blog

7 career resolutions you can actually keep in 2017 - Viewpoint - careers advice blog Most of us will make New Years resolutions as a matter of course â€" and I believe the most successful are those which touch on both our personal and professional lives. However they are notoriously hard to keep. How can you actually create a set of career resolutions that will stimulate actual, meaningful change that youll keep up beyond January 2nd? Here are a few ideas of career resolutions that you can stick to, and will help you improve any bad habits, to ensure 2017 is the best year yet for your career: 1. Build a working healthier life: Look to build more exercise into your working day. Dont say that youll run an ultramarathon or attend Crossfit five times a week (unless you want to of course!). Instead, positively commit to walking 10,000 steps a day and doing a simple bodyweight exercise regime at home. Take the stairs. Walk to see colleagues. Use a standing desk. Make small and incremental improvements to note real changes. Always eat breakfast, drink more water during the day and bring a healthy snack to help avoid the dreaded biscuit tin. Stop eating at your desk and skipping lunch. Get out for an hour to see a friend, have a coffee with a colleague, go for a walk or even visit something local of interest. It will stimulate your mind and leave you feeling fresher and readier to attack the afternoon. 2. Help others at work: Make this the year that you praise and encourage your colleagues, vocalising your appreciation when they do something well. Gratitude is a powerful gift to share. 3. Take time to reflect: Each day remember three positive things that happened to you setting a reminder on your phone if need be. Think about when you received some praise or some positive results. Take a moment every day to think about this and feel good about it. Why not keep a journal of success to look back over when you feel a bit demoralised or low? 4. Be more self-aware: Think about how you come across to others. Carefully check all emails and documents that you write, before you send them. 5. Stay neutral at work: Dont get involved in office gossip, but stay neutral and on good terms with your co-workers. 6. Be structured and diligent with your workload: Start your day by reviewing your to do list and setting goals for the day. Always tackle the hardest tasks first. Focus on one job at a time so that you do it well. Set yourself personal timeframes to complete each task and take gratitude in ticking each task off your to-do list as you go. Keep one hour a day free to catch up on admin perhaps in the mid-afternoon rather than at the end of the day when youll feel tired. At the end of each day, create a to-do list for the next day. Be brutal with your list remove tasks that add no value and prioritise those that provide the most value of all. 7. Have the courage to change your situation: If you are not happy in your role, be honest with yourself about this and plan how you can change the situation. Dont simply complain, do nothing and allow another year to pass. If you are in this situation, this advice will help you. I hope the above has provided with you some inspiration with putting together your career resolutions for 2017. Once you have decided on your resolutions, I would strongly urge you to write them down â€" this will help ‘embed’ them in your mind. Try breaking bigger goals into smaller ones â€" which you can progress in a manageable way throughout the year. You could even schedule a monthly review so that you can assess your progress and keep track adjusting your activities and direction throughout the year. Want to progress in your career? Our career progression tips will help you get to where you want to be 2017 â€" The year of your future career The myths and realities of job searching over the festive period The do’s and don’ts of networking to find a job   Not job searched in a long time? 4 ways to overcome your fears Three steps to perfecting your personal brand The hidden ingredient to look for in your next employer How transparent should you be during your job search?