It’s the last day of 2019, and likely you’ve already begun to think of change you want to make in the new year. Besides receiving a promotion or salary increase, making workplace resolutions is a helpful practice in professional development, and generally feeling happier at the office. Here are five though-starter resolutions for making your 2020 at the office the best year yet!
1. Harness Your Technology
Phone usage at work is inevitable, with many companies forgoing separate phones in favor of apps and other platforms that provide business numbers. While our mobile devices have to be handy for calls, email on-the-go, or chatting a co-worker, a simple pick-up of the phone can derail productivity. Create a designated phone space at your desk. It could be a dish, jar, drawer, or even a pouch inside a purse. When you finish a work-related task, you’ll immediately have a place to click it off and store it. To minimize going down the scrolling hole, move your apps into a folder on the last page of your phone- out of sight, out of mind. Less time scrolling can help you leave work earlier, be more efficient with your day, and even alleviate pesky neck pain (such as "text neck"). And if all your willpower fails? Use a self-control app to block your go-to social media platforms during work hours.
2. Increase Social Responsibility
#AdvantEdgeGivesBack through creating Build-A-Bears for kids at Children's National Hospital
Social responsibility at work is not only an important way to give back, but it's proven to boost employee morale and engagement. Get your co-workers motivated by forming interest groups, like an environmentally conscious one that focuses on making sure your workplace practices promote sustainability. You can also work to implement ways to give back in the community, such as collecting a different category of food each month for a local pantry or tutoring low-income students in subjects related to your field.
3. Upgrade Yourself
2020 is the year of improving yourself at work. Enroll in that personal development class, attend a leadership retreat, learn a new skill or dive into networking with your professional community. Resolutions are supposed to help you be selfish, so don’t be afraid to set bold goals that can expand the boundaries of your knowledge and skill set. Ask your mentors about what helped them grow at work and search for local businesses that offer classes in your field. For example, the General Assembly in D.C. provides classes on topics ranging from project management to coding. If you're in a higher-up position, consider creating a fund where employees can apply to receive financial assistance. It's in your best interest to remove monetary barriers to create a culture where people feel empowered to learn and grow within their field.
4. Prioritize Work-Life Balance
Ask almost any busy adult and they are guaranteed to say one of their goals for 2020 is a better work-life balance. But what does that mean? It’s not the same for everyone, and honestly, the resolution is quite vague. Maybe you want to be home for dinner every night, or take time during lunch to hit a quick work out class. Once you break down what achieving that balance entails, you’ll be able to start taking small steps on the right path.
Don’t forget the powerful tool you can already use- saying “no.” This simple word can have a dramatic effect on your quality of life. Let’s leave over-extending ourselves and spending time on things that don’t matter (or could be delegated) behind in 2019.
5. Take It One Step at a Time
We can set so many resolutions for ourselves it can be overwhelming and easy to just… do nothing. While it’s great to have a myriad of things to accomplish, focus on one or two resolutions at a time. Utilize the power of visualization by keeping two goals written down where you see them every day. It can be as simple as a post-it note or more elaborate, like a vision board. Seeing your current goals every day, apart from everything else, will help you stay in the right mindset for success.
At AdvantEdge Workspaces, we provide the tools for making 2020 your best year at work. Our wellness initiatives help promote work-life balance, EdgeTalks can kick-start professional development, and our flexible, professional spaces are here to take your office game to the next level. Click below to learn more about life at AdvantEdge!
