The end of the year often brings with it the idea of new year’s resolutions, goal setting, and a look over the past year to determine what worked and what didn’t.
I’ll confess, I’m the person who always sets resolutions, but within months the best laid plans have usually gone by the wayside. Past year’s resolutions have been vague (be healthier), specific (work out 3x a week), and even non-existent (crickets…). I’ve chosen a word of the year, made plans in my head, written down all my goals. Some come to fruition and others not so much.
In preparation for 2024, I decided to do something concrete that will lead to lasting improvements. (At least, that’s the plan.)
My Productivity Plan
I started working with a coach, and for the past five weeks we have been talking productivity. I needed someone to keep me accountable, as well as to provide insights into options. We have talked to do lists, project management tools, time blocking, the Eisenhower Matrix, and more.
I’m trying, discarding, and keeping things, depending on what works best for me.
I’m being honest and sharing what distracts me most from my workday. I have work that I find most enjoyable and can spend all day working on it, while neglecting things that are important but hard for me.
So where has this led me?
• I’m being more thoughtful about my calendar.
• I’m using time blocking to work on projects, big and small.
• I’m prioritizing the work that MUST be done first, before I move on to the things that I enjoy.
• I’m trying tools to see what helps me use my workdays to the fullest, so I can free up my evenings and weekends for everything else I want to do.
I am also being kind to myself, knowing I will backslide into habits that do not work. I work from home, have a part time job with a consulting firm, have a growing training business, cohost a podcast, and more. Juggling it all and giving work my full attention when needed means I need to find ways to stay focused, meet deadlines, and prioritize my to do list.
Having a coach to think through all this is really working for me. I am excited to see what the new year brings. I’m not so delusional that I expect every day to be perfect, but I do want to look back on each week with the eye towards successful completion of what matters most.
How do you stay focused on what’s important? What tools, apps, tips, and tricks do you use? Please share with me: hello@haydayservices.com.
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