“But this is only for those that I’m inspirin'”
– Eminem on “No Regrets“
Happy New Year everyone! Can you believe it’s 2020? The new year is a great time to hit the reset button, reevaluate goals, and figure out what you want to accomplish this year. While those are all good actions to take, what about the “how” part? Specifically, how do you stay focused to get everything done? Anddd, how do you maintain it? Well, let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about 2020 vision.
First of all, though, welcome! Welcome to the Ajaxxx.com January 2020 Opinions Column! For those that are new to the site, this is the place where I talk about what’s on my mind. For those returning, you already know the deal! And with that said, let’s talk about HOW we’re going to keep 2020 vision for 2020.
So we’re a few weeks into the new year. It’s about that time when New Year’s resolutions are harder to stick to. Work gets busier, routines return after the holidays, and life takes over. It’s normal. In fact, lots of people experience this. I heard a statistic the other day that 92% of people don’t stick to their new year’s resolutions (which was pretty astonishing to hear). So I mean, how do you stick to those goals then?
I’m sure different things will work for different people. Here are a few tips that I’m going to try this year:
1) Establish a to-do list the night before
I read somewhere that many successful people do this to increase their efficiency. I’ve been doing this in 2019, and it really helps! So, when you create a to-do list the night before for the next day, you’re essentially tying up any loose ends you have from the current day. You didn’t get a chance to call someone? You still need to reply to that one email? Whatever it is, if you write it down as an actionable item for the following day, you can turn it off in your head. It switches off “work mode”, if you will. And by doing that, you’re reducing stress and setting yourself up for a great morning the next day. So yeah, this is definitely a helpful approach to get into, especially as you make it a habit.
2) Having a clean work environment
Clutter can be overwhelming. From papers all over the place, to cords where they don’t belong, to missing office supplies, all of these things can reduce efficiency. A messy work environment can increase stress a ton. In an effort to improve your productivity then, it’s a good idea to get rid of junk, get organized, and maintain some kind of schedule where you clean regularly (and thoroughly). You’ll thank yourself for this one. It’ll clear your mind, improve your speed, and remove unnecessary distractions. Speaking of which…
3) Unplug
Another tip to help us accomplish our goals this year is to unplug. What does that mean, Jaxxx? Well, distractions are EVERYWHERE. If you want to have any chance of getting things done, you have to block them out and get FOCUSED. It’s hard though, cuz like I said, they’re all around place. So what can we do, then? Well, we have to remove distractions! That includes turning social media apps, muting your phone, and closing your internet browser, among other actions.
There’s an app and Chrome extension called “StayFocused” that auto-blocks all certain sites. If you struggle with discipline, this might be a helpful one. There are a ton more out there if you Google them.
4) Focus on your health
While the above actions will definitely help with our goals, it won’t make a difference if we don’t get our health right. In the words of B.I.G., #4 should’ve been #1 to me! Haha. Except he said 9, not 4 lol. Anyway, yeah, we gotta focus on our health if we wanna do anything! If you’re not feeling well, or you don’t have the energy, then it becomes a lot more difficult to get anything done. So what should we do then? Focusing on exercise, diet, and sleep can help.
Now, that’s pretty vague. I know many people say “I’m gonna eat healthier” as a goal. But if it’s not quantifiable, then it becomes increasingly more difficult to accomplish it. How do you achieve that? How do you measure it? You know what I mean? So instead of saying that, break it down into smaller goals. For example, “I’m going to eat a salad with dinner everyday” is a lot more achievable. Or, “I’m going to take a 30-minute walk everyday after work.” Even something like “I will sleep one hour earlier each night” can go a long way. But if you get more specific, the goals will become a lot more reachable. And once you get rolling, these actions become habits, and you can build on them.
5) Balance
For all the work that you do, it’s very important to get away from it all too. You gotta make sure your mind is right! This builds on the health topic from above. Whether “getting away” means taking a 10-minute walk during the workday, or taking a one-week vacation, do what you need to clear your mind. If you bog yourself down in work all the time, it may become overwhelming. You should still make time for other things.
For me personally, I’m going to try a few things for balance. These include reading, playing video games, and traveling.
Bonus tip #6:
Even with the ideas up above, you may lose sight of the “WHY” or forget why you’re even doing it. Life can take us in all sorts of directions and before you know it, you’re not working on your goals anymore. So, here’s a helpful suggestion to get back on track.
6) Write down your “WHY” and reference back to it regularly
Ask yourself, why are you aiming to achieve your goal? Is it for financial freedom? Is it to support someone? Or is it because you’re passionate about the cause? Whatever it is, write it down. And then, whether it’s every month or every quarter, go back to it and read it. Remind yourself of why you’re doing this work and why it’s important to you. That can reinvigorate you, which we all can use from time to time.
Ok y’all, that’ll do it for me. Hopefully these tips will help you as much as they’ll help me too! Here’s to 2020 vision!
Until the next one, y’all. Stay up, stay safe, and hold ya head. Ajaxxx signing out, PEACEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
