Four Career New Year's Resolutions for 2013

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Happy New Year!

 

The beginning of a new year is such an amazing time. Everyone is filled with anticipation and optimism, and with that feeling comes the infamous New Year's resolutions. Although I rarely keep mine for longer than a few months, I still make them every year. This year, however, I'm determined to make my resolutions count and instead of making ones that about what I'm going to stop doing – I'm going to set a few personal and professional goals that I can work toward throughout the year.

 

For those who are looking for a job or who are trying to get ahead in their careers, the new year can be the perfect time to make a few career resolutions that can help you reach your goals.

 

Here are four career resolutions for 2013:

 

Express gratitude everyday. Feeling gratitude doesn't have to be accompanied by harps and lotus flowers, or confined to spiritual practice or meditation. Gratitude is something that you can experience all day, everyday – and it can change your life. To try it out, make a resolution to say “Thank you” to at least three people each day. It can be as simple as thanking a co-worker for helping you with a project or telling your boss that you appreciate their support. Appreciating the little things that make your day easier will increase your happiness and will even boost your likability.

 

Resolve to learn a new skill. Challenging yourself at work is important. It can get you out of a rut and can change the way you look at your work. This year, set a goal to learn something new. This could mean taking an evening class or attending a training seminar or professional development event. Whatever you decide, the important thing is to do something that increases your skill set and add value to your career.

 

Improve your social networking skills. Whether you're a social networking junkie or someone who hasn't figured out Twitter yet, make a resolution to improve your networking skills. Depending on your situation, you might want to create accounts on professional networking sites like LinkedIn or Nexxt or spend more time getting involved in conversations with others in your field. Social networking is here to stay and what's more, it can really be a boost to your career.

 

Rethink your work/life balance. Everyone has days when they just feel overwhelmed by the conflicting demands of their work and home lives. This year, make a resolution to look for new ways to make your personal life happier and more in sync with your work life. Maybe you need to spend time getting organized or lessen your use of mobile devices at home during family time.

 

This year, let's all make resolutions to improve our careers and increase our happiness. Think about the progress you've made last year and look for ways to make a bigger difference this year. Good luck, and have a great year!

 

What are your resolutions this year? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

 

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