New Year Planning

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There are lots of posts around the blogging world at the moment about New Year resolutions. Most of them have a review of last year’s & are quite depressed to see that they have not achieved many, if any of them!

LJ Ernest over at SimpleProductivityBlog has approached this from a different angle. Her blog is a fabulous source of simple (clue is in the title!) ideas & suggestions for making life richer. Rather than setting targets she has asked questions that should be considered when setting targets /goals/ resolutions.

The original post can be found here but she has kindly given me permission to publish it here!

The Questions To Ask Yourself When Planning The New Year

What have I started that isn’t complete? Do I want to complete it? This is good to assess the things you have committed to do. The second question gives you an out if you decide it no longer serves your purpose.
Do I owe anyone anything (borrowed or promised items)? This is for things you might have committed to other people. Yes, borrowing implies a commitment to return the borrowed item.
What went well in 2010? Looking back on what we have done well allows us to use that as a springboard for new plans.
What could have gone better? Could I have done anything to make it better? By reviewing the things that were not so stellar successes, we can learn lessons for the future. But if what happened was completely beyond your control, cut yourself some slack. Things happen sometimes that have nothing to do with us, despite our best efforts.
How is my activity level? Do I need to stop or start things? Assess how much you have going on. Do you have too much? Consider cutting back (see “Break Through Stagnation by Editing Commitments (Editing Life Series)“). Too little? Find something you would like to do.
Am I taking care of myself in a healthy way? We only get one body in this lifetime, and many diseases can be lessened or avoided by proper care of that body. If you are not taking care of yourself, make plans to do so. Make the doctor’s appointments. Eat sensibly. Aim for health rather than weight.
What do I most want to experience next year? Nobody sets out to have negative experiences. But recognizing that we want to have a certain type of experience can help us gravitate toward them. For example, if you decide you want to experience less stress at work, this might lead to changes in dealing with the people at your current job.
What do I most want to feel next year? Again, no one sets out to have negative feelings. But if you decide you want to feel peace in the next year, you might add meditation or tai chi to your activities.
What do I want to let go of next year? There are always things we can let go of. Deciding to let go of a past experience or a physical item that brings back bad memories can set you free.
What places do I want to visit? Deciding that you want to visit certain places means that you put them in your mental radar.
What books do I want to read? Even if you don’t know the specific titles, thinking about what you might want to read heightens your awareness for when you do find it.
What movies/plays do I want to see? If there is something that you really would like to see, write it down.
Where do I want to go financially next year? If you have certain financial goals, write them down, and make a plan to get there. This does not include things beyond your control like “win the lottery”.
Where do I want to be physically next year? This question can be taken on two levels. It can mean your body, but also where you reside.
Where do I want to be with my career next year? Too many people coast in their careers. Answering this question can be as simple as listing things you want to learn, or as complex as switching fields.
What do I want to create next year? All of us create things, even if you consider yourself a non-creative type. Figure out what you want to create? Do you want to paint? Write? Sing? Try a new food?
Where do I want to be spiritually next year? Along with the physical and mental planes, we must also examine the spiritual one.
Are there any big dreams I want to start making reality? Sometimes we have big dreams. You know, the “I would love it if I … but that will never happen” kind of dreams. These are big and scary, but not usually unattainable (unless they involve the lottery). Write down ones that you can take a few steps toward making a reality.