After what feels like a long slog, 2022 has finally come to a close. With the end of the year it’s tradition to reflect on what went well, what didn’t go well, and make plans for what you want in the future. This exercise isn’t just good for your wellness plan or your financial plan, but it’s also ideal for your work reset. Americans will spend roughly one-third of their lives at work, so this time and effort should be well-thought-out and, frankly, worth it. As you enter 2023, give your work plan a thorough assessment and set new goals for yourself in 2023 using these three easy tips.
- What went well in 2022 and how can you do more of it? If there was a particular work assignment or a project that you were truly passionate about last year, how can you center 2023 to do more of that work? Be honest in your assessment and identify ways you can shift your professional focus on the type of work or projects that leverage your skills and your interest. This may require a conversation with your manager, taking proactive steps to volunteer for additional assignments, or stepping out of your comfort zone. The goal is to fill your 2023 work life with work that you actually enjoy and that moves your career or life plan forward.
- What did not go well in 2022 and how can you do less of it? Like everything else in life, there are things we do not enjoy at work. How can you minimize what these tasks or assignments are so you can focus on the work you actually want to do? The reality is you cannot always eliminate the work you do not enjoy from your day-to-day, but with a realistic approach you can minimize it or create a plan that limits this particular experience. This may require a real-life pep talk with yourself. Personally, when there is a work assignment I’m less excited about, I have to pregame and remind myself why it’s important to identify the steps required to execute this work accurately and quickly. Can you delegate it to someone else? Is there an optimal time of the week to work on it that does not interfere with the work you enjoy doing? Whatever the case, if you make it a priority and get it done, then you can move on to better and more interesting things. Find what works for you and put those observations into action.
- Lastly, as you enter 2023, be clear about new professional aspirations you have for your work life. Do you want a new job, more responsibility in your current role, or do you want a plan for a career transition into a new field or industry? Whatever your 2023 work goal is, it is critical that you have a plan that supports your current work while also pivoting towards your future work. This can be a challenging thing to navigate; you may have to make tradeoffs in order to achieve each new goal or objective. Having a plan and being clear about those tradeoffs make the decision much clearer.
As you prepare for the 2023 workplace reset, using these tools will give you the blueprint to the work you truly want to engage in and professional resolutions you can keep. This article was written by Yvonne Cowser Yancy, founder of YSquare Advisors, a boutique HR consulting firm. Follow Yvonne on LinkedIn at: http://linkedin.com/in/yvonne-c-yancy