But make sure to balance work and home life, writes Margaret Harris

It is a new year and the perfect time to set yourself some career goals. Whether you are just starting out or your dream is to have the top job by the end of the year, a few career resolutions will help you to achieve your objectives.

Taking the time to make them can make a big difference.

According to CNN.com, those who make resolutions about their careers are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than those who do not.

When looking at resolutions, making lots of money may seem like an obvious place to start, but Ursula Fear, executive lead at Deloitte Consulting's Deloitte Graduate Academy, says that for young people, money is not everything: they should rather focus on gaining experience and they should consider this an investment in their career.

Career development does not follow a straight line. And experience is not necessarily gained in the lecture hall or at work - reading a book or speaking to someone at an airport could broaden a worker's experience.

Another suggestion from Fear is to make a commitment to your job rather than moving jobs frequently. "Stick to something and give it time. Stick to a job for at least three years (five years would be great)." She says that the compound interest formula applies to the time you spend in a job, so you reap ever-increasing rewards from it.

"If you can stick it out, you show that you have staying power and this speaks volumes to employers."

Mainjobs.com suggests adding the resolution "make time for play" to this year's list. "Have fun. Work hard, but smile while you're doing it. Approach each day with a positive spirit.

"Enjoy your family and friends as well. Make time for them - and you. It is called work/life balance. All work and no play makes life a chore."

Fear agrees about the importance of striking a balance between your work and home commitments.

She says that women in particular find it hard to manage their stress and must find an outlet or run the risk of falling ill.

According to Mainjobs.com, getting fit or staying fit is an important resolution to make.

But Ronald Abvajee of virtual gym My Personal Trainer Wellness, warns that sticking to a regular exercise schedule can be difficult.

"After all, there are plenty of potential hindrances: time, boredom, injuries, self-confidence."

He argues, however, that if you keep in mind the importance of exercise, it will help to keep you motivated.

"Remind yourself what a great favour you're doing for your cardiovascular health, or focus on how much stronger you feel after a workout.

"Praise yourself for improving your stamina and for making a commitment to lifelong fitness."

Another area that Fear believes deserves some attention is continuous learning, which "does not need to be in a classroom, but can be the latest book, for example".

"You need to find creative ways to be a sponge. Reading is very important, so is engaging with people and having mentors and coaches," she says.

Along with a focus on education is the importance of staying up to date with current affairs, says Fear.

There are plenty of ways to stay informed and knowing what is going on in your industry will benefit your career.

Regardless of the resolutions you make: "Getting to the top takes hard work and you will have to make sacrifices.

''To be the best of the pack, you need to put in that extra effort," says Fear.