A happy new year to all of you! I hope that you all had a wonderful and safe new year. The new year is a time for new beginnings and a chance for us to improve upon last year’s mistakes. And what better way to begin 2022 than setting new remote career goals? Setting career goals not only helps you progress in your remote work, but also in life too.
That said, setting your own career goals can be a bit difficult. To help you set these up, here are career goals you should consider for your remote work career advancement this 2022. I shall divide these into three main categories: wellness, productivity, and career advancement, respectively.
Wellness.
Give More Time to Yourself.
Without further ado, let’s get started. And where better to start than giving more time for ourselves? Giving more time to yourself allows you to take a step back and unwind from life’s troubles and appreciate the fruits of your work. So don’t be afraid to spend more time with your favorite hobbies this year; because you’ve earned it.
Giving time to yourself also means having enough time for rest. No matter how fun your hobbies are, you can’t truly enjoy them if you’re exhausted from work. Having ample rest also lets you return to work with renewed vigor and motivation to do your best.
Have a Healthier Lifestyle.
Next, let’s talk about having a healthier lifestyle. Yes, working hard is admirable. But if you look like you haven’t seen sunlight in months, I think we might have a problem. Living a healthier lifestyle allows you to achieve your other remote career goals more effectively and avoid burnout.
You don’t need to start big immediately. A simple exercise routine that you can easily follow is more than enough. Consider cutting down on junk food and high-calorie food as well. Yes, it’s hard saying no to chocolates and carbs. But doing so helps you avoid weight gain and other health issues in the long run.
Be Kinder to Yourself.
A career goal that we should all aspire to do this year is to be kinder to ourselves. Often, our greatest critics are ourselves. Doing this can negatively affect your productivity and self-confidence, limiting your remote work career advancement.
So this year, make it a point to genuinely accept praise from colleagues and avoid self-deprecation. Doing this helps you believe in yourself and your abilities, which helps open up more opportunities for you. Being kind to yourself also helps improve your mental health and reduces stress.
Prioritize the People That Matters.
One of the most important things that the pandemic has taught us is the importance of our loved ones. Unfortunately, despite the added opportunities given by remote work to bond with your loved ones, many still have difficulty finding time to do so.
So for this year, why not make it a point to make up for lost time and spend more time with your loved ones instead of work? After all, they’re one of the main reasons you’re working hard, right? If you’re having trouble finding activities to do with your loved ones, you can check these articles for help.
Productivity.
Be More Productive at Work.
I think this is another career goal we all have trouble accomplishing. Being more productive at work is a commitment that seems daunting for many remote workers these days. Besides, if our current productivity is enough, why bother changing it, right? Pushing ourselves to be more productive just causes unnecessary stress and burnout.
This may be true, but remember, complacency is the enemy of improvement. You don’t need to do anything drastic to improve your productivity this year. Something as simple as proofreading your work before submitting it or submitting your tasks ahead of time is already an improvement.
Improve Your Workstation.
One way to improve your work productivity is by having a good workstation. So this year, another goal you can set for yourself is to have a workstation that’s suited for your needs. These improvements can range from purchasing a new computer to something as simple as a desk plant to liven your workstation’s atmosphere.
Another way you can improve your workstation this new year is by simply decluttering it of unused or unnecessary items. Aside from improving its appearance, cleaning your workstation also frees up space for new items.
Career Advancement.
Further Hone Your Skills.
One of the most common remote career goals that people try to commit to is honing their skills further. Doing this increases the likelihood that you’ll get promoted from your current position. Beyond your current job, honing your skills also opens more job opportunities to you aside from your current one.
So how do you begin on improving your skills? First off, if you still haven’t gotten your degree or certification, do so now. Having a degree, especially if it’s a master’s degree or doctorate, gives you an edge over other applicants who don’t have one. This is especially true if you’re applying for a specialist job like engineering.
Another thing that you can do is go online and purchase e-books or attend online courses. Online courses, in particular, are an excellent place to go hone your skills as they offer attendants a certificate after finishing the course.
Widen Your Skillset.
Aside from polishing your current skills, another good remote career goal to aspire to is to widen your skillset. In today’s highly competitive world, being a jack-of-all-trades is a great advantage when looking for work. Having a wide range of skills means that you can do all kinds of work, even those that are beyond your college degree, for example.
Similar to honing your current skills, the internet is your best friend when it comes to learning new ones. If there’s a particular skill you’re looking to learn, chances are there’s an e-book or online course that can help you.
Expand Your Social Circles.
And finally, another career goal you should consider when you want to advance your career is expanding your social circles. Sure, having the right skills are all well and good. But having friends that can help you find opportunities is a great way to improve your chances of success.
Aside from opportunities expanding your social circles also help you gain new information and ideas that can help you with work. And since you’re working remotely, one of the best ways to expand your social circles is meeting other remote workers. There are plenty of social media groups that you can join where they discuss their work experiences or post job openings.
Health, Wealth, and Happiness to You!
And that is it! Here are the remote career goals you should look forward to this year. Of course, these goals aren’t the only ones you can set your sights on. You can even mix and match these to suit your needs and make new ones as well. Just remember to ensure that your goals are SMART. This acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely.
With that, I hope that this year will be a year of opportunities and happiness for you. Good luck and happy new year!
