Progress Not Perfection: How To Navigate New Year Resolutions

As the year winds down (didn’t it seem to just fly by?) it becomes natural and societally encouraged to reflect on the last 365 days, as well as goals for the New Year. While these reflections can often feel forced and can come with undue pressure (think New Year’s Resolutions – did you really make it to your new gym on January 1st?) the larger practice, and takeaway, is positive. It’s an opportunity to truly make changes – even baby steps! – in our professional and personal life. Here at Contemporaries, we suggest that you focus on progress not perfection, which isn’t always easy to do. So, try to take advantage of this paid period to meditate (not ruminate – it can be hard!) on the past, and to set goals for the future. But we encourage you to also be realistic and want to help lend some tips on how to structure your future aspirations, and to take inventory and self-assessment on your past year professionally, as well as personally. Those who are fortunate enough are also allocated some well-earned vacation time in late December, so try not to let it go to waste (after some well-deserved R&R, of course). This pause can really usher in a clear head and thoughtful perspective. So, get cozy, stay warm, be with the ones you love, watch that snow fall, eat some sugar cookies, and set your intentions for 2022. Think that it can only get better from here. Right? Right? Right! Here are some helpful reminders and suggestions to carry with you as December winds down, and we turn the calendar page into a New Year:
- First of all, congratulate yourself! This has by no means been an easy string of years for most of us, so give yourself a proverbial pat on the back for making it to December (Happy December 1st!) and, hopefully, remaining gainfully (and happily) employed. Start there.
- We can’t emphasize this enough, but get out paper and a pen, almost as if you were a kid (if you celebrated Christmas!) writing a wish list to Santa. Take it back, old school style. It’s easier to stay committed to goals when you write them down and can see them every day.
- Start small and remain realistic. It’s easy to get ahead of ourselves but instead of saying “I need that huge promotion” think about what you can do to get there, or how you can improve your performance in the station you’re at. Ask yourself the tough stuff, but kindly, i.e.: is it deserved, is it really the time for it, etc.?
- After listing goals (large and small, profound, and more superfluous) take a moment to sit with them. Come back tomorrow and re-examine them with fresh eyes. Some will remain, and some will be crossed off. Don’t be afraid to slash and narrow. Set yourself up for success – if your morale remains high, so will your dedication to seeing your goal(s) through. Choose ONE realistic, viable goal that you not only want to achieve, but have a plan on how to. This will hopefully only bolster your self-esteem.
- Now, since we are an employment agency, we’d like to focus on the workplace. Do you have enough of a work-life balance? Are you giving it your all? If you are feeling like something is awry, are you communicating these feelings effectively and taking strides to constructively make changes? Are you happy where you are? Or are you happy enough? Sometimes a job is a stepping stone. Most experiences, we humbly think here at Contemporaries, teach us lessons.
- Finally, self-punishment is so last year. We suggest setting up realistic accountability mechanisms. Did you miss that first yoga class? Did you commit yourself to therapy, yet not act on finding someone yet? Did you sign up for a new dating app yet haven’t had any luck? Have you not made more time for family, or friendships? Be gentle. Don’t get so down, that you can’t get back up.
According to a survey in 2019 by Accountemps, 68% of professionals consider their professional health and development while creating their New Year Resolutions. That’s a large number. So, pour that eggnog, see an old friend from high school, spend quality time with your favorite aunt, wear a silly sweater, and then consider these following prompts.
- How do you want to further your career?
- Have you updated your resume lately?
- Your LinkedIn profile?
- Do you network enough?
We know that it can be uncomfortable, but it’s crucial to advance your career. What skill sets can you learn, or develop further, that will help you at your current position or advance into a better suited one?
Finally, keep that mental health groomed and perhaps try to embrace being healthier at work physically, whether it be taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or focusing on bringing your lunch (that’s financial health, too!) and making it healthy, rather than going out each day. It isn’t the season yet, but lights are adorning houses, CVS is playing holiday music, and party invites are abound. So, we are taking an early stab at this. Stay healthy and safe and begin now. After all, only Santa can get THAT much accomplished in one day/night. Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Merry Christmas! This Holiday Season, if used right, can set up next year on a good note. You got this! And we applaud you for getting this far!
This posting is brought to you by Contemporaries Inc., one of the best temp agencies in Boston MA. Also available for payrolling employees in Boston and Greater Boston
Recent Posts

Business Manners in the Workplace
Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Business Etiquette is a practical and fundamental skill everyone should use while working on a job. Exercising this practice will help advance your career and boost your likability amongst colleagues and employers alike. The best path to...

