New Year’s resolutions shouldn’t be limited to losing weight, or exercising more, experts say. Most people can also benefit from making a few New Year’s work resolutions.

“Whether a person wants to improve relationships with managers and colleagues at an existing position, or go after a dream job elsewhere, the new year presents a natural starting point for the process of obtaining that goal,” Robin Bond, a practicing employment attorney says. The keys to success with your resolutions, Bond says, are making a thorough plan and keeping a timeline.

Common career resolutions include landing a promotion, building better relationships, and finding a job you love, Bond says. If a promotion is a goal, she suggests individuals resolve to meet with the boss to discuss professional development within the company. Making a daily effort to connect with co-workers through common interests, or accepting team roles, can help to build better relationships. Resolving to network and schedule informational interviews with other professionals in the industry, can help in finding the dream job, Bond says.

Career-related resolutions favored by Mary Ellen Slayter, writing for the Washington Post, include asking for a raise. But she says that employees should first check online salary comparisons. They should also think about the value they bring to the workplace before they begin the discussion with their boss. Those who have the time and money should consider going back to school, adding that most people have more time than they think. Some employers offer tuition reimbursement and potential students should look into financial aid programs.

But the all important resolution, Slayter says in her Post column, and one that almost everyone should consider is “Get Organized”. “In case you haven’t noticed,” she says, “this is actually the mother of all resolutions, the key to pulling off the others." Organization applies to priorities, the physical environment and electronic “objects” as well.

Making successful career resolutions can mean, first of all, identifying what you want, dmc-publisher.com says. Individuals need to look more carefully at their career choice and objectives. They need to ask themselves how much money is a factor in their career choice, and if they are still passionate about their career. People need to know whether resolving to switch careers would make them happy, or whether they should change companies. They need to figure out what is stopping them from achieving their goals, from getting a promotion, or finding a new job. For many, dmc-publisher.com says, resolving these issues, although a difficult process, can be the most important step people take in career planning.