I’ve always been an extremely goal-oriented person. I credit this trait (and, honestly, a bit of stubbornness) for getting me through my Ph.D. program. Once I set my mind on a goal, I can become fairly single-minded until I achieve it. While that stubborn streak isn’t always ideal in interpersonal relationships (thank you for your patience, husband!), it can be a real asset when it comes to goal-setting.

This is good news, because decades of research show that goal-setting works. When goals are specific and measurable, performance improves (Kleingeld et al., 2011). Applied to the workplace, goal-setting leads to increased motivation and commitment, as well as higher job satisfaction (Latham, 2004; Ivancevich, 1976).

There’s an old saying attributed to Zig Ziglar, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” As we approach the end of the year, 'tis the season of New Year’s resolutions. And though many people tend to think of resolutions with regard to their personal life—usually focused on health, fitness, finances, or other personal habits—our professional lives deserve the same level of reflection and intention.

With that in mind, here are a few workplace “resolutions” (I’d call them goals) to help make 2026 your best year yet.

1. Create (and stick to) healthy work-life boundaries

If you have historically struggled to create or stick to healthy work-life boundaries, there is no time like the present to make a change. It can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind at work, but chronic over-exertion leads straight to burnout. Here’s a hard truth: if you were to quit on January 1, you’d likely be replaced by the end of the month.

Invest in your work—just not at the expense of your own mental or physical health. Stop taking calls at night. Stop returning emails from bed, the car, or the bath.

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