How to set New Years Resolutions
This is a time of year that I reflect on the past and plan the future.
I am in the office today but have a surprisingly low number of meetings, calls and emails so I am getting a lot done. It makes me realize how busy I usually am.
Some ideas I use when setting resolutions:
1 - Most resolutions are broken. Not because of a lack of desire but because of a lack of action planning. Yes, the ultimate goal is important but mostly that is a result of actions so I tend to focus on the actions and activities that will yield the result.
2 - Daily habits are the friend of goal achievement. I focus on what habits I have. The reason I prefer daily habits is they are easier than 3 times per week or some other measure. Habits beat self discipline (yes - they are used together but habits make self discipline easy)
3 - There is a concept a friend once told me of plug/unplug. Think of your time as a power outlet strip. Every socket has a plug in it. To plug something else in, something has to be unplugged. So as I plan my 2019, I need to look at what things I will not do or do less of.
4 - Many people (myself included) come up with resolutions that require "just doing it". Those are the ones that get broken. To have a resolution that just requires self discipline does not usually work. Work the systems and process needed to support the self discipline needed.
5 - Much of goal achievement has to do with time management. But most time management is really not a time management issue - it is energy management. I cannot increase the time available but there are things I can do to increase the energy I have. And I can use my energy on the right things.
6 - Most time management problems are not time management issues they are priority issues. So setting priorities is part of the key.
So 2019 is the year I will work smarter - not just harder. I will work on higher priority items and use my energy well.
Good luck with your resolutions and Happy New Year to all.
I am in the office today but have a surprisingly low number of meetings, calls and emails so I am getting a lot done. It makes me realize how busy I usually am.
Some ideas I use when setting resolutions:
1 - Most resolutions are broken. Not because of a lack of desire but because of a lack of action planning. Yes, the ultimate goal is important but mostly that is a result of actions so I tend to focus on the actions and activities that will yield the result.
2 - Daily habits are the friend of goal achievement. I focus on what habits I have. The reason I prefer daily habits is they are easier than 3 times per week or some other measure. Habits beat self discipline (yes - they are used together but habits make self discipline easy)
3 - There is a concept a friend once told me of plug/unplug. Think of your time as a power outlet strip. Every socket has a plug in it. To plug something else in, something has to be unplugged. So as I plan my 2019, I need to look at what things I will not do or do less of.
4 - Many people (myself included) come up with resolutions that require "just doing it". Those are the ones that get broken. To have a resolution that just requires self discipline does not usually work. Work the systems and process needed to support the self discipline needed.
5 - Much of goal achievement has to do with time management. But most time management is really not a time management issue - it is energy management. I cannot increase the time available but there are things I can do to increase the energy I have. And I can use my energy on the right things.
6 - Most time management problems are not time management issues they are priority issues. So setting priorities is part of the key.
So 2019 is the year I will work smarter - not just harder. I will work on higher priority items and use my energy well.
Good luck with your resolutions and Happy New Year to all.
posted by Jim Estill @ 12:14 PM 0 comments 
