It’s a new year, which means we’re naturally feeling the need to re-evaluate every aspect of our lives. Indeed, over the past few days across social media, viral posts and videos have been declaring which things should be both ‘in’ and ‘out’ for 2024. Celebrity podcasts, going to bed late and crypto? Out, it seems. Walks, overdressing and being cringe? In, according to the masses.

But what about when it comes to our careers and work lives? What behaviours should we be ushering in – and, perhaps more importantly, out – to set ourselves up for success in 2024?

It’s no secret that the last few years have been transformative for work, so we asked career and workplace experts what they believe should be in and out this year. From avoiding scattered meetings to adopting Wellness Wednesdays, this is what they said.

In: having better boundaries

“As we head into 2024, there’s no better time to re-think our relationship with work. Let’s make 2024 the year of emphasising life when it comes to the work/life balance,” says Jasmine Eskenzi, founder and CEO of wellbeing and productivity app The Zensory. “Practise the art of setting boundaries. Start by organising your days to suit you and your wellbeing, rather than just suiting other people. Whether it’s establishing set hours to work or taking frequent breaks while working, clear and healthy boundaries can ultimately help to keep burnout away at work.”

Out: saying yes to everything

“I’m no longer busting a gut for meetings and tasks that can definitely be delayed or looked at in a more strategic way,” says Sophie Penny, an account manager at growth marketing agency eComOne. “If saying yes has held you back in 2023, make 2024 the year you start valuing your time more”

In: scheduling Wellness Wednesdays in your work calendar

“In 2023, we saw #SelfCareSunday, which is great if you have the time and means, but what about prioritising your health midweek?” asks Sonya Barlow, founder of LMF Network. “This year, it’s all about working on yourself, and what better way than to schedule 90 minutes every Wednesday – and I mean, schedule, block that time out and make sure no one double-books – to focus on your wellness. It could look like making yourself a mid-week treat for lunch, investing in a massage, going on that walk you are avoiding, reading the book you got for Christmas or catching up on your favourite Netflix series. Either way, wellness is what you make it, and this year it’s for you to schedule, organise and prioritise.” 

 Out: scattered meetings

“From now on all meetings are in the afternoon,” says Jenny Scott, founder of Jenny Scott Communications. “I’m keeping the mornings for ticking things off my list and getting my head down to work.”

In: in-person networking

“Fewer cold emails, please. I want to be taking time for face-to-face coffees, lunches and even runs,” says Jenny Scott.

Out: the pressure to be constantly available

“To get ahead, many of us think we have to be available 24/7. From answering emails after hours to forgoing holidays, there’s a perceived pressure that we have to always be available to keep momentum going in our careers. However, this can have a detrimental effect on our health and, as a result, the longevity of our successes,” says Eskenzi. “By consciously rejecting the idea of being available at all hours, we can boost our wellbeing and approach work with a refreshed perspective, when the time’s right.”

In: chronoworking

“I’m hoping that 2024 is the year we start to question the rigidity of the traditional 9-5, and instead consider working in a way that aligns with our body clocks,” adds Ellen Scott, Stylist’s deputy digital editor, creator of the Working On Purpose newsletter and co-host of the Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat podcast. “I want workplaces to allow early birds to work earlier shifts and to consider breaks in the afternoon when few of us are at our most productive. Maybe we could consider winter work hours so we get more sunlight exposure, too. In general: working with your body rather than against it is a big ‘in’ for me in 2024.”

Out: saying sorry unnecessarily

“Unless you have genuinely made a mistake that requires an apology, sorry should be banished from your vocabulary,” says Hayley Knight, co-founder of Be Yellow. “Sorry makes us small in the workplace, and diminishes our voices and credibility. It’s time to stand strong in our beliefs and unapologetically grow in our careers.”

In: bringing your whole self to work

According to integrative therapist Amy Sutton, that doesn’t mean “inflicting your 3pm caffeine slump grump on others, but being aware of your values, strengths and areas for improvement while also staying true to who you are and what you stand for. And if you’re not sure what that is, a great way to kick start 2024 is working on discovering that, whether through journaling, therapy or turning to experts in books or podcasts.”

Out: not asking for help when you need it

“With mental health, loneliness and the lack of friendships on the rise, this year we need to get better at asking for help,” says Barlow. “If you are struggling at work, speak to your manager, HR or buddy. Go through your workplace insurance for therapy, join mentoring schemes and mute accounts online that don’t serve your best interests.”

In: collaborating with colleagues

“For me, a work ‘in’ this year has to be collaboration,” says Penny. “Working across departments and getting everyone’s unique insights and creativity focused on a task can mean you’re working with the best possible set of skills available.”

Out: pointless meetings that could be emails

“Amid all the chat about time optimisation, I hope we pair individual measures like timeboxing and the pomodoro method with a proper look at meetings,” says Ellen Scott. “So many meetings aren’t necessary or aren’t designed in the best structure. I want 2024 to see the end of any meeting that could have been an email.”

In: better work/life balance and four-day work weeks

“Taking regular breaks, putting life first and implementing wellness activities such as meditation, exercise and journaling can help boost productivity, increase motivation and positivity – so why are some workplaces so reluctant to embrace it?” asks Knight.

Out: job adverts without specified salaries

“I scour junior roles weekly, and more than three-quarters of employers are not upfront about what they’re paying,” says Julie Phillipson, co-author of Survive & Thrive: A Graduate’s Guide To Life After University. “While it’s understandable that pay for senior roles will be led by the candidate’s experience, there’s no good reason that junior roles shouldn’t specify a salary. Done well, job applications are time-consuming and people need to be able to work out whether or not they’re wasting their time for a role they couldn’t afford to accept if it were offered.”

Out: sticking with a career because we believe we should.

“Humans are designed, just as everything in nature, to change, evolve, grow. We are never too old to change a career or learn something new,” says Claire Renée Thomas, a life coach and founder of Reaching My Best. “If you’ve always wanted to do something then start exploring what steps you could take in that direction. Buy a book, sign up for a course, talk to someone that already does what you want to do.”

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Images: Getty