Open any newspaper or magazine between now and January and you’re guaranteed to see ‘new year, new you’ type headlines.

We’re all used to making personal resolutions, but have you ever thought of setting a new year’s resolution for your business?

We’ve picked out five ideas you could consider for 2019.

Save money

It’s not cheap to run a business, is it? From phones and computers to insurance and utilities, the combined costs can seriously add up. But simply taking the time to check your current contracts and see what other deals are out there could be a simple way to give your bottom line a boost.

Use tech to work smarter

Concepts such as AI, big data and hyper-local advertising can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be difficult to work smarter. For example:

• Reduce the time it takes to travel for meetings by scheduling face-to-face meetings on Skype.
• Use a quick, simple and easy to use online accounting software, like Pandle, to simplify your bookkeeping
• Share files across teams via the cloud.
• Take advantage of widely available free online training courses.

Create space to think

What did we do before the internet and smartphones made it possible to focus on work 24/7? We used to sometimes simply sit and think.

We’re not suggesting you switch off your devices and daydream. But next time you’re on a train for an hour, or waiting for a meeting to start, why not use the time to think? You could review your business direction, think about how to stay ahead of the competition, or consider how to tackle a particularly challenging issue.

Ideas are what drives business success, and it’s hard to come up with fresh thoughts without having time to think.

Get fitter

Helping staff to feel healthier will have a positive knock-on effect in terms of staff morale, productivity and reduced sickness rates. And it doesn’t have to cost you a penny:

• Lunchtime yoga sessions – Is there anyone in your team that could lead them? If not, interested colleagues could split the cost between themselves.
• Weekly lunchbreak stroll – pick a day, pick a time, and have an office ramble!
• Sign up to a Cycle to Work scheme – boost your green credentials while giving your staff the chance to exercise on their commute.

Create goals

Even the simplest New Year’s resolutions can be but a distant memory by the end of January.

Creating goals can be a great way to achieve your aspirations. Make the goals specific rather than general, and make sure they’re SMART – specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and timed.

Once you’ve set your goal, work backwards and consider the steps you need to take to achieve it. Before you know it you’ll have a plan to turn your aspirations into action.

It’s time to set those New Year’s resolutions, not just for you personally but for the business. What will be something you do differently in 2019?

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About The Author

Kara Copple

An experienced business and finance writer, sometimes moonlighting as a fiction writer and blogger.

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