Studies have shown that for most of us, New Year’s resolutions don’t work very well. Who needs to start the year feeling guilty for abandoning those lofty intentions?
I’d like to suggest a different approach to launching 2010. Instead of tricking yourself with short-lived resolutions and dreary goals, take the long view and a more creative, active approach. Get a new journal and challenge yourself to create Top Ten Lists (or whatever number you fancy) for the following categories:
- Lessons learned
I once heard Cher say that her greatest fear was not living as well as she knew how to live. It’s easy to forget our own wisdom sometimes, but this year end review can help. My friend Karyn Ruth White spends an introspective evening looking back on the past year and acknowledging what she’s learned that she can carry into the coming year. That’s a wonderful ritual to borrow. - People who matter
Last year, I wrote an article for Winning Ways newsletter about a fantasy train trip that included people I love and people I’d love to meet. Just thinking about who I’d want along for the ride was a terrific exercise. - Books to devour
Psychologist Eda LaShan said middle age begins the moment you realize you won’t live long enough to read all the books you want to read. I’m pretty sure I was born middle-aged. Having a designated spot to write down titles of books that sound intriguing means you’ll have a running list of suggestions when you need them. - “Being” goals
Although the focus of goal-setting is often on things we want to acquire, there are three different areas to consider. Besides the obvious Having Goals, there are also Being Goals and Doing Goals. Of these, the most important (and challenging) are the Being Goals. In fact, I’d suggest that if you focus on the person you want to be, the having and doing takes care of itself. - Do more, do less
Too often when we decide to add a new activity or behavior, we fail to make room for it. Several years ago on New Year’s Eve, a local tv reporter was interviewing folks on the street asking them about their resolutions. After hearing the usual, “Lose 10 pounds, save more money,” stuff, he interviewed a woman who confidently said, “I plan to walk more and smoke less.” As soon as I heard that, I thought, “She’s the one who will make it.” I could imagine that every time she was tempted to smoke, she’d put on her walking shoes instead. - Things to discard, abandon
Related to the previous tip, getting rid of clutter of every sort is also essential for living a rich, fascinating life. If your life is filled with things, activities and people that don’t fit the 2010 version of you, it’s time to let go and move on. - Explorations and adventures
The key to having an adventurous life is to have an adventurous imagination backed up by action. In Making a Living Without a Job, I told the story about my years of failure in finding a way to travel. At the beginning, I had a specific destination in mind and started getting ready to go long before I knew how it would happen. What places and experiences do you long to visit? Write ‘em down. - Vision Boards
Whether you call them Visions Boards or Treasure Maps, these deceptively simple personal creations add power and impact. I constantly hear stories of people who tucked away a Vision Board in a closet only to come upon it months later and realize that it forecast things that were now a part of their lives. If you need help in doing this, check out these tips from Suzanne Falter-Barns. - 90-day projects
Barbara Sher talks about making a temporary permanent commitment. This is a way to do just that and test drive your ideas. I’m a huge advocate of dividing the year into quarters and having a special focus for each. Give yourself 90 days to focus on a couple of high priorities. Immerse, don’t dabble. At the end of that time period, evaluate. Want more? Want to move on with other things? - $100-hour ideas to implement
If you’re familiar with this concept, you know that I encourage you to start a running list of ideas that you can turn into income. (Disclosure: the popular term for this is monetize. That word makes me shiver.) This one is a genuine momentum builder and belongs in your portfolio.
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Sounds very interesting.
Walk More Smoke Less. Sounds so doable.
Excellent advice here.
I’ve used vision boards before but not lately. It may be time to do something like that again. Lately, I’ve been doing the 100 boxes thing. Draw a paper with 100 boxes on it, add in 100 things you want to do, be, accomplish, think about. As you accomplish one, blank it out and add another.
I also agree with going through your things, clothes, items, etc, and getting rid of what you can. I do this twice a year and always feel great afterwards.
I like the train ride idea very much and plan to do it soon. Also, I plan to look at the blog for more information on the $100 hour idea. I haven’t heard about it before.
Thanks for this.
Hello,
Here’s a link to the $100 Hour idea, which is a Barbara Winter original, by the way. http://www.joyfullyjobless.com/business_ideas.html
Thank you.
Excellent advice on this link, thank you again. I’m in a bit of a strange situation. I have a job in an arena where any outside work has to be cleared by chief counsel, and depending on if there is publishing involved, by chief communications. I have another 11 years in this situation, but I want to start dabbling into what I believe will be my ”retirement” career. This link provided some fertile ground for thinking in that direction. Thank you.
I love the idea of 90 day projects! An excellent way to try out an idea to see if it works for you. When you meet with short term success you become motivated to continue working on your goals. Memory of success helps when you hit the inevitable bumps in the road.
Launcing 2010 here we go – The Launch of a 90-day project (aka Quarterly Reports to Self) most motivating on this first day of the New Year – also the ” 18 yer old – Niece – who – is – leaving – home & moving – in – here” is also an exciting launch for January 2010! The 18 year old and the 61 year old women here will make sure this house really rocks in 2010!
Thank you !!