Why You Should Celebrate Your Career Achievements
Drawing a line through an item on your checklist and watching those to-dos dwindle is satisfying, because you know you’re achieving something purposeful with your time.
You set the goals, whether in your personal life or career, and observe as the changes and progress take place.
But what happens when you hit the mark on your career achievement?
Celebrating Matters
It can be easy to focus on the next item on your to-do list and start the process of achieving another goal. And in a way, this is good. Poet Philip Levine wrote that John Berryman taught him, “You should always be trying to write a poem you are unable to write, a poem you lack the technique, the language, the courage to achieve. Otherwise, you’re merely imitating yourself, going nowhere because that’s always easiest.”
While this technique is centered around writing, it applies to any area of work. You want to keep setting goals and challenging yourself in new ways.
But before you set your mind to your next milestone, it’s important to take time to celebrate your career achievements now. This celebration gives you a moment to boost your confidence, speak words of affirmation to yourself, and give you the drive to move forward.
If you are ready to celebrate your career achievements, here are six ideas to get you started!
How to Celebrate Your Career Achievements
1. Treat yourself
You’ve worked hard, and you’ve earned it. It’s now time to celebrate your career achievements with a treat. This can include going out for a meal, ordering dessert from your favorite restaurant, playing a game of golf, going shopping, watching an episode of your favorite show, or even going to the spa. The possibilities are endless. It’s time to reward yourself for your efforts and motivate yourself to keep achieving your goals.
2. Capture the memory
Did you land your dream job? Were you the employee of the month? Did you work on a project that increased rankings for your company? Whatever the achievement, document the celebration! Take time to write about the moment in a journal or take a picture so you can look back and remember how far you’ve come.
3. Take a day off
Whether it means turning off your phone, getting outside, or taking a nap, you get to regroup and recharge so you can be your most effective self and have the energy to keep making new strides! You are human, not a robot, which means that you have limits. While that concept sounds counterintuitive, it will actually pay dividends for many years to come. Just like the ground can’t be tilled every year or the soil will not yield the same quality crop, if you keep pushing forward without rewarding yourself with rest, you will burn out. Take a moment to reflect on your achievements! Breathe. Relax. Reset. Your body, your friends and family, and your employer will thank you.
4. Invite others to rejoice with you
Having others celebrate your career achievements with you makes the experience even more special. You can celebrate with your coworkers over lunch outside of the office or invite your family and friends to a game night or a night out. Not only is it encouraging to know you are part of a team who will champion your victories, but when it’s time for a coworker, family member, or friend to celebrate their achievements, you’ll be ready to reciprocate the gesture.
5. Try a new hobby
Creativity breeds creativity. Take your eyes off your next goal and try something new, even if you’re not good at it. Now’s the time to try out the instrument, take the cooking class, start the garden, or paint some pottery. You might be in the workforce and building your career, but learning doesn’t have to end. And it can be fun too. You get to choose the topic of study and even bring a few other people along to enjoy it with you.
6. Go on an adventure
Take a minute to assess your PTO options. If you’re ready to celebrate your career achievements, it could be a good time to plan a vacation. The options are endless for the destination and length of time. Whether you take a day trip to the beach, find a lakeside cabin for a week-long retreat, or hop on a plane to explore another country, you deserve the time off. Your coworkers can help pick up the load while you’re gone, and when it’s time for their celebration, you can once again return the favor.
The way you choose to celebrate your career achievements and life milestones will differ from person to person, but it helps you stay focused and motivated. It can give you the boost to keep setting goals and working to meet them. You’ll even inspire the people around you, maybe your own children, to see the value of working hard and celebrating life’s victories.
Written by Laura Conaway
