Resolutions To Results: Building Lasting Career Habits

Here we go again.

I’m circling the gym parking lot for the third time, dodging SUVs in a heated battle for the closest spot to the entrance. Irony at its finest: people fighting to avoid walking too far before heading inside to… exercise.

Looks like I’ll be parking across the street at Walgreens. Fingers crossed, I don’t get towed.

Welcome to New Year’s Day at the gym.

We regulars know how this story ends. By March, the parking lot will be a ghost town, and the treadmills will be ours again.

But it’s not just gyms that feel the New Year’s surge. Workplaces do, too. We return to our desks brimming with ambition.

“This is the year I’ll get that promotion.”

“This is the year I’ll find my dream job.”

And then… reality hits. A mountain of unread emails stares us down, and our fresh-start energy fizzles out faster than a January gym membership.

I’ve been there. Last year, I promised myself I’d update my LinkedIn headshot. 

The one I have now? It looks like I’ve been awake for three days straight.

My friends swear I look better now (bless them). But...that same outdated photo is still there.

Why We Lose Momentum

The problem isn’t a lack of ambition—it’s life. 

By March, the calendar runs us instead of the other way around. Deadlines pile up, distractions creep in, and those big plans? They get shoved to the back burner.

So, how do we break the cycle? 

By taking a page from the playbook of gym regulars. 

They don’t rely on fleeting New Year’s motivation. They build habits that stick. And guess what? We can do the same for our careers.

Building Career Habits That Last

1. Start Small

Don’t overwhelm yourself with a three-hour job search marathon. Start with two minutes a day. Browse job boards while sipping your morning coffee, or jot down a quick LinkedIn update during lunch.

1. Create a Dedicated Space

Set up a corner for your career growth. A space where your resume isn’t buried under bills and takeout menus. A clutter-free zone signals to your brain that this is your “career time.”

1. Stack Your Habits

Pair career goals with existing routines. After your morning coffee, spend 10 minutes updating your LinkedIn profile. Or, once you finish your workout, draft a cover letter.

1. Reframe Challenges

Got rejected from an interview? Instead of labeling it a failure, think about what you learned or the connections you made.

1. Find Your Tribe

Join new groups on platforms like Slack or even Discord. Find people who get it, can offer advice, share leads, or just cheer you on.

1. Celebrate the Wins

Big or small, every step counts. One of my clients rings a little silver bell every time he lands an interview. It’s silly, sure, but it keeps him motivated—and it works.

The Year-Round Mindset

Like those dedicated gym-goers, building habits is what sets you apart. Success isn’t built on short bursts of motivation but on steady, consistent actions over time. And let’s be honest—updating your LinkedIn isn’t nearly as exhausting as leg day.

Commit to building habits that set us up for success. Start small, stay consistent, and by next New Year’s, you might just be writing your resolution from your dream job.

I’m starting by updating my profile picture.

What’s your first step going to be?