‘Tis the season to make a resolution!
And I’ve discovered that people either say “Hell, yes” to New Year’s resolutions or “No way, Jose!
I fall somewhere in the middle. Rather than make goals I know I can’t keep, I fall into the category of people that choose a single word and then measure every opportunity against that one word. This year, my word is POSSIBILITY, and it is filled with infinite promise and potential.
The possibility that something might happen.
And the potential that something might get better.
How thrilling!
Have you ever heard of a Life Pie? Not to be confused with the Life of Pi, a book and movie about the relativity of truth. The Life Pie is also not a pie that you eat but instead a circle graph that you draw on paper. The graph is divided into six equal wedges and labeled with words representing six areas of health:
Life Pie—Adapted from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
When I look at my Life Pie, I measure the six areas against my Word of the Year. What is POSSIBLE in the area of:
Spirituality?
Exercise?
Play?
Work?
Friends?
Adventure?
What is a WIN in each of these six categories?
Once I’ve established what success looks like, I can devise a plan for the outcomes I envision. This framework has worked so well for me in the past that I’ve put a copy of it in the front of this year’s journal. Since I use my journal everyday, my ideal future remains front and center.
A Formula for Success
No matter what kind of goal setter you are—whether you choose one word and stick with that word the whole year or whether your goal list reads like a daily to-do manual—these common sense reminders will help you achieve success in 2020.
1) Start with a plan.
It seems obvious, doesn’t it? No plan, no point. But a plan is so much more than good intentions. A plan isn’t a dream. And it isn’t a wish. It’s an actionable, step-by-step formula for achieving your desired outcome. Want to write a book in 2020? Start a business? Run a marathon? Your plan will include an outline, a timeline, and a deadline for getting everything you need to do (or say) down on paper.
2) Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Again, it’s so obvious. I’ve also realized I can’t put off until later today what I should have done this morning. For example, delaying my morning workout often means denying myself a workout at all. Time stops for no one, and if I don’t do the workout first, I’ll find plenty of other things to monopolize my time. They may be good things, (i.e. laundry, paying bills, grocery shopping) but I can always finish these mundane tasks. I promise you—working out will not prevent me from paying the bills and feeding everyone dinner. Don’t let the day get away from you. You will lose momentum or worse, forget steps in your path to success.
3) Do what you say you’re going to do.
The reason this one is so important is because everything we do reveals something about who we are. When what you do aligns with what you say you’re going to do, integrity is strengthened. Nobody likes to hang out with someone who’s flaky and unreliable. Be the kind of person others can count on, and you’ll be counted among the most successful people. Plus, learning to trust yourself is one of the most important steps in the journey to self-discovery, and every time you follow through on a promise you’ve made to yourself, you gain self-confidence, an important trait in the quest to become the best version of ourselves.
4) Use the single-tasking method.
Focusing on six areas might seem overwhelming, but categorizing and prioritizing and assigning in this way actually makes it easier to figure out what needs to be done. Despite what some people think, it’s not really possible to multitask well. Our brains just don’t switch back and forth between things that easily. Consider what it’s like when you’re trying to make dinner and follow a recipe exactly and a toddler interrupts you or you’re writing an important email and the dog starts barking. Getting back on track isn’t always easy.
But time blocking is easy and it can help immensely! All you have to do is assign certain days or certain hours of the day to specific tasks. If you really want to get serious about time blocking, you can turn off notifications on your phone and computer. I don’t need to concentrate very hard to work on a blog post (the kids can be home), but book writing requires total concentration, a large block of time, and time alone. Even the dog can be a major distraction. (He’s always trying to sit in my lap and needs to go outside at the most inopportune times). I’ve learned, though, that if I don’t set aside the time, I will end up scrolling through social media or rearranging my desk.
5) Reward yourself.
Because what gets rewarded gets repeated. And rest is necessary for recovery. All work and no play makes Jane a dull girl. Having something to look forward to makes the long, arduous task of working toward something important worth it. Even good goals can be mentally and physically exhausting, and even work we love can take its toll on our relationships and health. If I’ve eschewed distraction and remained focused, I want to celebrate. I need the reprieve. To celebrate is to honor the work.
I wouldn’t be writing these things down if this wasn’t also the message I needed to hear. These mantras remind me that work worth doing is worth doing well.
When I get to the end of 2020, I want to be proud of how I used my time. And even if things don’t turn out exactly like I planned, it won’t be because I wasted time by forging ahead without a plan. Perfection isn’t my goal. After all, the world is changing everyday, and many circumstances are simply beyond my control. I want to be flexible, and the Life Pie will help me adjust as new opportunities emerge. Remember, it’s the year of possibility—anything can happen!
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