What an exhilarating way to start the new year, entering it  with excitement, enthusiasm and the drive to thrive again this year! If you thought last year was one for the record books, well, wait and see what this new chapter has in store. If you’re like me, I like to start each year with a set of goals and habits to set my intention for the next 365 days. With this in mind, here’s a list of 24 habits to adopt this year.

1. Learn to adapt

In the ever-evolving landscape of the workplace, the ability to adapt is your superpower, helping you to embrace change instead of just bracing for it.

2. Cultivate a growth mindset 

It’s a big step, shifting from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. As Carol Dweck reminds us, a growth mindset is about reframing our perspective to learn from a scenario, not remain stuck in it. Using this ideology, rethink the language you use to simulate a growth mindset, for example rather than saying “I can’t write this report”, say “I am going to learn how to write these reports”, opening yourself up to developing a new skill and building your confidence.

3. Prioritise self-care

Yes, you heard me correctly – your wellbeing is the cornerstone of success. Whether it’s getting up early to watch the sunrise, or for me, sweating it out at Bikram Yoga, making time for self-care will help you maintain the energy and resilience needed to tackle your professional goals, no matter their magnitude.

4. Attract the right people 

When you have the right people around you to help you in your career, the opportunities are endless. Think strategically about how you nurture the relationships you want and need in your professional network. Don’t default to the people you have a natural chemistry with – even though we all do this, it does narrow our network and keeps potentially valuable people away from us. Instead, open yourself up to the bigger picture.

5. Continuously Learn

As the old saying goes, you need to feed your curiosity. Invest in your knowledge, attend workshops, read, and seek out opportunities to expand your skill set. Perhaps even explore our individual executive coaching program. The thing that women tell me about the coaching sessions is they didn’t realise how important it was to acquire new skills and knowledge for this next phase of their career and when they got it, they felt so much motivated to do more.

6. Manage your energy, not your time

Once we find our groove, it’s so easy to work long hours and at an intensity that leaves us fatigued. The importance of energy is often overlooked, but this is what fuels our ability to work. To get more done, it’s essential to boost our energy capacity. Unlike time, which is limited, energy can be increased, which, in a way, creates a whole new realm of possibility.

7. Practise the art of communication 

Instead of striding into meetings with the same old approach, reconsider how you approach meetings, diving in with more thought and preparation. As Indra Nooyi, former PepsiCo CEO and current Amazon board member writes, “you cannot over-invest in communication skills — written and oral skills. If you cannot simplify a message and communicate it compellingly, believe me, you cannot get the masses to follow you.”

8. Set clear goals

Goals are incredibly important, acting as the gateway between “what if” and “what’s possible”. Define your professional objectives to provide direction and motivation, guiding you through the twists and turns of the year ahead.

9. Take initiative

Don’t wait for opportunities; create them! Proactively seek out ways to make your value more visible and demonstrate your leadership potential. Thinking about approaching your manager for a promotion? Book that meeting. Have a conversation with your manager that allows you to understand exactly what you need to achieve to get that promotion in the year ahead, and then do it! Eager to land that dream client you’ve been debating yourself over? Send that email. You never know what will result from a little initiative.

10. Build a support system 

Surround yourself with a network of mentors, sponsors, quality colleagues, and supporters who lift you up, enable your success, give great advice and inspire you. A strong support system is invaluable in navigating the complexities of a career.

11. Integrate gratitude into your daily routine

Pull out the pen and paper, block out 15 minutes a day and take the time to focus on gratitude, shifting your focus from what you don’t have, to what you do have. Taking this time to reflect can help you find meaning and spark a positive change, amplifying your overall career success.

12. Advocate for yourself with confidence

Whether it’s a salary discussion or a project assignment, master the art of negotiation to ensure your worth is acknowledged. Be clear in the goal that you are chasing and spend time building up your confidence to pursue this, whatever it takes.

13. Seek feedback

We can only improve if we accept feedback. Throughout my career I have never shied away from asking people I respect and trust for their honest thoughts. It helps me do things differently and understand how I need to evolve to be better. It’s a mindset shift to welcoming feedback, versus being afraid of it. How would your world shift if you flipped the script on this?

14. Practice mindfulness

One of the best tools at our disposal. Matthias Birk, leadership coach and mindfulness advocate, reminds us that mindfulness is an effective way to handle those hard-to-have feelings productively. While it takes time to master, look for the calm in the chaos and find a moment of stillness to be mindful, enhancing your focus, reducing stress, and allowing you to approach challenges with clarity.

15. Stay tech-savvy

With iPhone releases seemingly coming out every year, technology continues to evolve every day, for better or for worse. Use technology to your advantage, helping you to streamline processes, for example through workflow management tools, and enhance your efficiency. After all, the more that technology can help to expedite tasks, the more time we have to continue to upskill ourselves.

16. Build your emotional resilience

Strong emotional intelligence and emotional resilience make us better equipped to meet challenges with skill, energy and focus. The ability to build your mental toughness shouldn’t be overlooked, because when we’re put to the test, this stops us from melting down, and instead facing the challenges ahead with poise and tact.

17. Promote your achievements

Don’t shy away from showcasing your accomplishments. Own your success and communicate your value to others. After all, LinkedIn gives you the option to notify your network for a reason.

18. Seek out stretch roles

Let’s face it, we all know it can be exhausting in the workplace when we’re enduring it as opposed to enjoying it, letting feelings of stress, resentment and anger seep in. Instead of letting these feelings take hold, look for new opportunities within the workplace to give yourself more visibility and open yourself up to possible future advancements by broadening your network. A little proactivity can go a long, long way.

19. Foster a positive mindset

Stay optimistic in the face of challenges. A positive mindset fuels resilience and creativity, enabling you to overcome obstacles with grace.

20. Stay current on industry trends

Knowledge is power. Keep your finger on the pulse, staying informed about the latest trends and developments in your industry to stay ahead of the curve. And to my point about staying tech-savvy, here’s a hot tip for you – set up Google Alerts to do the hard work for you, delivering you everything you need to know, as it happens, straight to your inbox.

21. Develop a strong online presence

Personal branding is everything in today’s digital age. Maintain a professional and engaging profile on platforms such as LinkedIn to enhance your visibility and usher in those opportunities that may find you. After all, who doesn’t check someone out on LinkedIn before a meeting? (Guilty!). We love having a sticky beak – it’s our first point of reference and our first impression.

22. Mentor others

Pay it forward. Draw on your own experiences and impart them on to others by mentoring those who are earlier in their careers. Sharing your knowledge not only benefits others but also reinforces your own expertise.

23. Celebrate milestones

Take time to acknowledge and celebrate YOUR achievements. It’s no easy feat, navigating the path of professionalism and growth, so recognising your victories, big and small, boosts morale and motivation.

24. Reflect, reflect, reflect

Take time to stop, reflect and take stock of your journey. Schedule regular moments to assess your progress, realign your goals, and celebrate the path you’re on. Perhaps use that 15 minutes of silence while you sip your first cup of liquid gold for the week to think about your situation and adjust focus as you see fit.

Well, we made it! 24 new habits may seem like a lot, but before you know it, they’ll be second nature to you, like they are to me. Here’s to a brilliant year ahead!