The end of the year presents us with a great opportunity to get organized and ready for a new start. December is a good time to assess what you have accomplished and most importantly, what you have learned from the last year.
Time to clean up.
First things first, clean up your workspace! Make a quick inventory of what needs to be replaced and get rid of what you don’t need. Straighten up your office, replace the dead plant with a new one (or perhaps a plastic one) and clean your desk and other surfaces. Clean out that keyboard and a year’s worth of dust and crumbs. There’s nothing like a clean, organized office space to clear your mind and motivate you to organize yourself for the new year.
Do you need a new morning routine?
Have you found that it is taking longer to get started in the morning? Are you sidetracked by opening emails as soon as you start work? This is a good time to develop a morning routine that keeps you focused. You might start by making a list of things you want to accomplish, then set a timer for 20 minutes of concentrating on prioritizing and brainstorming those tasks. Next, you might set a 20-minute timer to review emails. However you decide to change your routine, you want it to become a habit, and on average, it takes 66 days for you to develop a new habit. Make a note to check in March and see how it’s working.
Celebrate your accomplishments!
Celebrate your accomplishments and take some time to reflect on what you have learned. Make it a priority to expand on the good work you have done while eliminating the problems. This is also a good time to reflect on things that did not go well and develop strategies to make sure you don’t make the same mistakes in the future.
Make lists.
Make a list of what you have accomplished in 2023, and a list of what went wrong, another for what you want to accomplish in 2024, and where you want your career to be at this time next year. Map out monthly and quarterly goals and put the list in a prominent place where you can refer to it throughout 2024.
List out projects that you have not finished and prioritize what needs to get done in 2024. This is the time to finally eliminate the projects that are stagnant or that have not been successful and allow time for the work that can bring more value.
What do you want to accomplish both personally and professionally?
Professionally, this is a good time to celebrate your accomplishments and also acknowledge your weaknesses. Plan to set reasonable, specific goals and make timely check-ins throughout the year. You can always course correct if things are not going to plan.
Personally, take time to evaluate your work life balance and make sure you have allowed enough space to enjoy your free time and maintain strong relationships with family and friends.
I hope this helps you get started on your journey to a successful 2024!
By: Patty Kennelly