Using a College Graduate’s Habits Key to Virtual Work Success
Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Imagine, you have just been hired for your first remote job and your team leader has given you a mountain of work which you’re not sure you will ever be able to complete. The tasks seem daunting and although you feel you’ve been at it all day,...

Flexibility is the Key to Workplace Greatness
Author: Alyssa Rebolledo If you are trying to advance your career, being flexible is the key to success. This concept certainly applies when you are working in a new contract position. During this time, you’ll wear many hats and juggle ever-changing conditions that...

Tips to Use Your Time Wisely to Successfully Land a Job
Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Job hunting has become so much easier since the days when you had to look at a newspaper daily to see who was hiring. Now, there are staffing firms like Contemporaries, Inc., and websites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and GlassDoor to help you...

Gen Z’s Top Five Job Hunting Essentials
Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Gen Z is the newest and largest group of job hunters that are currently in the market. They are recent graduates, hungry for new opportunities, and want to change the typical nine to five job blueprint. Here are the Top Five Requirements of...

The Power of Positivity in the Workplace
Whether you are a recent college graduate or a seasoned pro who has been in the workforce for years, why not try incorporating the power of positivity into your daily routine? It won’t take much effort on your part, but will set a better tone for the day. While you...

Giving Back is Key to a Better Perspective and Feeling Good
Working hard may be a great way to get ahead, but giving back and helping others can also be very rewarding and a means to feeling good. Most times, being nice and thinking of others costs very little or nothing at all. However, the gift of giving back may make an...

Rethinking Motivators May be the Key to Hiring Top Notch Job Seekers
Motivation for job seekers today is very different from the incentives that drove them in the past. Or, at least the order of what seems to be most important to them now compared to years ago. Renowned American psychologist Abraham Maslow, back in 1943, put to paper...

Contemporaries Inclusive and Diverse Workforce is the Secret to Our Success
The Greater Boston area and beyond is filled with many talented individuals who sometimes just need a foot through the door to launch their career and be given a chance to prove themselves. Since opening in 1998, Contemporaries, Inc. has provided that opportunity to...

Thank You Boston Candidates and Clients for 25 Great Years!
Many new exciting and interesting happenings occurred in 1998. Bill Clinton was President, while Newt Gingrich was the Speaker of the House. It was a time when the blockbuster hit, Titanic, dominated the Oscars as well as movie theaters and became the first picture to...

Contemporaries Named One of Best Staffing Agencies in Boston for 2023
Boston_ Ringing in the New Year is not just a one-day celebration. It also is a time to think about making future changes for the better, personally and professionally. If you are a business owner or decision maker in search of top talent, or a job seeker looking for...

All Staffing Firms Are Not the Same When it Comes to Placements
The standards for staffing agencies, when selecting a candidate for a specific position, may differ slightly, to drastically, depending on the types of job, the client, the length of assignment, as well as how the Recruiter is compensated. Traditionally, a firm may...

What Staffing Agencies Look for in Candidates
Do you want to know the secrets to making a great impression on a staffing agency Recruiter? Here are a couple of tips as well as insight on what Recruiters are looking for. First, they want the type of candidate who will take their job search activities seriously and...

Employers Have Choices Too! Part Three of Three Part Series
As we mentioned in the previous two parts of this series, employers certainly have choices when it comes to utilizing the services of a qualified staffing firm to accommodate their specific employment needs. Whether you require a temporary contract employee or the...