Theme photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash.
For many older workers I know and have talked to, 2025 was a challenging year.
Job losses. Health scares. Shifting family demands. Worries about the state of the world and the economy. The potentially scary rise of artificial intelligence. Many of us dealt with a lot this year.
But the good news is that, somehow, we made it through 2025. And on January 1st, the sun will rise once again on a new day and a new year.
Optimism might feel hard to come by these days, but the reality is that optimism might be our true human superpower. We look on the bright side. We look ahead. We try to reinvent ourselves. And we strive to make things better today than they were yesterday. Or better tomorrow than they are today.
Setting our optimism in motion is what New Year’s resolutions are all about. And whether you declare this year to lose weight, shed debt, read 100 books (I know someone who somehow read 140 in 2025, or at least they claim they did), or get more organized—all great goals—I have a few suggestions for resolutions you might also consider if you’re an older worker.
Before I share my recommendations, I want to offer a quick word about resolutions and why they often bomb. Many people set their resolutions up for failure by expressing them as goals instead of behaviors.
For example, if you resolve to lose 20 pounds, you probably won’t. But if you instead resolve to exercise vigorously four times a week and eat dessert just once a week—and you stick to those behaviors throughout the year—you’ll likely meet that weight loss goal.
Resolve to change your habits, not to meet your goals.
Now, let’s talk about those resolutions for older workers for 2026.
Resolve to network
The importance of your network cannot be overstated. Neither, for that matter, can the importance of friendships.
People get hung up on differentiating between the two, but there is a tremendous amount of overlap. I own my own business, and most of my customers, important contacts, and collaborators have come about because close friends made introductions or put in a good word for me. What’s more, many of my business contacts have also become friends as we’ve worked together and gotten to know each other.
Meet more people, make more friends, and reach out to reconnect with the people you know and like who you may not have talked to in a while. Make that a habit, and your network will grow.
Resolution: Each week, add one person to your network and check in with at least one contact or friend.
Resolve to count your accomplishments
The better way to say this might be, “Don’t discount your accomplishments.”
After a career of checking boxes and moving on to the next task or challenge, we often lose sight of what we have done. Then, in time, either because it was so far in the past or feels like it was related to a different time or place, we downplay what we accomplished.
For instance, maybe you were part of a team that rolled out an enterprise-wide communications system. That the rollout occurred 15 years ago and the system has long been replaced by updated technology doesn’t diminish the fact that you led a team, took responsibility for an important portion of the project, or delivered exceptional customer service as you helped users migrate to the system.
Before things get fully back up to speed in the new year, take a couple of hours to do a deep dive into your past job roles. What skills did you apply? How did you contribute to team success? What were the “big wins” you helped deliver?
Capture the answers to these questions in a notebook, a Word doc, or a spreadsheet, so you can readily access them when needed.
I’d be shocked—SHOCKED—if you’re not surprised at how much more you’ve accomplished than you previously realized.
Resolution: At least once a month or whenever you finish a project, log your accomplishments.
Resolve to learn a new skill
That “old dog, new tricks” line is a steaming pile of ripening garbage (to put it kindly).
We all add to our skillsets all the time, and the suggestion that we don’t—or that, because of our age, we can’t—learn something new is nonsense. And ageist.
Still, committing to learning a new skill is always a great goal for a new year, especially if it’s a goal that will help you in your work.
If you’re a knowledge worker, learning how to use AI do your job more efficiently is the trendy skill to develop. But don’t forget evergreen skills that are always valuable: leadership skills, writing and communication skills, public speaking, or becoming more proficient with PowerPoint or Excel. Then there are specific facets of your business or industry you can learn more about.
Make 2026 the year when you are planful about your growth and development!
Resolution: Every month, read a book or complete a LinkedIn Learning course related to the skill you have chosen to focus on for 2026.
Resolve to prepare for change
Just as 2025 was a year of uncertainty, 2026 appears equally cloudy. New opportunities may await you in 2026. Then again, so may an unpleasant change, such as a layoff or a job disruption.
“We can only control what we can control” is an apt mantra for older workers. And the sooner we grab the bull by the horns and begin exerting control over those things we can directly influence, the better our chances of navigating change when it comes.
Whether or not you think your job might be in jeopardy in the year ahead, you’ll want to be as prepared as you can for that possibility.
Start networking regularly (see above). Update your résumé and your LinkedIn profile.
Get your finances in order. Talk to your financial advisor to see where you stand relative to your retirement plan.
Give serious thought to what you might do next, including both what you could do and what you’d like to do.
The reality is that these are great steps to take every year, regardless of the economy or your job status. And if you do them and change comes, you’ll be able to hit the ground running as you move into your next chapter.
Resolutions: Every month, research a new career and answer the question, “What would it take for me to pivot and work in this job or industry?” Review and update your résumé and LinkedIn profile quarterly. Meet with your financial advisor at least once this year.
Resolve to make 2026 “The Year of You”
Who knows what the new year holds for us? I wish I knew, but then again, I really don’t. Surprises are among life’s greatest gifts.
Make your resolutions wisely. And look forward to making 2026 The Year of You!
Cheers.
