I am typically am not someone who makes a new year’s resolution. The way I see it, there are always things to improve on, so instead of making promises to myself at the beginning of January that I probably won’t keep anyways, I try instead to make a yearly plan: A month-by-month guide that focuses more on making small changes every few weeks.

So for those of you who struggle to keep those new year’s resolutions, I have created a guide of simple, yet impactful resolutions that you can sustain (for at least half the year anyway).

January

Since business is usually slower this month, I encourage you to start the year by looking at your business through someone else’s eyes. Ask your friends and family, and even strangers, to spend an hour or two with your brand. Ask them to approach your website and brand materials as if they had never heard of your company before and have them answer these questions:

1. Is it clear who the company is and what they do after looking at the homepage of their website for only 5 seconds?
2. When arriving at the homepage, is the initial content inviting? (Visually and Contextually)
3. Is the brand’s purpose clearly defined?
4. Do the website and brand materials feel welcoming and inviting? Do they accurately convey the brand’s personality?
5. After looking through the website and brand materials, do you perceive this company as a knowledgable thought leader in their industry? If not, why?
6. Is the company’s website mobile friendly?
7. Do you notice any brand inconsistencies?
8. Does the website do a good job of informing the user about the brand’s story – why they started, their team, etc.?
9. Would you recommend this company to a friend or family member?

Although this may seem silly, it can be an incredibly eye-opening experience. It’s not uncommon for a company to think that they are giving out all the right information, yet their customers are actually still confused on what it is they do. Use the feedback to help figure out what problems need to be tackled first.

February

When you’re in charge of a team, it’s important do a “culture check” every once in a while. According to PeopleSpark, 87% of the global workforce is disengaged from their job. Increasing that employee engagement by as little as 10% can increase profit by $2,400 per employee/ per year.

Think about what you can do to increase productivity and engagement level at your company. Maybe it’s something small, like a friendly competition to see who can drive the most sales each month resulting in a coffee gift card. Or maybe it’s planning a team-building activity. Or maybe it’s about finding ways to provide your team with more benefits. Fuse Workforce Management has great suggestions for small business who simply cannot afford to provide benefits that rival the larger companies.

In addition, take some time to get to know the people you work with and listen to any concerns they may have, especially if you have a small team. Sometimes even a weekly get together over coffee (because it sounds better than saying meeting) to catch up and discuss work in a fun and collaborative environment is enough to make a huge difference in productivity and happiness levels.

March/April

March. The sun is finally making it’s appearance (hopefully). Bulky coats are being replaced by lighter jackets in brighter colors. And you? Well, unfortunately March is also a time when we often find ourselves longing for our school-aged years when we knew a break was coming. If you’re not able to take a vacation from work, try using any free time that you can take to focus on your mental health. This may mean taking a weekend to completely reorganize your house. Or perhaps it’s about making some time for yourself every week to dive into a hobby or start a new business adventure you’ve been thinking about for years. Whatever it is, do something to make yourself happy.

May

Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need to spark new ideas. Rearrange your workspace or take advantage of the warmer weather and find a new spot by a window to work for a few hours a day.

June/July

With outdoor activities in full swing, take advantage of this great time of year by expanding your network. It can be difficult to find the time to attend networking events throughout the year, so make it a point during these months to sign up for events in your area and meet new people.