January 6, 2010
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With last year and the decade behind us, it’s fair to say there's been a lot of trash talk. More so than ever before, I've encountered people who couldn’t wait to see 2009 and the "naughties" over with.
Truth be told, a lot of awful things happened from 2000 to 2009, and we certainly ended the decade on unsure ground. But this kind of negative thinking is rarely productive.
Instead, let's look at some ways to approach the new year so that when we’re looking back come next Dec 31st, we can reflect on our year with a sense of satisfaction.
1. Slow down.
This may apply more to my fellow New Yorkers than it does to others, but if there's one thing I'd like to do in 2010, it’s taking a step back and viewing my decisions and my work with a little more perspective. I want to try not to get caught up in the minutiae. With constant distractions coming at us from all angles (and devices), it's far too easy to get overwhelmed and stressed. One of my goals for 2010 will be to fight back against those distractions.
2. Make and share resolutions.
New Year's resolutions have a stigma to them, in part because so many people fail to keep them. Research shows, however, that people who make resolutions are far more likely to succeed at changing their lifestyles than people who do not make any resolutions. But how to stick to them? Go out on a limb – make realistic goals, announce them publicly, and get other people to work with you toward your objectives.
3. Be mindful.
Our minds are complicated things, full of habits and conditions and traumas and memories. If you find yourself struggling with anything, be it a New Year's resolution or a big decision or an emotional conflict, reflect on what's causing your internal strife and understand it better. The more you understand your weaknesses and what bothers you, the better equipped you can be to overcome them. If you don't take the time to learn from your past shortcomings, then you don't stand much chance of doing better the next time around.
4. Be positive.
In many ways, perception is reality – even in our own minds. While 2009 was an awful year for a lot of people, a lot of good happened along the way as well. Happiness is always a moving target, and every year we grow a little older and a little wiser as we pursue it. Remember that happiness is found in the pursuit, and don't worry too much about reaching the finish line.
Happy new year!
*** This post comes from Tony Bacigalupo, co-founder of New Work City, a co-working space in New York City, co-author of I'm Outta Here, and a partner at Shift 101, a workspace consultancy. Tony’s fieldwork feeds into the knowledgebase of the Behance Team, who run the Behance Creative Network, the 99% productivity think thank, the Action Method project management application, and the Creative Jobs List.
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Jill Fehrenbacher 2 years 4 months and 13 days ago
These are definitely points that I'll be focusing on in 2010. Today's always-on, always-connected lifestyle has lots of upside, but make no mistake that there are various negative aspects as well. I'm going to be focusing on breaking the chains holding me to my laptop and spending more time with my family. Can't wait to slow down and reap the benefits!