The lazy days of summer are over, and whether you work in a school or another setting, September always feels like the start of a new year. It’s a great time to set your intentions for how you’d like the year to proceed and put strategies in place to help you achieve your goals.

Here are some tips to help set yourself up for a productive and positive year ahead:

Be organized. Think about your choices and time commitments. Create a list of goals early on. Make sure your priority items get the focus; smaller tasks can be tackled later. The visualization in this short YouTube video  illustrates the concept. Figure out your commute, lunchtime and prep period/quiet time to help plan your day.

Make the first steps fun. Whatever the task at hand, build in the fun and enjoy yourself! Reach out to colleagues and do your favorite tasks first in an environment you enjoy.

Find a friend. Get to know members of your school community better. Help newer colleagues, be inclusive and expand your social circle to include a wide range of coworkers. The bonds you create with students, colleagues and community members will deepen your work.

If you are a new teacher, join a new teacher group. If you have three years of experience or less, check out the activities for new teachers offered by the UFT’s Member Assistance Program and the UFT Teacher Center.

Create the mindset that will help you achieve. Attitude is a key factor in how we experience the world. Start and end your day with positive self-talk and visualizations. Make lists to help organize your work and ask for support in areas in which you feel less confident. A growth mindset will help you learn and deepen your skills.

Embrace self-care. To avoid burnout, make sure you get enough sleep and do things you enjoy, such as reading, having dinner with friends, exercising or exploring something new in the city. Consider taking a MAP Well-Being Series workshop to hone your coping skills.

You can contact the Member Assistance Program Monday through Friday at 212-701-9620 or MAPinfo [at] uft [dot] org (MAPinfo[at]uft[dot]org) to speak to a licensed clinician. For urgent assistance, call the UFT Helpline, available year-round 24/7, at 866-UFT-FOR-U (866-838-3678).