Is it just me or do the years seem to fly by faster the older you get? I honestly feel that the time between taking my holiday decor down and putting them back up is like a month.
Even though the time may appear to flow by at light speed, we do have 365 days every year to work towards our goals and aspirations. And of course, there is no time like the present to create a list of resolutions that you can work on in the New Year to improve your business and your life.
Deciding to make a change is only the first step. More than 92% of people quit their New Year’s resolutions within a few months, so you also have to have a plan out how you’ll stick to the goals you set throughout the year. It can be hard, but don’t worry – I’ve got you covered :).
I’ve complied a list of 7 awesome New Year’s resolutions that you can tackle in 2016 to improve you and the tips to make them stick. Of course, you don’t need to take on all 7 at the beginning of 2016. Pick the 2-3 that really speak to you and add on more as the year progresses. The point is to resolve to make small improvements in your life, so you can enjoy it more fully in 2016 and beyond.
Resolution #1: Get Organized
Don’t just say I’m going to be organized this year; actually make a plan to do it. Try attacking projects in bit sized chunks. Need to organize your files on your server so you can send emails faster or free up space? Make it a 30 to 60-day project. Spend at least week planning out how the new structure will flow and then spend a week just making the new folders. From there you can spend a few weeks moving your files into the new folders or deleting them. This will be a tedious task no matter how many files you have, so give yourself plenty of time to get it done. Once it’s complete move on to the next organization project.
Resolution #2: Disconnect More
Being available to the masses 24/7 is so 2015. Schedule time everyday to be disconnected from your laptop and cell phone. This can be an hour of walking time or reading time. Just make time to unplug.
Resolution #3: Reconnect with Your Passions
Take time every week to reconnect with the things you are passionate about. If you love music, then spend an hour listening to new songs every week on Spotify. If you’re passionate about your business, then write down all the things you love about it in a gratitude journal. If you’re passionate about cooking, then sign up for a new cooking class every month or schedule one night a week to make yourself a scrumptious dinner.
Resolution #4: Give Back To the Community
Identify a community giving opportunity for yourself at the beginning of the year and schedule at least one day per quarter to put your plan into action. You can volunteer at a food pantry, offer to review resumes, or pick up clothing from your friends for a donation center. No act of kindness is too small.
Resolution #5: Delegate More
Time is a finite resource. Don’t overextend yourself and spend valuable moments doing things that you can have others help you with. If your uncomfortable delegating or asking for help, start small. Use an online grocery delivery service instead of spending two hours at the supermarket or hire a virtual assistant to tackle your expense reports. Make a list of 5 on-going tasks that take up 1-2 hours of your day and outsource them. Time saved is time earned…for you to enjoy.
Resolution #6: Move on from Failures Faster
Everyone makes mistakes, but you don’t have to wallow in them. For 2016, commit to evaluating the mistakes you make, learning from them and moving on. A great way to do this is to make a short list of what you’ve learned from your most recent error and three ways you would approach the situation differently next time. Just remember that success comes from learning from your previous failures and leveraging that expertise.
Resolution #7: Celebrate Your Wins
Life moves fast and you need to savor the victories. 2016 should be the year you learn to celebrate and appreciate your accomplishments. Win a new client? Text all your friends the good news. Finished organizing that disaster of a closet? Take a photo of you smiling in front of it and share it on Facebook. Give yourself permission to savor the small and big wins. If you won’t celebrate your victories, who will?
– à bientôt
Charell Star | Not Just A Girl In A Dress