Getting Your 2020 Off To A Great Start

First impressions are important. Even science backs up that fact–thanks to the psychological phenomenon known as the “primacy effect,” people are more likely to remember beginnings. Given that, we’re certain you’ll want to make sure your year at work gets off to an impressive start. Our carefully-selected pros below offer up tips on how to do just that.

Over at Forbes, Michael D. Brown advises,  “Learn to omit the negative and be positive. ‘Omitting the negative means learning from the inevitable negative experiences you will encounter without dwelling on them or letting them consume the valuable real estate in your head,’ Brown says. ‘The air these days is full of negativity and pessimism, and others who have given up in the face of difficult times will do their best to drag you to their level. Remember, tough times do not last; tough people do.’” The emphasis there is ours. You’ve already made it this far! We know you can keep going. And in both the workplace and beyond, make sure you’re sharing that positive attitude with those around you, lending a helping hand whenever you can.

Next up, decluttering your workplace is a surefire way to provide a clean slate in the new year. Liz Peintner at Idealist provides a list of things to get rid of, including “[y]our smartphone. A 2017 study on smartphone use reported that ‘even when people are successful at maintaining sustained attention…the mere presence of these devices reduces available cognitive capacity.’ This means major distractions when you’re trying to concentrate on an important task. Unless your job includes social media management, find a drawer where your phone can stay while you’re focused on more important matters.”  This simple trick will help you keep your eye on the prize: making yourself indispensable to your employer by showing off just how focused you can be.

Our final suggestion might be described as something to accomplish by New Year’s Eve, but you can still use this tip past the clock striking midnight. Dr. Suzanne Gelb at The Muse suggests, “Congratulate Someone on Their Career Success. By celebrating others’ ‘wins,’ you’ll reinforce the belief that you’re a positive, encouraging person—two qualities that are on every employer’s wish list!” This move will also show that you were paying attention last year and that you’re sure to bring that same keen observation and positive spirit into the new year.

Keep all of these steps in mind and the first impression you make in 2020 is sure to be a great impression. Put that burst of extra energy brought by the new calendar year to good use! And remember that as much as January 1st can be a helpful starting point, you get a fresh start when you wake up all 365 days of the year. No matter what happened in 2019, you can shake it off and wow your colleagues and boss. Want even more ways to get your 2020 off to a great start? Check out our blog again tomorrow!

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