Spring clean your career with these expert-approved tips

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Who Perri Ormont Blumberg

March 26, 2023 | 07:52

You already know how to clean out your cupboards and (somewhat) tackle your pantry this time of year.

But what about spring cleaning your career too?

“Spring is the perfect time to rejuvenate your career, just as you would your home,” she said Emily Lyons, an Upper East Side and Toronto entrepreneur and CEO coach. “Go through it and think about what changes you can make to improve your productivity and overall work-life balance.”

Lyons asks individuals to ask one central question: What needs to be added or removed this year to help them move forward?

“Declutter and simplify your work environment, and discover new strategies that can help you be more productive and focused,” he said.

Below, Lyons and other career experts outline seven strategies for doing a career spring clean.

Ask yourself

Start each day by asking yourself, “What three things can I do differently?” he said Randi LevinUpper East Side and New Jersey based transition life strategist.

“Creating a mindfulness around the unknown prevents fear and increases productivity by refocusing on what you can achieve in 24-hour segments,” he said. “At the end of each day, record what shifts and changes you made, and how they affected your business. Then, clean up and repeat the next day, based on your results.”

Rethink your New Year’s resolutions

“At the beginning of the year, it will feel like we have all the time in the world,” he said Christopher PoppeAs one Chicago executive coach also noted, “we tend to plan more than we can realistically manage.”

Spring is the perfect time to “take stock of your progress while still having plenty of time to accomplish more throughout the year” and reevaluate your work goals.

“During spring cleaning, many clients realize that some things aren’t going as expected, some goals aren’t important, and they realize they’re off track and can make corrections,” she said.

Make a folder to brag about

Poppe also recommended taking the time to update your brag folder, “a folder, file, or note where you record your accomplishments.”

Include everything from thank yous and project results you’ve received, to sales goals you’ve achieved and positive customer feedback.

“The pride file has three purposes. First, it keeps a record of your accomplishments, which is helpful for year-end reviews, updating your resume, or applying for a promotion. Second, reflecting on your successes can help you overcome current obstacles or put those obstacles into perspective,” said Popp. “Finally, it can be a source of motivation on days when things are not going well.”

Try a task audit

Skye Sauchelli, Career Coach and Founder Exuberant and inspiring in Long Beach Island, NJ, believes you can boost your productivity this spring by shedding dead weight.

“Write down all your regular daily tasks on paper, and draw a line between all the tasks that make your wheels spin,” she said. “Cut out those tasks that waste time, that don’t move the needle, that don’t make a fundamental difference.”

Then, “you can much more easily focus on the tasks that move the needle,” he continued, adding that this process will give you more clarity about your workday for maximum productivity and results.

Get career guidance

Carlota Zee, JDAn East Village success strategist shared two ways to achieve this.

First, you can contact your college and/or undergraduate alumni office and ask about alumni resources.

“More and more schools are offering free training and workshops to alumni, with the understanding that a student who works for money will donate more to their school,” Zee said. “Many alumni are publicly listed because they love their alma mater and want to help. Think about it: You can email strangers on LinkedIn, or connect with people who want to help you.”

Another way is to contact your HR department and ask what career resources employees are eligible for, Zee said.

“What if your boss helped you go back to school or work abroad for a period of time, or find an executive mentor within the company? A big part of spring cleaning your career is broadening your horizons to understand that you have more options,” said Zee.

Go paperless

Here’s a springtime to-do that involves your physical space.

Sauchelli regularly sees clients overwhelmed and disorganized because they don’t have a system in place to handle their paperwork.

“Take care to get rid of as much paper as possible in all your filing cabinets and folders,” said Sauchelli, who recommends scanning all your forms and papers and storing them on your computer. “Then, when you need one, instead of sifting through multiple cabinets and folders to find your form, you can do a quick document search on your computer and print it out if needed.”

Get up to date online

Now is also the right time for your “Marie Kondo”. LinkedIn profile and/or your professional website, if you have one.

Spend some time deleting updated information and making your copy as short and quick as possible.

Add “om” to your life

No, you don’t have to go to a yoga studio and chant along with others.

Instead, spend some time thinking about how you can slow down this spring.

Until then, Lyons urges customers to reevaluate their commitments.

“Look critically at your commitments, and identify which ones are essential and which ones you can leave behind. Saying ‘no’ to non-essential commitments can free up time and energy for more important tasks,” he said.