It's the start of a new year, which means new opportunities and the chance to make a fresh start on things you might have been putting off in your career. Setting clear, focused career resolutions will help you stay motivated and ultimately achieve success this year, as long as they’re achievable and specific.
Low productivity can harm your morale which is why you need to develop habits that will energise you at work and foster enthusiasm. However, understanding what drives your productivity is tricky - everyone has their own way of working and the approaches that your colleagues successfully use may not be the most helpful for you. Therefore, a personalised approach is key. Here are five clear career resolutions that will help you become more productive in 2023:
1. Upskill
The best way to develop your skills is to engage in continuous learning, which research has proven is directly related to job satisfaction. Upskilling allows you to feel more empowered and fulfilled at work as you can clearly see your contribution to the company’s success. As you become more engaged at work it will drive your enthusiasm and productivity, just like Lawson. Perhaps you could explore the option of becoming a mentor for someone else in the business – this will give you a unique insight into the challenges that your colleagues face and you can apply this learning to your own obstacles. Alternatively, you could start an Apprenticeship - it's a great way to earn whilst you learn, and work your way up the career ladder.
2. Monitor your progress
Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve in 2023, such as a promotion or more responsibility, and write down the steps you need to get there, no matter how small. Day-to-day achievements can be huge motivators but they’re not easy to recognise. If you fail to celebrate these small wins you are depriving yourself of the dopamine boosts that the brain fires out when you complete a task. Meanwhile, confront the habits that derail your performance. Recognising your progress and having an end goal in sight will highlight your productivity level and motivate you to keep moving forward. Logging this in a journal is a great way to keep track of your progress and one of the many ways that you can look after your mental wellbeing.
3. Ask for feedback
82% of people appreciate feedback, whether it’s positive or negative. Regular feedback, when meaningful, is a key ingredient for progression in your job and shines a light on what you’re doing right and the areas you could improve in. It can be difficult to objectively look at your performance and determine how you could be more productive, but this is where your managers and colleagues come in. Ask for a 15-minute one-to-one session with your manager and be clear about what you want feedback on. For example, you may want an evaluation of your performance on a specific project. Or, more general guidance on which skills you should focus on will help you if you’re looking to take the next step in your career. Advice like this can help you set goals or milestones which can be very valuable when protecting your workplace wellness.
4. Know the best way to reduce stress
4 in 10 employees who are stressed at work report that this harms their productivity levels. One of the most powerful, yet underused, methods to reduce stress is practising mindfulness. The aim of mindfulness is to be aware on a moment by moment basis of what you are doing, yet this will mean something entirely different to each person. Your colleagues may practice mindfulness by meditating or reading a book, but for you, it could be mixing up your daily routine, or utilising hybrid ways of working to ensure a better work/life balance.
5. Stop trying to multitask
Research shows that multitasking reduces productivity by 40%, meaning that you could be losing almost half of your working hours if you’re switching between tasks too frequently. To avoid this, start your day by outlining what you must achieve, break that down into small tasks and add a priority number to each, which will enable you to focus on one at a time. It’s not always possible to complete a task without any distractions or a new priority being added to the list. But simply creating the ordered list will help you understand where this new task will fit in, or whether the distraction is something that you can leave until you’ve finished the task at hand. This process will allow you to efficiently allocate your time and boost your productivity level.
Find your next opportunity at Travis Perkins
The start of a new year is a great time to kick off your career ambitions. Career resolutions are important for boosting your productivity and at Travis Perkins, we believe they’re the key to staying focused throughout the year.
If you’re interested in applying your new career resolutions and taking on a new role then why not browse our available jobs? We’re always interested in hearing from candidates who are passionate about making customers feel special.
Alternatively, if you can't quite find what you're looking for, sign up to our personalised job alerts and never miss an opportunity.
