Work-related resolutions to consider in the year ahead

New Year ’s resolutions run the gamut from kicking bad habits like smoking to finding more time to exercise to learning a foreign language. Many resolutions are about self-improvement, and that desire to live better can extend into the professional arena.

New Year’s resolutions can be just as beneficial to a person’s professional life as they can in that same individual’s personal life. With that in mind, professionals can consider these work-related resolutions this January.

• Make a concerted effort to change careers.

The numbers are in regarding satisfaction at work, and they’re not very promising. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2022 report, 60 percent of workers report being emotionally detached at work. Perhaps more troubling is that 19 percent report being miserable at their jobs. Professionals who are not engaged at work can resolve to get the ball rolling on a career change in the year ahead. Look into what that might entail, whether it’s simply applying for new jobs in your field or going back to school to facilitate a career change, and take the necessary first step.

• Rebalance your work and family life. A 2015 survey of 1,000 full-time professionals in the United States found that 77 percent felt they had experienced burnout at their jobs. Rebalancing work and family life can make more time for things outside of work, including family. That can lead to greater life satisfaction, including a renewed vigor for your career.

• Resolve to communicate more effectively with your team. Even professionals satisfied with their careers can take steps to make their work lives better. There are many reasons why workers feel stressed and burned out, and some may find communication with their managers is lacking. Managers can make a concerted effort to improve lines of communication with their staff. Doing so can improve productivity and create a better working environment for all.

• Find ways to be more productive. Remarkably, a 2019 study by Rescue Time found that, in a given workday, workers’ average time of productivity is just two hours and 28 minutes. By making a concerted effort to be more productive, workers can get more done in a typical eight-hour workday, thus paving the way for a better work-life balance. Spend less time surfing the internet, avoid checking your phone for texts and other distractions, and make a daily schedule of tasks to tackle. Each of these steps can help you be more productive in a given workday.

When making New Year’s resolutions this January, professionals can resolve to find ways to make their workdays better.