Everyone’s holidays are different. Mine are drenched with travel, leaving little time for reflection and preparation for the year to come.
I’m tired of sliding sidelong into a new year, tires screeching, haggard and unprepared. So this year I did it differently, carving out time for a thoughtful review of the year gone by. My focus: evaluating how I spent my time. Did it match my stated goals and values?
Unsurprisingly, I failed the test. So this year, I’m using the power of the Outlook calendar to ensure my priorities are, well, prioritized. Those priorities are:
Get stronger: I’m scheduling 30 minutes of walking and 30 minutes of weightlifting every day
Emphasize relationships: My wife and I will meet on the back porch every day after the work to connect. And we scheduled all our trips in advance, ensuring we’ll actually take the time.
Keep learning: 30 minutes of learning daily, whether by watching a video or reading a book.
Grow spiritually: 30 minutes of reading and prayer before work each morning. Combine this with journaling.
Each item is scheduled out, time blocked for that exclusive purpose seven days a week. No plan survives contact with reality, but starting with a schedule that matches my priorities starts the year off right.
What changes are you making in 2021?
For more reading on this topic, I suggest “Your Oxygen Mask First: 17 Habits to Help High Achievers Survive & Thrive in Leadership & Life” by Kevin N. Lawrence (Amazon)