6 Smart Moves Career Women Should Make This Fall

Fall is the perfect time to start pulling out all the stops to shine at work. After all, December is fast approaching, and it's your last chance to attain certain goals you set for yourself before the year's end. Before you start cranking up your productivity, read this guide to see the many savvy moves you should make this Fall.

01
Freshen Up Your Morning Routine
POPSUGAR Photography | Mark Popovich

Freshen Up Your Morning Routine

Sometimes you just need to change up your morning routine, and Fall is a great time to do so. Wake up a little earlier to have more time to yourself to calm your mind before work. And remember: don't start checking your phone and emails right after you get up. Give yourself at least a 10- to 15-minute break from technology once you wake up.

It's also important to do some prep the night before — preparing what documents you're bringing to work, choosing your work outfit, checking your schedule — so you're not stressing yourself out the next morning by trying to beat the clock to catch the next train.

02
Get a Flu Shot
StockSnap | Luis Llerena

Get a Flu Shot

To make it through the last stretch of the year, you need to be in optimal health. Make sure you're eating right and not overworking yourself.

Be sure to get a flu shot if you haven't already. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to start protecting you from the flu, so get it as soon as you can.

Check to see if you can get it through your employer, your doctor with your health insurance, and pharmacies like CVS and Rite Aid. You can even get it at superstores like Costco and Walmart.

03
Pen Your Achieve-by-December Goals
POPSUGAR Photography | Sheila Gim

Pen Your Achieve-by-December Goals

There are only a few months left until the end of the year. Go back to the career resolutions you made during the start of the year and ask yourself these questions:

  • Have you achieved them?
  • Have you changed your mind on any of them?
  • Do you have enough time to complete them?

Start a fresh list of the goals you think you'll be able to achieve by December. Create your list in a Google Doc or do it the old-fashioned way on a piece of notebook paper.

04
Find the Right Balance
StockSnap | Freestocks.org

Find the Right Balance

Having a good work-life balance means there is less risk of you burning out before the holidays. Here are some tried-and-true work-life balance tips to keep in mind.

Pick up a healthy weekday habit. Make it a goal to pick up a healthy habit from Monday to Friday. Attempt to work out more or eat more fruits and veggies on the week days. Treating your body well will help you create a better balance between work and life.

Say no. Women find it hard to say no sometimes and bend over backward doing favors for people, but take a stance and refuse when you really don't want to do something. Set limits on what you say yes to as well.

Address your stress. If stress is becoming an issue, make sure you take action and nip it in the bud before it starts to snowball. Seek alternative treatments like acupuncture or herbs to soothe yourself.

05
Get Ready For Your Review
POPSUGAR Photography | Mark Popovich

Get Ready For Your Review

It's about the time of the year of performance reviews again. Make sure you're well prepared by digging up documents, emails, last year's reviews, and notes. Get yourself ready for the review by creating a list of talking points for when it's time to meet with your boss.

06
Enjoy Fall in Frugal Ways
StockSnap | Ben Blennerhassett

Enjoy Fall in Frugal Ways

Although you're hard at work, take some time for a breather and celebrate Fall. When you're unwinding from the daily grind, make sure you capitalize on the season and enjoy all the frugal activities Fall has to offer. For example, carve a pumpkin, visit a corn maze, or go on a nature hike to enjoy the pretty red and gold coloring of this season.