Author: Ian Nairn

It’s easy to fall victim to setting those New Year’s resolutions only to let our busy lives get in the way of the follow through. This year could be no different if you don’t implement some solid work-related intentions. In this edition of The Pulse, we discuss six helpful ways to start your year off strong.   

Reflection and Redirection 

After spending the month of December preparing for the holidays, spending valuable quality time with family and eating to our hearts’ content, we may also find ourselves reflecting on the past year. The new year can be a perfect time to reassess your professional goals based on the reflection you’ve done. Are the goals you set last year still aligned with what you wish to accomplish in the coming year? Are your intentions still the same; will they still help get you to the result you originally planned for? Do those goals still excite and inspire you? If the answers to questions like these are no longer supporting your vision for the new year, take them time to reassess, you owe it to yourself and your business!  

Once you’ve established a few concrete goals for the new year, it is important to continue to revisit often, maybe monthly, to ensure you’re on track. Without a clear vision for the future ahead, it can be far too easy to fall off track. As you monitor your progress throughout the year, it will become much more apparent when you’ve taken a misstep.  

A Mindset for Growth 

Along the same lines, a plan written down is just that, a plan. Like previously mentioned, it takes constant monitoring and dedication to ensure your goals are being worked toward efficiently, but that is not all. Above all, you have to want to reach that end goal. Set yourself up for success by ensuring that the goals you’ve set are not only achievable but are also something you really want to strive for. Your mindset should match the steps required to achieve your goal. 

Reimagine your Productivity 

A study done by Redbooth outlined when people are the most and least productive. In a typical day, most tasks are completed at around 11:00 a.m. with productivity dropping after lunch with a complete plummet following 4:00. Most tasks are completed at the beginning of the week and (maybe as expected) Fridays are the least impactful. Finally, the highest number of tasks are completed in October, but the least are in January. While these numbers are not universal, because everyone works differently, this information can be helpful in potentially adapting our own schedules in order to achieve the highest levels of productivity. 

Modify your Environment 

Clutter can equal chaos, both mentally and physically. Consider purging your workspace in order to create space. Anyone who has deep cleaned a closet or reorganized a basement knows that there is an instant feeling of relief when the unnecessary clutter has been removed from the space. Once the extra physical room is there, you’ll quickly notice the mental room that has become available. With the extra mental clarity there will be more room for productivity towards your goals. 

Positive Team Engagement 

Whether you’re a leader or a member, engaging with the team you are a part of is necessary for your overall success. A positive workplace environment cultivates productivity, so collaborating and engaging with your team will prove to be a helpful approach to your workday. While putting your head down and getting work done is obviously important, remember to enjoy the social aspects of work too. Get to know your coworkers, we could all use a little comedic relief in our day. 

Prioritize a Work-Life Balance 

It can be difficult to separate ourselves from work after leaving the office. I even sometimes find myself thinking about the workday before I fall asleep. With an increasingly virtual and accessible world, it can be difficult to disconnect at 5:00 p.m. Keep in mind, balance in this case doesn’t always mean 50/50, it should mean a healthy and fulfilling balance that works for you. However, as mentioned before, happy people are productive people and a healthy balance between home life and work life is another facet of that. If you can, try silencing or disabling your work email from your phone in the evenings, schedule yourself breaks if you have a hard time taking them organically and be sure to set and communicate boundaries regarding your availability and be strict about keeping them. These are just a few ways to promote a balance in your life and are definitely easier said than done. Do your best to focus on implementing the tactics that work for you and stay consistent with them.  

In conclusion, 

Implementing these strategies will help you to have a positive and productive start to 2026. Reset those goals where necessary, determine personal strategies that you feel are achievable and ensure you make the time for fun and relaxation alongside your work. The end goal is to feel fulfilled and content in both your work and personal life.  

This article was originally posted in January, 2025.