It’s January 1, 2013 and so it’s time to ring in a new year. I’m really excited about what this year will bring, and I’ve been cleaning and sorting, throwing away things, and donating a bunch of stuff just to ensure that I have room to bring in the “new” by getting rid of the “old.”
That being said, I like to start out the year with a list of resolutions. I did this last year, and it seemed to be successful (Hey, goal setting actually works!). So, let’s continue on this path, and here are a few things I’d like to accomplish this year:
1) Stay Healthy. That was my #1 goal last year, and lo and behold, it worked. There was not ONE day that I was sick. Not a cold, cough, fever… nothing! That is a serious personal record for me. I truly hope 2013 brings the same results. This of course means regular exercise and healthy eating, which were two of my goals last year, and I’ve now managed to fold into my daily routine.
2) Stay organized and focused. This is so hard for me. I don’t know about you but I have a hard time controlling all the papers that keep piling up. Since I generally work from home, my dining room table has become my makeshift office/desk, and sadly, I’d have 3 piles of magazines, bills, presentations, etc. on the same table we eat our meals. No bueno. So, I organized and threw away stuff like a madwoman and gone are the piles! I am hoping the table will stay as clear as it is right now for the full year.
3) Stop throwing away money. Yeah, like we all have money to burn…. Once upon a time, I would take my monthly Cox bill and pay it, no questions asked. Then one day, I smartened up. Why am I paying almost $200/month for my landline phone, TV, and Internet? First of all, I hardly ever watch TV, and my landline phone rings maybe once a day and it is usually a solicitor. So, I canceled some special “movie” TV package I had and bought an Ooma over Christmas. This month’s bill… knocked down by $85! Why did it take me so long to do this??
4) Be on time. And by this, I mean on time, not 5 minutes late. I’ve been really working on this, but I’m going to really make it a priority this year. Why? Because people’s time is valuable, and it is common courtesy to show up on time. It’s really just good manners.
5) Be cognizant of how I spend my time. Time is truly one of our few assets that shrink away as days go by. Knowing that my time on earth is diminishing, I’m going to spend my time productively, which means limited Facebook usage for me. I already manage 10 brand pages, so it’s hard enough to keep up with my work, let alone check my own personal FB page. So, please don’t take it personally if I don’t like or comment on your posts. I truly just can’t keep up and knowing my personality, I would spend my entire day liking and commenting on everyone’s status, because dang it, your dogs, cats, kids, new outfit, exotic vacation photos, etc. are all very exciting and cool, and I want to say something! But, ALL of you are living wonderful lives (as we should!), and that would be days of commenting and I just can’t do it.
6) Last but not least, laugh, laugh, laugh. Last year I talked about blocking energy vampires, and I did a really great job doing that because I now only surround myself with the most wonderful, generous, kind, and positive people. It’s fantastic, and everyone deserves this. I promise you, there is nothing better than exuding pure joy.
So that’s my short 2013 list in a nutshell. I leave you with this cool infographic on successful people vs. unsuccessful people that a friend shared. I think they’re great guidelines for the new year. I can’t wait to see what this year will bring. Much love, health and happiness to all of you!
No Ugly Duckling 