So, how are your New Year’s goals going? Actually, right about now, you need to begin the process of starting to refocus on the next season of ideas. That’s the notion behind the Ember Days, something I’ve written about several times here at the site.
Wait, you do have goals right? If not, then re-read what I wrote 8 years ago: Do this, this weekend. Take 15 minutes to sit quietly. Get rid of all the noise. Get away from your phone. Ask yourself “where do you see yourself in 15 years” (or 10, or 5). Don’t listen to voices that are saying “you can’t do that” or “it’s too hard.” Just listen to your soul. Write that down. Ask it in various categories, if that helps you–like financially, relationships, education, job position, geographical, etc…. Be even more specific, so for instance don’t just say “I’ll be living up north” but right “I will be in the suburbs of Chicago on Lake Michigan or someplace better.” (The last phrase is not an “escape clause” but rather an admission that by moving confidently across that line, even better things that you can’t see or imagine can come your way!)
Anyway, we are just weeks away from the next Ember Days time of fasting and feasting, reflecting about what you’ve accomplished with your goals over the past 3-4 months and what you should do next. For most big goals, it takes a long time to accomplish your goals, so rather than having one massive goal, you break it down to smaller, manageable steps. So, as you think back and then look forward, you help yourself by take one more step to your major aim.
Well, back at the start of the year, Fast Company had a wonderful article on how to achieve your goals with five changes in your habits that have significant impact.
- Use environmental triggers to keep your goals in mind: this could be as simple has keeping a water bottle with you at all times or purposefully parking in a new spot for work or classes…only ensuring it is further away than before. These triggers remind you about your goal to be more healthy or drink more water or lose weight.
- Add a small amount of exercise to your day: the evidence is very clear that people who work out are not only healthier, but happier and less stressed out. Start with the parking lot thing; you can do it. Add in climbing a few stairs—even if your office is on the 20th floor, start getting off on the 17th floor and climbing those last 3 flights. You don’t need to run a marathon or join a gym…just do a little for starters.
- Commit 20 minutes a day to stillness: Christians have long known (and other religions who meditate also champion this) the value to quiet. Sit and be. Evidence is clear that this leads to more creativity, but I will tell you it also helps reduce stress as you embrace calm. If negative thoughts or concerns about the day come, center back down in your mind by focusing on a single word or thought. As a Christian, I might use “God is faithful” or “grace” or “He loves me”….think of the interrupting thoughts as ripples on a lake as you sit in a small boat….let it pass, focused on the single thought and calm soon comes again.
- Wake up an hour or two earlier to find focused time: this is the one habit I am not good at and perhaps even disagree with. I will continue to champion that different people’s life rhythms are such that their most productive time is not in the morning. However, I will say that in the quiet of the morning, one can find the solace to sit quietly, to do 20-30 minutes of exercise, and maybe do that reading you “wish I had time for.” In other words, while sleep is critical, we can be more disciplined and, even if a “night-owl” who is productive around 11:30 PM, get to bed soon enough to grab 7 hours of sleep and arise by 7:00 AM ready for an hour of quiet. And, who knows, perhaps you too will begin to see some productivity then too.
- Take a Midday walk to refocus–at the College, we just finished a nice path around a small pond behind the school. It’s near the woods, and a small river (really a creek)…all of that is hard to really find in our urban setting. As I worked with a team of volunteers to finish the path, some doubted it would be used, but I told them that I often leave my office just to get some fresh air. Not only will this be good for your health, to see the outside, feel the sun or wind, and get away from computers and indoor lighting….but research clearly shows that such excursions help with creativity, energy and your mood.
Take time to go read the full article which has links to the research and other useful information. Don’t give up on your goals. You can make it! Live well!