New Year’s Resolutions Are A Waste of Time

At least I think so.  I stopped making them years ago.  I started to realize that I would sit in the glow of the beginnings of a New Year, and make resolutions that would ensure the best possible me.  The problem was, they weren’t always realistic.  Sure, it would be great to workout every day, but it’s not realistic.  Call me pessimisstic, tell me I’m lowering the bar – I don’t care.  I was sick of making promises to myself that I knew I wouldn’t keep.  Think about it, it’s about a week later, how many of you are still following all of your New Year’s Resolutions?  My guess is not many.  There had to be a better way.

I needed something more…more than a goal, more of a focus.  If I had something has a focus to guide me through the year, I would be able to achieve more.  It was a matter of seeing the forest through the trees.  Ali Edwards talks about her One Little Word.  One word to focus on and guide you through the year.  There are many people who do this, so many that this year there’s even a class to accompany the project.  Social Media Expert Chris Brogan talks about keeping three words to focus the year on.  With the three words, they can interact with each other, and come together to form a well rounded focus to the year.  I love the idea of both, but the three words better fits my lifestyle, given the variety of roles I have.

So my three words for this year: Plan, Grow, Live.

Plan – one thing I’ve learned about myself and how to manage my time is that planning is key.  When I don’t have a plan, I tend to just float doing not much of anything, but when I plan, I get things done.  Further, when I plan ahead and get things done, I am able to spend more time living and doing the fun things I want to do, instead of always trying to keep up.

Grow – As I look at where I am in my life, I know I’m at a point where it’s time to grow – both professionally and personally.  This year there are some exciting new things going on for Sir Scrapalot (more on that tomorrow), plus, as a newly licensed school adminstrator, I will being looking for new ways to grow in my role as an educator.  Personally, the last few weeks have shown me that it may be time to start a little personal growth as well.  Nothing crazy, just a little growing to do.

Live – So often, I get so crazed with trying to get everything done, that I don’t take time to just sit back and live life.  Having taken some time off around the holidays, it really showed me all the things that I am neglecting when I am constantly trying to get something done.  I need to make time for everything – from getting work done to playing video games.  I have two beautiful girls who are just dying to have fun with daddy.  I will not deprive them of that – I need to make sure I am living.

So those three words are going to guide my year.  Will every decision I make be based on them?  Probably not, but at least I know in the back of my mind what I am trying to base my life on.