How to get more recognition at work if you’re quiet/not ‘popular’

[CoolShoeshine]

Im having a slight pity party for myself as work has been quite pressurised recently and a number of projects have been completed which I have had a good deal of participation in. We are breaking up for Christmas this week and some of my close colleagues have been given some very generous gifts from senior staff with words of thanks for their hard work.
I’ve worked alongside these colleagues in delivering objectives for the business but haven’t received a single gift or praise. My colleagues who have been singled out tend to be the ones who chat the most to bosses, are quite opinionated and have also been vocal when they are stressed/ feel overworked.
this makes me feel taken for granted, but I like my job role and don’t want to moan and when I’m stressed I prefer to get my head down and plough on rather than telling everyone. Am I shooting myself in the foot? It has been a similar story in the past when pay rises have been granted. I think what hurts the most is that it seems to highlight those whose face fits the most at the company, rather than those who work the most. Is there anything I can do or just suck it up?

I feel your pain.

You don't need to blow your own horn, so much as make sure your seniors are 'informed', so they know the status of projects, that you are working on them etc. Your colleagues sound like they do this and they get recognition.

Another approach - does your company have mentoring? Could you approach one of the senior managers whose projects you have worked for and ask for monthly 30 minute coffee catch-ups for mentoring? Most people see being asked to mentor as a bit of a ego boost, and you get the opportunity to discuss how to advance and at the same time reinforce the positive contributions you are already making?

Raise it at your next 1:1
If you don’t have 1:1’s maybe your chance to be recognised is developing a regular review system.

It sucks OP. I’m middle management and there was very high profile/ mechanical (ie easy) task last week that it was obvious the 2 regular people couldn’t do due to illness. I felt like chopped liver as I was overlooked and they worked out whether it should be scaled down or the less ill person did it.
I practically demanded to do it, did it and it was a success but I’m definitely discussing why I was initially overlooked, probably in clinical supervision first.
Look into executive coaching (not life coaching)

Have a feeling most people (even the popular ones) will feel as you do, at some stage in life.

The following words will probably come across as clichés or like throw away, bland things people just casually say .
HOWEVER for me, I feel more relaxed and secure now that I have embraced these .

To be true to yourself. Shake away those thoughts about how others see you and keep your own standards & personal integrity. It will make you proud of,you.

I used to be mindful to focus on being kind to myself (more recently it comes more naturally) Rather than having to analyse my brain out of those thoughts&feelings which bring you down Or avoid those negative triggers by not letting them inside your head in the first place (which is almost impossible) I started by looking for anything that settles me or that comforts me.
hard to explain typing but for example perhaps you're at yr desk & several colleagues are close by enough to include you in thier chatting but you feel left out, then breathe , relax and let your happy thoughts take priority. Could be a photo or pen or favourite coffee mug that gives you a warm comfort wave . Keep calm , rational composed and do your work with a Smile.

It's nice to feel proud of yourself no matter how tiny the reason

That’s lovely advice and would do nothing to enhance OP’s profile at work. She wants and deserves recognition for what she does, not to improve her self esteem.
Nadiya Hussain is very interesting on this issue- elbows out.

I think there are two options to this.

The first is that you get out of your comfort zone and start to network a bit. Talk to more people, get involved in other projects, go above and beyond a bit to raise your profile. Basically, make yourself friendly, personable and approachable.

Or

Sack it off and find yourself a job that is more suited to the real you so you can behave normally and not have to try too hard.

The second one is easier if you can find the right job and environment.

I get this as it sounds like me.
I struggle to find a way to receive recognition too but find what ‘makingarun’s advice useful.
I hope you have a suitable solution OP.
Best wishes

Be g competent only gets you so far. You need to network and promote yourself too.
It doesn’t mean being braggy or obnoxious but you can do it successfully

I used to be like this. It's hard when it doesn't come easy or naturally but you just have to find the strength within you to put yourself out there.

The solution is what @makingarunforit and @Hoppinggreen have said. Good luck.