Productivity Resolutions for the New Year
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There is something about a fresh blank calendar that makes us want to get organized. You look at the mish-mash of sticky notes on your monitor; the piles of paper on every flat surface and decide, this year, I’m going to be more organized.
Good for you! Here are some productivity resolutions to get you started.
In 2008, I resolve to:
- Have a plan - It is human nature to savour the past. However, you will not move forward if you are constantly looking backwards. Make planning a regular part of your schedule. A look ahead is worth two behind.
- Learn to say no - We all face circumstances where the demands on our time exceed our ability to handle them. Learning to say “No” is a critical –yet difficult– skill that needs to be mastered. Taking on more than you can manage only leads to frustration as nothing gets done very well.
- Stop procrastinating - We all put things off. We hope to avoid tasks that are boring, difficult, unpleasant, etc. We hope that by procrastinating, an unpleasant task will shrink or go away. Unfortunately, the reverse is often true; the deferred job just gets bigger and more difficult. Overcoming procrastination requires strategy. The next time you’re tempted to put off something you don’t want to do, try some of these tips.
- Have a place for everything and keep those things in their place - Leo Babauta gives these four simple tips: collect everything in one place; choose the essential; eliminate the rest; organize the remaining stuff neatly and nicely.
- Have an effective time-management system - Whether it’s paper-based, PDA or software, you need to see where your time is being used and planning future time use. A planner should let you quickly see what is on your schedule, easily add new events and provide fool-proof reminders/alarms for upcoming items.
- Use effective lists - Lists are the simplest tool or system for managing your life. They consolidate all your tasks in one place. They can tickle your memory or stimulate your creativity. Lists can be as simple or as complex as you need.
- Have an effective filing system - You can waste a lot of time looking for something if you don’t have structured filing system. If you dump all of your computer files into My Documents, it’s not going to take too long before it becomes difficult to find a particular file. Create a filing system and create a matching system on your computer. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it has to be complex enough to allow quick access to the file you need.
- Give more of my time - This may sound counter-productive; I manage my time by giving away time. Time is a priceless gift. Not only does this gift bring benefits to the recipients, but you will notice significant improvements in your own well-being. Make time on your schedule next year for family, friends and the community.
- Give myself some time - People have no problem filling their schedules and to-do lists with a million things, but never leave time for themselves. Give yourself some time; say an hour per day. Use the time to go for a walk, read, listen to some music or whatever it is you love to do. Treat this appointment as your most important of the day.
- Reward myself - Then keep your promise to yourself and indulge in your reward. Doing so will help you maintain the necessary balance in life between work and play. As Ann McGee-Cooper says, “If we learn to balance excellence in work with excellence in play, fun, and relaxation, our lives become happier, healthier, and a great deal more creative.”
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That’s a useful list. Right now I’m personally working especially on finding a place for everything — and, more important, throwing everything I don’t need out the window. That’s a particularly important annual exercise for me.
By the way, I use the same basic theme on my blog — and I too focus on productivity issues, especially for writers. Curious coincidence.
Just this week I’ve come across another theme that might appeal to you: It’s called Messy Desk, which a header photo showing just that. If you’re interested, let me know and I’ll go back and find the URL.