44% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. The rest of us may not make official resolutions, but at this time of year, it’s in the air, we can’t help thinking of ways to positively change our lives.
Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, shares tips for making effective resolutions. I especially like a question she poses, “What is a concrete action that would bring change?” An action repeated becomes a habit. Habits change lives. That’s the key.
Instead of making broad vague resolutions this year, let’s identify concrete steps that can become habits that will improve our work lives. I’ve heard people say it takes anywhere from 21 to 90 days to form a new habit. Let’s say it takes two months: pick at least one new work habit to establish during January and February.
Of course, I have some ideas about new work habits. We’ll each have to figure out what kind of concrete baby steps can help us establish them. If you’ve had some time off over the holidays, this is a good time to take advantage of your sharper saw and make small changes that will stick.
Reexamine your routines.
Take a fresh look at your work routines while your vacation buzz is still with you. Your usual routines may not be serving you, your mission or members.
What do you spend time on that’s, frankly, ridiculous -- serving a process but not a meaningful purpose? What do you do out of habit or comfort that isn’t a wise use of time?
Schedule planning time.
This is so important. Set aside time on Friday afternoon, before the weekend erases your mind, to identify your goals and priorities for the week ahead. What steps can you take next week that will bring you a bit closer to your big picture goals and help you complete ongoing projects?
Draft a weekly plan that includes these tasks as well as your routine work and meetings. On Monday morning, before you do anything else, revisit your weekly plan. How much time this week is really in your control? Allowing for the unexpected to pop up, because you know it will, schedule time for your tasks, using whatever method works for you – a simple Word doc, Outlook or a productivity application like Wunderlist.
Supervisors, for goodness sakes, leave your staff alone on Monday mornings, and late Friday afternoons too. That means no meetings!
One more item for your schedule, and again, supervisors take note: make time to read and think. As we discussed in this week’s #assnchat, you need to fill your well.
Take a break, often.
Sitting for a long period of time with your eyes glued to a screen will sap your energy and dull your mind. You need mental breaks away from the computer. Set a timer for 30 or 45 minutes. When it goes off, get up and move around for five minutes. Your hips will thank you too.
Lots of folks swear by the Pomodoro Technique: scheduled 25-minute work sessions followed by 5-minute breaks, with a longer break after four sessions.
Take charge of what you let enter your life.
We live in a world full of distractions. We get so used to them that we forget to control them. Granted, you can’t control all of them – members on the phone, the boss at your door and department meetings – but you can control some of them.
Work, like life, is all about relationships. Call or visit a colleague instead of emailing them. Call one member a week to learn more about their work and needs. Once a month meet up with an association acquaintance to talk shop over a coffee or beer.
Don’t do it alone.
People who do Weight Watchers change their habits because it’s a practical life-friendly program with accountability and support. It’s easy to relapse into old habits when we get stressed and busy. Whom do you know who wants to improve their professional life and can help you stay on track? A current or former colleague? A fellow association professional?
Go ahead, find a buddy and shake up your world a bit.
Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, shares tips for making effective resolutions. I especially like a question she poses, “What is a concrete action that would bring change?” An action repeated becomes a habit. Habits change lives. That’s the key.
Instead of making broad vague resolutions this year, let’s identify concrete steps that can become habits that will improve our work lives. I’ve heard people say it takes anywhere from 21 to 90 days to form a new habit. Let’s say it takes two months: pick at least one new work habit to establish during January and February.
Of course, I have some ideas about new work habits. We’ll each have to figure out what kind of concrete baby steps can help us establish them. If you’ve had some time off over the holidays, this is a good time to take advantage of your sharper saw and make small changes that will stick.
Reexamine your routines.
Take a fresh look at your work routines while your vacation buzz is still with you. Your usual routines may not be serving you, your mission or members.
What do you spend time on that’s, frankly, ridiculous -- serving a process but not a meaningful purpose? What do you do out of habit or comfort that isn’t a wise use of time?
Schedule planning time.
This is so important. Set aside time on Friday afternoon, before the weekend erases your mind, to identify your goals and priorities for the week ahead. What steps can you take next week that will bring you a bit closer to your big picture goals and help you complete ongoing projects?
Draft a weekly plan that includes these tasks as well as your routine work and meetings. On Monday morning, before you do anything else, revisit your weekly plan. How much time this week is really in your control? Allowing for the unexpected to pop up, because you know it will, schedule time for your tasks, using whatever method works for you – a simple Word doc, Outlook or a productivity application like Wunderlist.
Supervisors, for goodness sakes, leave your staff alone on Monday mornings, and late Friday afternoons too. That means no meetings!
One more item for your schedule, and again, supervisors take note: make time to read and think. As we discussed in this week’s #assnchat, you need to fill your well.
Take a break, often.
Sitting for a long period of time with your eyes glued to a screen will sap your energy and dull your mind. You need mental breaks away from the computer. Set a timer for 30 or 45 minutes. When it goes off, get up and move around for five minutes. Your hips will thank you too.
Lots of folks swear by the Pomodoro Technique: scheduled 25-minute work sessions followed by 5-minute breaks, with a longer break after four sessions.
Take charge of what you let enter your life.
We live in a world full of distractions. We get so used to them that we forget to control them. Granted, you can’t control all of them – members on the phone, the boss at your door and department meetings – but you can control some of them.
- Check your email at the most every two hours. Seriously, what will you miss?
- Turn off email and social media notifications. Shut down social media apps when you’re not using them.
- Take a hard look at your newsletter and blog subscriptions. What are you really reading and why?
- Set examples for colleagues by changing how you use email and run meetings.
Work, like life, is all about relationships. Call or visit a colleague instead of emailing them. Call one member a week to learn more about their work and needs. Once a month meet up with an association acquaintance to talk shop over a coffee or beer.
Don’t do it alone.
People who do Weight Watchers change their habits because it’s a practical life-friendly program with accountability and support. It’s easy to relapse into old habits when we get stressed and busy. Whom do you know who wants to improve their professional life and can help you stay on track? A current or former colleague? A fellow association professional?
Go ahead, find a buddy and shake up your world a bit.
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