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6 Steps to Finishing 2018 Strong

It’s hard to believe it, but 2018 is just about over. Now is the time to look back at the year and reflect to see what went wrong and what went right. It is really easy to make those new resolutions on January 1st, but did you actually keep them? Have you achieved what you thought you would? Or has this year been a bit of a letdown, at least in the productivity and goal-achievement department?

According to a study done by the University of Scranton, only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s goals. For those lucky few who did achieve their goals, it is vital that you keep that momentum rolling into the new year. It can be easy to try and ride the curtails of your success, but if you aren’t putting in the effort, you won’t continue making progress. If you weren’t as lucky and haven’t achieved your goals yet, it is not too late to turn this year around. Here’s how you can finish 2018 strong and set yourself up for success in the new year!

Access your situation

It is impossible to know how to move forward if you don’t know where you currently stand. Before you can create an actionable plan to finish 2018 strong, take time to be alone and think about what you have accomplished and what is still on your to-do list. This may seem like a waste of time, but it is essential to figure out what is working and what isn’t working for you.

First, start by writing your biggest successes and then write down the actions you can take to replicate that success. Now, do the same for your failures. Don’t dwell on the negatives, but assess what you did wrong. You want to make sure you learn from your mistakes and don’t repeat them.

 




 

Improve your habits

It’s time to assess yourself personally. Are you always late for work? Are you terrible at replying to emails? Take a good look at your work habits and think how you could improve them. Even if your habits aren’t causing any problems at work, there are still most likely a few habits you could change. Are you trying to improve your diet, exercise, or improve your sleeping habits? You can start with small, actionable steps, which can help you see a real change by the end of the year. Try to figure out how you can make yourself a better version of yourself to help you become more productive in your work life and your personal life.

Declutter – Both Mentally and Physically

Don’t save your cleaning just for the spring — now is the time to declutter both mentally and environmentally. Start with clearing out your to-do list. If they have been on the list for a long time, consider if they are worth doing, and if they aren’t, throw them in the bin. If they were necessary, you most likely would have done it. Those necessary tasks that you have been putting off but are weighing you down mentally should be handled first.

This mindset should also be applied to your desk. Do you have tons of paperwork piled up or a junk drawer that is getting too cluttered? A tidy desk equals a tidy mind, so start tackling that pile! You should do the same for your inbox, computer desktop, or other electronic documentation you have. You don’t want that extra baggage weighing you down.

Limit Distractions

The holiday season is right around the corner, and that means distractions will pop up. Between holiday parties, gift buying, and family time, the next few months are going to get busy! While it is important to blow off steam, make sure you are keeping a realistic schedule for a healthy work/life balance.

If you can get more accomplished in less time, that means you will have more hours for personal projects or interests that aren’t necessarily work-related. Some of the biggest offenders of time wasting are constant email checking, spending too much gossiping with co-workers, or spending time on the Internet. To help limit these distractions, track how long you are spending on each site. You might be surprised to see how much time you can save by avoiding these time-wasting offenders.

Network More

The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to network. With all the holiday parties, you can easily schmooze up to someone you have been dying to meet. Or perhaps you have been meaning to get to know a new co-worker or someone in your professional organization. Make it a point to invite him for coffee or lunch in the upcoming months. After all, you never know where the relationship might lead professionally! In fact, more than 70% of people hired in 2016 were hired at a company where they had a connection.

You can also network digitally. According to a new LinkedIn global survey, almost 80 percent of professionals consider networking to be vital to career success. It can be challenging to network effectively, but by networking digitally, you could be setting yourself for success later on. Even if you aren’t in the market for a new job, having a strong digital footprint can help you make valuable connections.

Plan for Next Year

What do you want to achieve next year? Write down all your goals and objectives you have. Now, think about what you need to do to start realizing them. Breaking up your goals into actionable steps that you can work on today can get you moving towards success.

Start looking for new projects that you can begin to tackle. Ultimately, it is up to you to get things done, and you won’t accomplish anything without first making an effort. Looking for new projects both inside and outside of work can lead you to new challenges and help you to continue dominating at work.

Finish 2018 strong so that you can keep killing it in the new year. Even though it seems like 2019 is months away, it will be here before you know. Achieve your goals and keep that success rolling into 2019!

Lindsey Conger on InstagramLindsey Conger on Twitter
Lindsey Conger
Associate News Writer: Lindsey is a writer originally from Chicago but can now be found somewhere in Europe. She is driven by a passion to explore every corner of the world, spread her marketing and business knowledge, and to be able to speak Spanish fluently. Follow her on Instagram at @lindseyaconger

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Associate News Writer: Lindsey is a writer originally from Chicago but can now be found somewhere in Europe. She is driven by a passion to explore every corner of the world, spread her marketing and business knowledge, and to be able to speak Spanish fluently. Follow her on Instagram at @lindseyaconger

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