Setting yourself up for 'new year' success
New year vibes, the 'state of work' and work journaling
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After a much-needed break, I’m back this week with a short update of what’s to come over the next few months.
Next week, I’ll be kicking of a new series of the podcast, which will capture the current ‘state of work’. Joining me on the pod are various brilliant guests who’ll be sharing insights on important topics like managing multi-generational teams, communicating your way to success and, of course, AI.
In the meantime, many of us are experiencing New Year vibes as the kids return to school and childcare pressures dissipate. On that topic, I was interviewed for the FT’s Working It newsletter last week. Specifically, how work journaling can help organise our thinking, recall key moments in our careers that otherwise get forgotten, and, importantly, make our work more visible - to ourselves and those we work with.
I have a habit of waxing lyrical - and at length - about the benefits of this habit, so thanks to Isabel Berwick for doing such a fabulous job of summarising! But if you’re keen to learn more and want to implement this, you’ll find the full interview below.
TL;DR - if you’re interested in getting early access to the new app - Highlites - I’ll give early access to all newsletter subscribers, so please sign up HERE.
See you back here next week…
Why you should journal about your work and life
What is a work journal and why do you keep one?
A journal can take many shapes and forms. It helps you explore new ideas, recall formative experiences, and tap into forgotten memories. Some journals are therapeutic, a purely personal pursuit. Others are a vehicle to communicate feelings and experiences with others.
A work journal applies these possibilities to your job and career. Just as a personal journal tells your life story, a work journal captures the narrative of your day, week, or year in a professional context. It could be something you use to help with personal development or even as a tool to showcase work highlights to your boss or the rest of your team.
What gave you the idea? When did you start?
I started my career pivot in January 2020. Reflecting on the previous ten years, I realised I had very little memory of the specifics. I could remember major milestones and events, but the thousands of moments that had shaped a decade of my work/life were a blur. Or, better said, they’d all blended together.
After burning out while running my previous company, I also couldn’t pinpoint why I felt cynical about a job where I worked with great people and was outwardly successful. As I considered my next steps, I struggled to identify the skills and expertise I could offer to other businesses.
That’s when I started my work journal. I started by listing things I was proud of, exploring how I wanted my work and life to evolve, and focusing on what I’d enjoyed in my career. Once I had some clarity, I shifted to ensuring I didn’t forget anything else – noting key moments down each day—achievements, challenges I was struggling with, breakthroughs, and interactions with colleagues, collaborators, and clients.
Do you ever put personal stuff in there, or is it strictly work-related?
There is inevitably some overlap between personal and professional experiences, but I tend to have two separate processes—one focused on recalling one storyworthy moment in my personal life (in the words of Matthew Dicks) and the other focused on notable work moments, whether significant or functional.
Does it have to be IRL, or is it online? If online, do you use any apps or is it very old school?
I started off with paper and pen. For me, it’s a ritualistic thing – sitting down at the end of the day to document what’s happened, and analogue works well for this. But like any form of data, you need a system and process to derive real insights.. And once you’ve built a collection of notepads with various scribblings, it’s difficult to keep on top of what’s where! So, I’ve now moved to digital.
I’ve tried various digital products, but none worked very well. Note-taking aids are ok for capturing information but useless for organising it. Journaling apps are great for recording day-to-day thoughts but are not designed to surface useful insights about your work or help you make career decisions.
That’s why I’ve spent the past year designing an app to capture my work moments and create highlight reels. It’s early days, but picture the Memories montages on your iPhone and you’ll get an idea of what I’m aiming for.
Interestingly, what started as a personal project has now expanded to other people helping me design it, including teams using it to make their work highlights visible to one another. There’s something in both capturing the story of what you’re working on and sharing that with others.
How long does it take? Do you do it at the end of the day or as you go along?
I do it before I go to bed and it takes less than five minutes. But when significant moments pop up throughout the day, I’ll jot them down, take a screenshot, or snap a photo to make it easier to document later. It depends on the person, though. I know people who do it on the train home, over lunch, or even on the loo!
What insights have you gained? Do you ever do graphs or breakdowns of how you spend your time?
The main one is that I’m making way more progress than it feels like in the moment. It’s easy to get to Friday afternoon and struggle to recall what happened earlier in the week. So, it’s not a surprise we struggle to this as the end of the year!
I also find it fascinating to see which moments I note down— positive or negative—because the same themes keep popping up. What does it say when you consistently highlight how good it felt to present your ideas to your team? You probably want to do more of that. What does it tell you when your manager consistently drains your energy? Maybe it’s time to look for another job.
How has it helped?
It may sound obvious, but consistently taking small steps forward is the secret to growing your career. I speak to people who feel “stuck” or like they’re “treading water” - this is all about progress. Tracking your work experience every day can help - either you see you’re making more progress than you realised or spot the signs that it’s time for a change.
One more profound impact, though, is my perception of time. It can often feel like time is slipping away. Stopping to reflect on what you’re doing each day gives the sense of time slowing down. Marking important moments helps you differentiate one day from the next. It stops the sensation of life blurring into one.
What tips do you have for readers who'd like to have their own work journal?
The key to starting a journal is fitting it into your life with as little friction as possible.
If your day is hectic and the minute you step back into your home life, you’re bombarded, jot things down as you go along. If you have time on your way home from work, dedicate five minutes to summarising key moments.
Start small, but be consistent. Even if it hasn’t been your greatest day ever, pick three highlights.
Who did you help?
How has someone helped you?
What challenge did you overcome?
What annoying task did you finally get out of the way?
Why has something from the podcast you listened to lodged in your mind?
Each individual moment may not be life-changing. But together, they shape the story of your work/life. It’s just a case of recognising them.