By Violette Bishai.

The New Year is traditionally, a time to reflect on the past year and make important changes as you see fit. It is a brand new slate ready to be etched on. Though 45% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, only 8% are successful in achieving them throughout the year. We encourage you this year, instead of making grandiose goals, celebrate little victories.

Take a moment to think about what you do on a day-to-day basis. How can you improve on that? Could your note taking skills be sharpened? Could your email inbox use some cleaning? What about your time keeping?

Gaining Momentum with Small Resolutions:

Develop a method to track your goals, daily commitments, and to-do lists

Keep track of your schedule in a planner, in an excel sheet, or on your phone. Write things down in a safe place, go back to them often. This allows you to free your mind for more critical thinking and gives a more organized approach in day-to-day life.

Listen more

Take the time to observe more, listen more; you will find that you learn more in listening than you do in speaking.  Most of the time your coworkers, or friends just need someone to listen, not advice or problem solving options. Your listening may enable them to solve their problems, once they feel completely heard.

Ask for help

According to a care.com survey about the concept of health, 29% of respondents felt guilty about asking for help, 79% felt like they were falling behind at work, and 75% saw an overall reduction in stress when they did ask for help. If help is what you need, seek it. Whether it is a simple question on a task, more training at work, or financially if you are in need. Set yourself up for success instead of failure. Explore your options.

Designate an electronics free zone

With the world around us constantly revolving around technology, it is imperative that we allow time for our eyes and mind to relax. Our bodies are trained to respond to light and dark. Being on our phones, laptops, desktops, and tablets all day, exposed to this external light, makes it to be impossible to sleep at night. Take at least an hour before bed to put your screens away, get a good night’s rest and wake up ready to take on the day.

New Year’s resolutions do not have to be extreme. They can simply be about being a better employee, a better parent, a better friend, or for bettering yourself.  Think about your priorities and choose from there, adjust and improvise as you go. Celebrate the small victories this 2018!