Welcome to the New Decade
You have entered a whole new decade, and it’s time to start thinking about how you can improve your professional life.
Ask yourself, what goals can I make to help start the new year on the right foot? The following five goals may help you get started.
1. Get Organized
Though designers are generally known to have very messy or “creative” workspaces, an organized one is a lot easier to design in. Start off the year by cleaning your desk and workspace. Get rid of clutter and file old paperwork away. Organize your computer’s desktop by purging old files you don’t need anymore or create a backup of them on an external hard drive and remove them from your computer. If you haven’t already done so, consider creating a new file folder system by labeling the folders by project number or the date that the project was created. This will make it easier to find everything you need so you don’t spend all of your valuable time searching your computer.
2. Listen to Music
Just the right music can help boost your mood and performance and get you on the right track. Just make sure you use headphones if you share your work environment with others. Not everyone may share your obviously awesome taste in music.
3. Redesign or Create a New Website If You Don’t Have One
An up-to-date website is a great way to grab a potential client’s attention and earn new business. You work extremely hard designing for others, it’s time to show off all of that hard work. Make sure your website reflects your design ability and features your products and services well.
4. Set Aside Some Personal or Family Time
Be intentional about planning time for a lunch or coffee break, going for a walk, or just stepping away from your computer for a minute or two. It’s also important to try not to work too much “overtime.” Do not let projects consume you. You will be far more creative with a happy, refreshed mind.
5. Have Fun
Work doesn’t have to feel like a burden. Get up, move your body, take a break, stretch, listen to music, dance (party like it’s 1999), or hang out with colleagues. When you get back to your desk you will be ready to be more productive.
These goals will definitely help you get started on the right track this new year, but you can probably come up with a few others that speak to you more personally. Whatever you’d like to achieve professionally this year, remember that big changes can be affected through small daily habits. Is your day-to-day getting you where you want to go?
