What would you like 2023 to have in store for you? In so many ways, 2022 has been a perfect storm with world and UK events – with a recession looming, apparent economic downfall, the war in Ukraine and the world facing all sorts of incredible challenges.

But how can you flip that? How about beginning by asking yourself what you can choose to do for yourself despite all the news around us? What action can you take for your future, your life and career? Will you be making resolutions for 2023? What changes, if any, do you want to make? Or do you want to pay more attention to something that’s been on the back burner for a while?

Many of us still make those age-old new year’s resolutions about how we’re going to be fitter, get healthier, lose weight, get a new job or find a new career – but what does that mean to you?

Take time for some reflection

We can only control what we can control in our own lives – but ultimately, it’s up to you to make the right decision. What we do as individuals impacts those around us like a ripple effect, so perhaps you’re thinking about how you might want to do things a bit differently. That way, you’re not only thinking about your career but how your career can be in alignment with who you are as a person and what you want for your life.

Out with the old and in with the new

Here are some excellent tips while taking time out for some reflection:

  • Take some time to reflect on your year. What has worked? And what hasn’t?
  • What personal goals do you have? Take the time to brainstorm – how about a mind map or vision board? Make it fun!
  • Extend that to your career – and skills you’d like to learn. Be as bold as you want!
  • Do an inventory of your skills – make a list. You’ll be pleasantly surprised!
  • Do some research into your career – and how the job market is performing. It’s buoyant out there, so go and take a look.
  • Have a conversation with your friends about what they do – and why.
  • Look at opportunities to job shadow.
  • Look at opportunities to volunteer.
  • Do some research into going back to college to learn new skills – but ones you think you’ll enjoy learning.

Tell us what you want, what you really, really want

We all know what it’s like when we make new year’s resolutions, and then all those resolutions go out the window. Still, by taking the time to map out your personal goals, it makes much more sense to align them with career and life goals you’d like to achieve or start to embark upon.

If you enjoy being creative, is there something you can bring into your job or career that would bring out more of that creative streak? Does your creative mind serve you well for project management roles? If you love sports, is there a way of bringing aspects of sport you enjoy into your career? Not focusing so much on how to be super competitive, perhaps – but how to be a collaborative team leader. Take the time to think about who you are and what you want.

Planning for Success

A beneficial exercise is doing a brain dump. With your mind map and vision board above, write it all out, plan it and track it. Much like you would if you were mapping out your career goals, bring them in line with what you’d like to achieve personally. Think about those goals you’d like to achieve.

It doesn’t have to be arduous, so how about thinking about it like this:

  • Start small. You’re bound to be super motivated and excited at the prospect of what might lie ahead – but don’t get too carried away. Overwhelm leads to procrastination – and procrastination is the killer of dreams.
  • Make your goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-Bound) https://www.mindtools.com/a4wo118/smart-goals
  • Be realistic about what you can achieve. Use your diary to get yourself organised.
  • Plan, plan, plan!
  • Stay focused and positive.

Happy New Year for 2023!

Take the time to celebrate all the things you’ve achieved so far. There have been some incredibly challenging times for so many of us – but by looking forward, you can leave behind what didn’t work for you and look forward to what you can achieve in 2023.

Be imaginative, be courageous, lean into who you are and remember, we only have this life once, so be all the things you want to be.

Let us know how we can help you

Come and visit us at www.personnel-placements.co.uk and talk to us at www.personnel-placements.co.uk/contact/  to learn more about how we can help you take what you visualise for your future and career and turn it into reality. With the right advice and by taking practical steps and action, we’re here to guide you with each step you want to take.