A new year is upon us, and with it comes the promise of fresh starts and pattern adjustments. Whether you’re focusing on making improvements in your personal life, your career, or both, the following tips will help you stay on pace for your best version of you.
Upgrade your technology. Work smarter in 2017, not harder. If one of your goals is to improve your work performance take a serious look at your hardware and software. Technology moves at lightening speed and if it’s been a few years since your last upgrade, it’s probably time for a little shopping.
Clean up. One of the most popular resolutions is to get organized. Especially since the holidays are so frantic, the start of a new year is a perfect excuse to tidy up work and living spaces. Start with cleaning off your computer desktop or some old files, work your way to your desk, and then into busy living spaces like your kitchen, family room, and bedroom closets. Clearing out clutter not only gives you more room to exercise your creative mind, it’s proven to reduce stress.
Lighten up. As professionals, we tend to be extra hard on ourselves to reach and exceed excellence. Although it’s important to take ourselves seriously by setting goals and continuously striving for growth, it’s counterproductive to beat ourselves up over setbacks. When a goal isn’t reached, use it as a learning point instead of a reason to criticize yourself. There is a lot to learn from failures—and often from failures comes great insight. Make 2017 the year of self forgiveness.
Mingle. Break down the silo and start networking within your school community. Every role in the private school world has something to gain by socializing both within the community and interoffice. No, we’re not encouraging gossiping or blabbing without purpose. What we encourage is stepping out of your comfort zone and engaging in conversation with others involved in your school’s mission.
Take a vacation. Vacation time is given for a good reason—recharging. Sure, vacation time spent around the home can make a dent in projects that have been in progress for some time. But, getting away is a powerful tool for rebooting motivation that can power your personal and career-minded goals.
Additional ISM resources of interest
The Source for Private School News Vol. 13 No. 12 Three Research-Based Ways to Keep Your Year’s Resolutions
The Source for Private School News Vol. 9 No. 12 13 Funny New Year’s Resolutions Found on Twitter
The Source for Business and Operations Vol. 13 No. 4 Three Resolutions for the New Year
The Source for Business and Operations Vol. 2 No. 4 For the New Year … Items to Check in Your Group Long Term Disability Policy
