2020, the year of chaos and uncertainty, is finally coming to a close. I think I speak for everyone when I say we’ve all been impatiently waiting for this day. There have been plenty of moments throughout the year where we’ve been given the time to reflect. If there’s one thing we’ve all learned from this year, it’s to expect the unexpected. Whether you’re a business owner or working for someone else, it’s important to remain on your toes, as things. Every sense of this cliche saying are words to live by. Your course can change at any moment, no matter who you are, or what you do.
My favorite thing to do at the end of every year is to take a moment to look back on the past year and to note what I would like to do differently in the coming year. Sounds a bit like setting New Year resolutions, but I and many others don’t like to label things as resolutions. Why? Because as we’ve all witnessed, and have been guilty of ourselves, “resolutions” are only kept until about the 3rd week of January, or the 1st week of February if you’re more determined, and then we end up inevitably falling back into old habits. My exercise is a bit different. Let’s call it a to-do list.
You might be asking, how is a to-do list any different from resolutions? Well, simply put, you can declare a resolution and shortly after, forget about it. However, a written (or typed out) list implies accountability for things that you eventually have to get done.
Making to-do lists not only promotes accountability but has also proven to boost productivity.
Here are some tips from us to you for this coming New Year that will help in both professional and personal settings.
Write Everything Down
While we’re on the topic of lists, this is the best place to start. Writing things down is extremely important, especially when things get overwhelming. Whether you have a task you need to accomplish or purchase, or an idea pops into your head, keep a notebook and write things down. If you’re keener on using technology, designate a note on your phone or laptop where you can jot down anything that comes to mind. The secret is, your notes don’t have to be organized. Don’t overthink it. Simply writing things down will already get you more organized than if you were to just go off of memory.
Plan Things Out
If you have an idea in your head, and you’ve scribbled it put into words, the next thing you need to do is take the time to plan it out. In every case, ideas only come to life with action. Just like you would a sales pitch or a presentation, map out a step-by-step action plan for your idea. The key is to come up with more than one road map to execute your idea, in case your intial plan falls through. Additionally, it’s important to realize that even if we plan something out, changing course will always be on the table. Hence, expect the unexpected!
Set Smaller Goals
Most of the time, resolutions tend not to work out because the goal that one has set for themselves is far too big or extreme to accomplish without a plan in place. Say your main goal is to startup a successful small online business. While this is very ambitious, and a fantastic goal to have, the ambition can easily diminish if you don’t set yourself up for smaller successes along the way. By setting smaller goals, you allow yourself to feel accomplished for the steps you take on the path to achieving your ultimate goal. This way, your hard work will not go unnoticed. We are our biggest critics so it’s important to be self-aware during pivotal moments in our lives and to reward ourselves when possible.
Don’t Wait or Procrastinate
Waiting for a turn of event, such as a new year or a new week, to set goals and get to work is the worst thing you can do for yourself. With this common excuse, plans and ideas often get pushed so far back that they eventually become a vague memory. Stop making excuses! Don’t wait until Monday. The time to be productive is NOW. You got this.
We at GotPrint wish you all a happier, healthier, and more successful 2021. Happy New Year!
