If you are like me, you are one of the 80% of Americans who fail to live up to their New Year’s resolutions.
What was the resolution this year?
Lose weight? Spend more time with the family? Save more money? Just using these three resolutions as examples; if you chose any, or all of them, you are likely not to succeed. Christmas cookies and treats seem to last in my house until late January, because we make way too many and from the gifts we receive from friends and family. Speaking of family, you resolved to spend
more time with family? Cooped up with the troops since last March, if anything, I find I need to get away and take more walks alone then I ever did before. And save more money? Between two college tuition payments in January and the Christmas bills from the holidays, it’s amazing I’m not left eating popcorn for dinner every night until April.
Resolutions are well intentioned, though. They are, until we realize that resolutions take work to achieve.
Many of us use to-do lists to help keep us focused on resolutions. Like reminders to do those 20 push-ups as part of our new exercise regimen. Or to pack that salad for lunch, instead of getting that burger from the food cart in front of our office building. Noble, yes, but usually by the time January 8th rolls around, we forgot about working out and have added extra cheese on our whoppers. With a side of mayo.
Consider the value of a
not-to-do list.
Simply put, the basic principle of a not-to-do-list is not having to battle self-discipline. Such a list should help you remove bad habits from your life. You say no because you are not allowed to do the items listed on your not-to-do list.
Take time and compose what it is you don’t want to do. Perhaps draft a blended list of business and personal opportunities. Ask yourself what does the impact to doing the behaviors you don’t want to do have on your life? How do you feel after doing what you don’t want to do? Evaluate the impact your decisions make and replace them with better, value-driven choices.
Be honest with yourself. If you know it’s not smart to eat a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies before bed, don’t. If you feel stressed because you have a need to check your work emails the minute you wake up in the morning, don’t. Saying no to the behaviors that adversely affect you, allows you to focus on behaviors that make you feel better, feel empowered, and feel like you accomplished something important.
Like not making resolutions in the first place. Happy New Year.
firstPRO is proud to be the DAAs Career Center Sponsor for 2020-2021. A full-service IT, Accounting & Finance, and Supply Chain staffing and recruiting company, with offices in Philadelphia and Boston, firstPRO supports our clients and candidates alike, by providing exceptional levels of customer service.
firstPRO | We Know People
#Inspiring