As the dust settles from the year-end rush—wrapping up sprints, deploying last-minute workflows, and untangling automations gone haywire—it’s the perfect time to hit reset and start 2025 with purpose. For Jira admins, the new year isn't just about creating smoother workflows; it's about leveling up processes, improving collaboration, and building systems that empower teams to work smarter. This year, let’s focus on working efficiently while preserving our sanity.

Here’s how I plan to make 2025 a transformative year for my Jira instances:

1. Automate Smarter, Not Harder 

No more tangled automation rules or redundant workflows. This year, I’ll focus on building streamlined, efficient automations that scale seamlessly. Whether it’s optimizing triggers or using Salto’s deployment tools to test changes before they go live, 2025 is the year of intentional, thoughtful automation.

2. Prioritize Site Hygiene 

Goodbye, unused custom fields and forgotten issue types! Clean configurations make the instance run faster and save me from the dreaded “Why is this field here?” question. I’ll pinpoint dependencies, declutter workflows, and ensure no configuration element is left unexplored.

3. Say Yes to Testing in the Sandbox 

Production is sacred. This year, I’ll stop cutting corners and start testing every workflow and configuration change in the sandbox before pushing them live. I’ll ensure cleaner rollouts and fewer surprises by leveraging automation to sync changes seamlessly.

4. Make Permissions a Priority 

No more sprawling permission schemes or accidental access grants. My 2025 mantra? "If it’s not secure, it’s not scalable." With a renewed focus on permission hygiene, I’ll streamline roles and manage security without compromising agility.

5. Document Like a Pro 

Keeping track of changes isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. This year, I’m committing to documenting every Jira customization and ScriptRunner script in Git using a tool like Salto. Not only does it make troubleshooting easier, but it also ensures transparency and collaboration across the team.

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6. Simplify for Success 

Too many custom fields, overcomplicated workflows, and unnecessary plugins can bog down any Jira instance. In 2025, I’ll prioritize simplicity, ensuring configurations remain user-friendly and maintainable.

7. Leverage AI for Clarity 

AI is no longer just a buzzword (we wrote about it not too long ago)—it’s a practical tool for simplifying Jira administration. From using ChatGPT to generate documentation or troubleshoot workflows to exploring AI-powered Jira features, I’ll embrace AI to gain deeper insights into automations, streamline troubleshooting, and easily onboard new team members.

8. Streamline Cross-Instance Deployments 

Whether moving a project template or syncing customizations between environments, manual processes will be a thing of the past. Tools like Salto make it easy to migrate configurations without errors, giving me back valuable hours each week.

9. Learn Something New 

From exploring Jira’s latest features to mastering advanced automations, 2025 is the year to invest in my growth. Certifications, webinars, or diving into the latest Salto Leap courses—I’ll ensure I’m at the forefront of Jira best practices.

10. Protect My Sanity 

Efficiency isn’t just about the tools I use—it’s about balance. By automating intelligently, focusing on high-impact changes, and simplifying workflows, I’ll create systems that work as hard as I do without driving me to burnout.

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2025 is my year to transform Jira administration into an art form that fosters collaboration, saves time, and empowers teams to do their best work! Ready to make your own resolutions? Let’s tackle this year with a focus on simplicity, scalability, and innovation.

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What are your Jira admin resolutions for 2025?