5 Career Resolutions to Avoid in 2026

While setting long-term goals is often an effective way of working towards self-improvement, oftentimes in our enthusiasm and self-determination, we find ourselves setting unrealistic and unattainable resolutions each New Year. This can ultimately detail our professional development and cause us to lose steam. 

In fact, research has found that a whopping 94% of us drop the ball on our resolutions within just two months of setting them, and much of that is attributed to the feasibility of the goals we’ve set.

Here, we discuss five career resolutions you should steer clear of this year to help keep you motivated and on track with your development.

1) "Stop Stressing at Work"

As we enter the new year, prioritising mental health and wellbeing becomes essential.

However, setting a resolution to no longer be stressed at work, although it may sound like an ideal scenario, is something that is far out of your control. Things come up every day, no matter how prepared and organised you are. 

Instead, focus on achieving balance and practising self-compassion. When stress arises, make a list of your stressors. Seeing them on paper helps you gain perspective and reduce anxiety. Remember, managing stress isn't about avoiding it – it's about handling it with resilience and care. Start the year with realistic goals for mental well-being.

2) "Quit My Job" 

Thinking about quitting your job this year?

Given the current economic uncertainty, it’s important to secure a new role before making a move, especially if you need time to upskill.

If you're feeling stressed or unhappy in your current position, consider discussing it with your manager or HR. Planning your career change carefully will ensure you don't risk unemployment, which could impact your mental health and wellness.

The last thing you want is to quit without any opportunities on the horizon and remain unemployed for a substantial period. In this economy, it’s likely to only add to any stress you may already have. 

Balance your ambitions with realistic goals.

3) "Finally Get That Promotion"  

Your career resolutions likely focus on aspects of your life you want to improve (duh, right?). For many, this might mean a strong focus on professional development and promotion, which may include:

• A title change, 
• More responsibilities, or
• A pay rise

However, many organisations are still cutting corners where they can when it comes to budgets. This inevitably means that opportunities for advancement might not be as readily available. 

Although you may feel like you deserve a raise, and you likely have every right to feel that way, those with higher authority may not feel the same or have the capacity to meet your demands. Ultimately, resolutions that rely heavily on factors outwith your control are often the ones that get derailed.

Instead, focus more on the steps you can take to earn that promotion until the time is right. Concentrate on becoming the employee that’s the most "worthy" of a promotion. This will shift your focus on things that are in your control, such as taking on a professional qualification or enhancing your soft skills to prepare you for new opportunities. 

You can also have a discussion with your manager about your next steps. This allows you to create a realistic and actionable plan towards reaching this specific milestone.

4) "To Be More Confident and Bold" 

One of the most common workplace resolutions people make is to be more bold or confident in their professional roles. This might mean:

• Improving delegation skills
• Learning to confidently say no to added work and responsibilities, or 
• Establishing a better work-life balance

Although this is a great goal to have, especially if you feel like a pushover at work or that your passivity undermines your position, promising yourself to be bolder and confident is exactly that: a promise. 

The issue with this resolution is that it’s far too open-ended with no specific or measurable goals to work towards. There aren’t any set guidelines as to how to achieve confidence. Without any set metrics to measure, you may end up feeling frustrated or disappointed, as you won’t be as likely to tangibly see your improvement. 

Alternatively, try and make your resolution more specific with regards to which areas you want to improve in. If, for example, you want to gain more confidence to contribute more of your ideas in team meetings, try having a quick brainstorm beforehand and come up with 5-10 ideas you can present in the meeting. 

Or, if you’re a natural people pleaser and want to be better at holding boundaries related to taking on extra work, practice setting expectations with your manager and colleagues. Think of polite ways of turning others down. Rather than outright saying “no”, offer an alternative timeline, allowing you to fit any high-priority work into your schedule. 

5) "Change My Career" 

Recent research conducted by Indeed found that, on average, it takes around 11 months to consider and plan out a career change. It doesn’t simply happen overnight. So, putting pressure on yourself to achieve a successful career change within a year is likely setting yourself up for disappointment.

We say this not to deter you from your desired career change, but so that you keep in mind that, realistically, many things can happen over a year that may hinder a hasty career switch. 

Rather than being overly ambitious with this resolution, break it down to more realistic and attainable milestones that will contribute towards your career change. For a start, make a plan that outlines the steps you must take towards successfully switching careers. These may include: 

• Researching your field of interest
• Planning a career advisor meeting
• Undertaking any relevant courses or qualifications
• Working on developing the appropriate skills 
• Seek out potential job prospects, salaries and day-to-day duties
• Network with established professionals in your field of interest
• Consider pursuing freelance or volunteer opportunities

Making a career switch inevitably requires you to invest time, effort and money into retraining and preparing yourself for it. It’s not a decision you make on impulse, so make sure you are logical concerning your motivations behind the career switch. 

Also, once you’ve been in a role for a substantial amount of time, reprogramming yourself to do something completely different takes time. For that reason, make sure you allow yourself the grace to get used to it and remember to pace yourself. 

How To Set Realistic Career Goals 

To achieve your career goals, the first thing you must do is make sure that all your resolutions are realistic and feasible in the first place. Don’t set goals that are overly ambitious and unrealistic.

There’s nothing wrong with aiming high, but setting unattainable goals will only lead to you feeling let down once you’ve reached the end of the year and realise that you haven’t managed to achieve them. 

Focus on setting realistic and achievable SMART objectives that align with your skills, experience, and the stage of your career you’re currently in. Considering these factors will help you create a detailed plan of action that will help keep you accountable. 

Remember, throughout the remaining year, you’ll likely encounter many situations that will challenge your commitment to your career resolutions and make them seem unachievable. 

If that becomes the case, don’t fret and simply get back on track by reminding yourself that resolutions don’t have to become a success within 365 days. If you fall behind, that’s not a failure; it’s simply a hindrance to what can otherwise be a success if you put your mind to it.  

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