I love making my new year resolutions and I have spent the last couple of days thinking about what I want for 2017.
As many of you will know by now I think it is really important that you live your life in balance – and for me that means balancing 3 areas.
- ‘me’ – this is things that I want for myself – to be the best me I can be. I break this down into health, environment, finances and adventures and dreams.
- ‘those I love’ – things I want to do for my primary relationship, family, friends and the community.
- ‘work’ – what I want to achieve at work – so that I will be doing my best work.
I usually set around 10 goals for the year making sure they are spread across these three areas and I have some good ones for 2017 including for me visiting the Grand Canyon and skiing La Valle Blanche. I also want to spend a bit more time with my mum this year.
Whilst there is nothing wrong with having around 10 goals these can’t all be a priority – I truly believe that you have to select just one thing that is going to be your priority for the year.
So for me my main focus for 2017 is going to be a work goal. My work has changed massively over the last 12 months and this year I will be able to spend more time than ever before on becoming a great coach. I have been thinking a lot about how to make that happen.
I have been reflecting on how often I let days flitter by without any great plan and being distracted by other people’s problems and general ‘busyism’. I am definitely not lazy – I work long hours – but do I always make the best use of them?
I have been thinking about Stephen Covey’s urgent/important matrix.
Looking back over last year I fear I – like nearly everyone – spent far too much time in Quadrants III and IV doing work that was not important to me. This is the work that is hardest to get to but it will make the most difference to my life.
I know I do my best work in the mornings so that is why I am going to allocate this prime time to important but not urgent work in 2017.
So this year my resolution regarding work is to spend at least 200 mornings doing work that is important but not urgent – quadrant II work.
This is a SMART goal (google it if you don’t know about SMART goals!).
On 31st December 2017 I can easily ask myself – did I spend 200 mornings on this prime work? The answer will be either yes or no.
So to help keep me motivated I am going to count them – every time I spend a solid block of 3 hours in the morning – with no interruptions – on quadrant III work I am going to give myself a gold star – and put it on my wall chart. That will give me a nice little hit of dopamine – a reward for doing good work rather than just a lot of work.
I have worked out when my holidays are going to be and set goals for each month. Before you ask that is 12 in January (to allow for a skiing holiday) and 20 in February (planning a big work month for February).
If you see me ask me how I am getting on – it is always good to ask friends to help hold you to account!
I wish you all a happy and healthy 2017.
