As the end of the calendar year approaches, it is vital to celebrate your successes, reflect on achieving end-of-year goals, and perhaps most importantly, self-reflect on areas that may need some extra attention when the new year begins. Taking time to assess personal progress at the end of the year is critical to continued achievement. With the excitement of the holidays in full swing, it can be easy to get distracted; schedules can become quickly filled with things like holiday parties and travel plans. However, it is imperative to make sure that you meet your goals and hit your quotas to wrap up your year on a strong note and set yourself up for success in the year to come.
Although it is important to enjoy this special time of year with friends and family, it is also important to remain focused on your work and career goals. Consider making an “end-of-year” specific To-Do list, with tasks and goals geared towards efficiency and success. Think about your professional goals for the year, and where you were when 2023 began. Focus your To-Do list on one last final push towards success. Ponder the things that you have yet to accomplish and create a plan detailing how you can still get there. Physically checking items off of a To-Do list is proven to increase both productivity and efficiency – and it’s a very rewarding feeling to see your list get completed one task at a time.
In the event you will be taking time off and traveling during this time, always communicate this with your manager in advance, being sure to cover any special scheduling and time off requests. Have a strategy for back-ups who can provide coverage for you in place, and make sure to tie up as many loose ends as you can before taking this time off. The best strategy to implement if you will be taking time off is to plan ahead and complete work in advance, especially if you know you or your team will be exceptionally busy. Use a planner or an online scheduling tool to keep track of tasks and stay on top of any urgent work that must be completed before your time off.
In the New Year, setting a resolution can be an incredibly positive goal-setting tool. Consider extending New Year’s resolutions into your professional life, and create a few work-related resolutions based on areas you’d like to improve upon, or goals you would like to achieve.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to embrace the holiday cheer. Participate in office holiday activities and celebrate achievements with coworkers. It has been proven that a happy and supportive work environment is a more productive one and can lead to increased goal achievement and task completion!
Success is individually defined, so feel free to use whatever productivity tools you feel best fit your work style, take one of these suggestions or combine a few. Most importantly, TBG wishes you a happy and healthy end to the year!
– Malia Freedhand, Operations Intern
