I’m usually not one for making resolutions, but this year seems like a good time to start. With the economy only slowly recovering and people still getting laid off in hordes, employed folks need to be performing at their best. What follows are resolutions I’ve made for myself at work, but they also could apply to you.
1. Stop procrastinating! With my journalist background, I tend to thrive on deadlines. A huge burst of energy tends to come at the end of a project. However, that doesn’t always lend itself to a quality product, and there have been many times when I’ve wished I had another go at a blog, a proposal or even an e-mail. In 2010, I hope to space my time out more so that each project can get a thorough exam more than once.
2. Keep up on the to-do list. I live by lists. I carry a notebook with me everywhere to jot down books I want to read, gift inspirations and songs that I overhear. The same is true at work – I always have a notepad by my side, with to-do items just waiting to be crossed off. However, it’s very easy to just assume I’m on top of projects simply because I’ve written them down. This year I intend to go over that list daily and dive into a new project even if I think I can’t devote a chunk of time to it that very day.
3. Expand my network. I have go-to people. I read the same blogs daily and follow a large number of people on Twitter. It can be overwhelming to keep up with them all, but it also means I’m cutting myself off from a huge portion of creative minds. I’ve taken steps to reach out to new sources and contacts by doing searches and asking for recommendations, and in 2010 I plan to keep up with that.
4. Try out new technology. Although I like to write and read about the latest tech news, I don’t always test new gadgets and programs myself. I get too comfortable with what’s dependable and familiar to me. But I realize that even if I don’t like a new app that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t at least try it. So that Google Wave invite that’s been languishing in my inbox? It will get used in 2010.
5. Step outside. It can be way too easy to wile away eight hours at my desk, only taking the necessary minutes to microwave lunch and refill the coffee mug. But that’s not healthy! Our eyeballs, brain and spine need a break from the chair and computer screen. In 2010 I will regularly step away from my cubicle and walk outside the building for some fresh air. Hopefully, that will recharge my inspiration and help make me more productive. What do you think? Do you have any resolutions you’ve made that aren’t listed here? And do you tend to keep your resolutions?
[...] you believe the first quarter of 2010 is winding down? It seems like only yesterday we were making New Year’s resolutions, many of them having to do with our career paths and, of course, our weight. So how’d that work [...]