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Welcoming in the New Year is often accompanied by the creation or renewal of well-intended resolutions. However, conceived at midnight on the 31st December - perhaps under the influence of a few too many glasses of fizz - these unrealistic pledges often don’t survive past the first week of January.

Classic vows such as losing weight, quitting alcohol and joining the gym may seem straightforward, but going at them with a cold turkey approach often results in failure.

Outlining achievable and simple step-by-step goals rather than going all-out and committing yourself to never having another cigarette is a tactic much more likely to be successful.

Health-related resolutions aren’t the only common feature of the New Year; improving work life is often a priority for the humble office worker. January might be the leading month for seeking a new job, but this is a radical choice if your decision is simply a symptom of the so-called ‘January Blues’. Making a few straightforward changes to your daily routine could improve your job satisfaction and help you to survive ‘Blue Monday’!

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officebroker.com’s Top Ten achievable resolutions:

Review Your CV

Writing a CV is not only a necessity when applying for a new job; it is a great tool for clarifying your current role. Having to consider your strengths and weaknesses and actually write them down will help to value your contribution to your company, whilst also helping you to set goals for areas of improvement. This could also include updating your LinkedIn profile.

Tidy Your Desk

A tidy desk really does equal a tidy mind. Organising your files not only de-clutters your space of unnecessary paperwork but also saves you time when searching for required information. Reducing the amount you print will help you in this goal and improve your green credentials.

Don’t forget that a clean desk could also help to reduce your chances of catching a nasty cold or flu!

Make Some Time

If you’re not a morning person, chances are that your pre-work routine is a carefully-timed procedure that maximises your time in the Land of Nod. But giving yourself as little as 10 extra minutes will help to ease the rush of an early morning and reduce stress. Don’t let getting stuck behind a tractor or a waiting for a delayed train ruin your morning!

Switch Off

As the line between work and home continues to blur, it’s important to make sure you give yourself plenty of time to relax. Stressing about work in the evenings and on weekends isn’t good for you or your family. Turn off your smart phone; your emails will still be there the following day.

Make Friends (and influence people!)

Understandably, it’s not always possible to get along with all your colleagues, but a bit of extra effort on your part could yield some positive results. If you work in a mid- to large-sized company, try saying ‘hello’ to someone you haven’t spoken to before.

Drink More Water

Just swapping one of your daily cups of tea or coffee for a glass of water can actually help to reduce fatigue, improve your productivity and cut your reliance on caffeine. Simple!

Stop Snacking

Biscuits, cakes and other sweet delights might give you the mini-high you’re looking for come mid-afternoon, but these treats offer little nutrition and are not helping your waistline. Choosing fruit and healthy snacks doesn’t have to be a chore and eating proper meals (see the next step!) will help to curb those sugar cravings.

Take Lunch Breaks

Whilst a leisurely lunch is perhaps becoming a somewhat redundant pastime, taking a break away from the desk and enjoying a healthy meal could do wonders for your productivity. Taking time away from the computer and time to enjoy a sufficient lunch is likely to result in better efficiency than working through your break.

Extra Top Tip: If you ever need some help from a ‘difficult’ colleague, it’s always a good idea to ask them just after their lunch when they should be feeling more relaxed and approachable. A good mood is directly related to a full stomach!

Treat Yourself

January doesn’t have to be the month to cut back on everything, so spend a little time doing things you enjoy. A lack of money coupled with dark mornings and freezing temperatures can leave us all feeling depressed, so don’t forget to look after Number 1.

Give Something Back

Many of us donate money to charities but volunteering some of your time is a great way of developing and improving your own abilities and helping a worthwhile cause. A selfless act will not only give you that warm fuzzy feeling inside but could impress future employers.

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If you’re going to test out any of our top tips, or if you have any of your own suggestions, why not share it with us in the comments below?

Published by AlecR on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 at 3:01 PM