Twelve Months of Awesome!

Every December the undercurrent of chatter starts. “What is your New Year’s Resolution?” “What are you going to give up?” “I hate going to the gym in January when it is busy, but February is great when all the New Year’s Resolution people quit coming.” Most people make a New Year’s Resolution and fail to keep it after a few days. The majority of resolutions have to do with money and fitness/eating. I am challenging you to look at your New Year’s Resolution in a different way. First, focus your 2017 changes on your career. By managing your career well, you will have better emotional health which makes everything better; you may have more time to focus on your physical health because you are managing work pressures better; and when you do well at work the money usually follows. (And if it doesn’t you need to look at other options!) The second thing I want you to do differently when looking at a New Year’s Resolution is to not look at it is as a January 1st one-year commitment. Instead consider 2017 to be a year to be your most awesome self by making twelve changes. One per month. By making each of those changes as separate actions, you are only asking for a thirty day commitment for each one. Then you can move on, if you want. By trying them separately, you can see what impact that change has on you. Big. Small. Great. Not so great. And since it is believed thirty days of an action turns it in to a habit, you may just find you develop twelve new, wonderful habits. How cool is that?!?!!?!?!? Here is a sample calendar. January - Leave home fifteen minutes earlier every day so unexpected delays don’t make you late for work and you are ready to go on time. February - Invite work pals to take a thirty minute walk during lunch. Not the same pal each day. Different ones. Not only will you gain some exercise and avoid eating too much during lunch, you will expand your professional circle. March - Set goals for the remaining quarters of the calendar year and share them with your boss or mentor. Ask for feedback and support. You will set yourself up for more productivity and show initiative. April - Begin setting aside 10% of your net paycheck to a savings or money market account so your rainy day fund begins to grow. May - Volunteer for at least one project, committee or grunt work project. Being flexible and helpful outside of your normal work routine breaks up monotony and shows your value as part of the team. June - If you haven’t already planned your time off for the remainder of the year, plan now and talk with your supervisor to make sure that works for the team. July - Take some time off and really take it off. Vow to disconnect after 6:00 p.m.; the weekends and while on vacation. See how that changes the impact of that time off. Are you more refreshed? More present with your family and friends. August - Clean out your “To Read” files and actually read some of the articles, etc. Make a goal of reading at least one item a day. September - Clean out your email and organize it in files. Some people use their inbox as a storage facility, but clutter breeds disorganization and, for many, procrastination and lost productivity. October - Say one positive thing a day about your company, a coworker or your clients. Say it out loud. See how that changes your perspective, your organization’s environment and how people perceive you. November - Each day spend 15 minutes cleaning and organizing your office. File papers and create files for work you normally just put in piles. And then buy a plant or flowers to add some cheer and color to your workspace. If you are organized and your space is inviting, it will improve the experience. December - Each day connect or reconnect with one professional and one personal contact by email, phone or in person. I recommend connecting with all your network at least twice a year. And then celebrate - You just had an awesome year!