5 New Year’s Resolutions You Can Make at Work

It’s that time of the year again — everyone's eager to quickly make lifestyle changes in hopes of losing weight or breaking a bad habit. Research shows that 46% of people keep resolutions for at least six months, and 8% keep them for the entire year. That 8% might seem small, but people who choose to make a New Year’s resolution are 10 times as likely to keep them over those who pursue improvement in another way.

While many people are quick to change aspects of their personal life, many forget about the activity that they spend over 2,080 hours doing every year — working. Here are 5 easy resolutions you can make to help 2019 be the most successful work year yet.

DON’T EAT LUNCH AT YOUR DESK
In most workplaces, people get one hour of uninterrupted “me time” for lunch — take it! While you may think you’re being productive knocking out a few extra emails, sitting at your desk for lunch actually has a lot of potential negative impacts. Instead, try getting up every hour and walk around the office. This will not only allow you to stretch your legs, but your blood flow will travel to your brain, helping you feel more energized and motivated.

Or, if you need a change of scenery, use your lunch break to explore new restaurants and areas around your office. Getting some fresh air will help you be more productive when you return to your desk to plod away the rest of the afternoon.

NEGOTIATE NEW OFFERS
New year, new you, right? Take command of your job in 2019 and push for what you think you deserve. Negotiating has become increasingly popular over the past few years, and is expected to continue in 2019. From negotiating salaries to bonuses to raises, get into the habit of viewing discussions about money with your employer as a conversation, not as a pre-established rule.

This year be aware of the power you hold in negotiating. Negotiation looks different for everyone — if you're a freelancer, you might negotiate project fees, or if you are a company, consider negotiating rates with your clients. Whatever the situation may be, setting the intention to ask for more in 2019 will increase confidence and allow you to feel more comfortable negotiating.

MAKE MONTHLY COFFEE DATES
While networking has its benefits, it can sometimes feel like a chore. Most events feel awkward, forced or just boring. One way to break out of the more rigid forms of networking is to take matters into your own hands. Make 2019 the year for creating more personal and intentional relationships with someone you admire.

If you don’t have one already, consider making a short list of people you look up to in your field or industry and invite them out to lunch or coffee. A great way to make a lasting, genuine connection is to get that person away from the typical group networking setting, and have a one-on-one conversation. This will not only help you to break out of your shell but could even lead to career opportunities in the future. Make it a personal goal this year to reach out to one person a month for coffee. You never know where the conversation will lead.

GO AFTER OPPORTUNITIES
You’ve probably heard the following statistic: Men apply for a job when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, but women apply only if they meet 100% of them. People, especially women, have a hard time applying for a job unless they feel 100% qualified. But in 2019, you don’t have to let fear rule you. If you limit potential opportunities to what you think you are qualified to do, you’ve already lost the job. Cast out self-doubt and take some risks in the new year and see what happens. No matter the result, it could be a confidence booster!

ATTEND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS
It’s all too easy to get stuck in daily responsibilities and see anything else as a burden or waste of time. You might have forgotten how important it is to gain new skills for long-term success. Attending lectures, professional development classes or obtaining a new certification can be beneficial on your journey to meet your career goals. Whether it’s taking classes once a year, quarterly or monthly, make sure you set a goal that is reasonable and attainable for your schedule. By arming yourself with some tangible, technical skills, and branching out and trying new things, asking for that promotion could be that much easier.

Whatever your goals may be for 2019, don’t let your work life suffer! Focus on growing personally and professionally this new year to ensure you have the perfect work/life balance everyone searches for. By making these simple changes in the next 12 months, you'll be on your way to achieving your goals in no time!