Help your job feel new to you in the new year

A message from Wake Forest’s Professional Development Center team

In January, marketing campaigns often promote the aspirational message of “new year, new you.” But for many returning to work after the holidays, the reality of resuming familiar workplace routines contrasts with the feeling of renewal.

Here are some strategies that may help bring fresh energy to your daily routine.

Make a list of what you love about your job. What parts of your job bring you joy, happiness and a sense of accomplishment? What parts positively impact others? Think and write about these areas and what you love most about your job. Then, carve out as much time as you can during your work day focusing on those areas. Or, if you can’t spend as much time as you’d like doing these tasks, be fully aware and present in those moments when you are doing the things you enjoy and take the time to be thankful for those moments.

Talk to others about what they love most about their job. When you hear from others about what they love about their job, it may inspire you and remind you of what you like about your work. And because emotions are contagious, their positive emotions may help you feel emotionally positive as well.

Look for opportunities to mentor others. Many think that mentoring only benefits the person being mentored. However, mentors also experience many benefits. Mentoring others can positively shape your work experience, increase job satisfaction, and be positively related to your performance. Allison McWilliams, an expert on the benefits of mentoring in Wake Forest’s Office of Personal and Career Development (OPCD) understands how managers can leverage mentoring to build relationships and be better leaders. She writes regularly on her blog, “Your Awesome Career” at Psychology Today and on this OPCD blog. 

Interested in learning more about mentoring? 

• Try this self-paced, digital course on Workday Learning: A Guide to Mentoring Others. 
• Or, sign up for the Introductory Mentoring Skills Certificate Course, brought to you by the Mentoring Resource Center and the Alumni Personal & Career Development Center by Jan 24. It is free for faculty, staff, students or alumni.

Even though your job may be the same, a few touch-ups or modifications in mindset can change how you think about your work and set you up for success in 2025 and beyond.

Continue your professional development with the PDC:

Visit us online at pdc.wfu.edu
Register for our classes through Workday Learning
Follow the PDC on Instagram @wfutalent

Or, contact our professional staff:

William (Bill) Gentry (gentrywa@wfu.edu) – Director of the PDC and Learning & Development
Missy Campbell (campbem@wfu.edu) – Manager, Learning & Development
Melissa Clodfelter (clodfem@wfu.edu) – Assistant Vice President, Faculty & Staff Experience