Let's finish up with our New Year decisions...

so we can move on to a more productive 2011.

You've done your Brain Drain.  You picked out some major categories and everything from your Brain Drain is transferred to a category.  Each of these things have a number denoting their importance from 1 - 4.  Now what?

So far we've been just done a bunch of really, really fun stuff.  Now I'm going to ask you to think a little bit (ok - you're going to have to think really, really hard, but it's still fun!)

• In each category pick out the top three number one items that you wish to accomplish. 
• Re-write each of those to be specific.  
• If you wrote "lose weight" re-frame it in specific terms such as, "I want to lose 25 pounds."
• Give that decision a time frame which is realistic.  "I want to lose 25 pounds by June 1st." 

So far pretty easy.

Now ask yourself this most important question and key to most of our failures.

Ready?

What is keeping me from attaining this desire? 

When you identify what is standing in your way, you will automatically know how to proceed. 

Ten things that could be stopping you from attaining your goals

• lack of information
• fear
• poor time management
• unrealistic decisions  (goals)
• lack of proper work space or tools
• lack of funds
• over-extended in your activities
• lack of motivation
• indecisiveness 
• maybe you don't really want it after all...

 Let me repeat this most important sentence:

When you identify what is standing in your way, you will automatically know how to proceed. 

You may want to take a few days to mull over this sentence...

New Year's Resolutions and Living the Savvy Life

Most people cringe when they hear the term "making New Year's resolutions."  And they are correct in reacting that way.  We all know how well that works out - and, yes, I'm being sarcastic.   During the final days of one year and often extending into the beginning of the new year, I spend time working on a yearly plan, or as I prefer to say, "making decisions."  As an adult with ADD, this is an important step in keeping somewhat on track.

Don't "Set Goals"

In addition to the word "planning", I'm also not fond of "goal setting."   It smacks of hard work  Who needs more work!  When I posted on my weekly homemade appointment book,  I mentioned writing the motto, "I Decide, I Choose, I Will" across the middle of the page.  So instead of "setting goals" or even "making a plan", how about just making some decisions?  Doesn't that make you feel much more like you're in control?

Over the next few days I will cover some of the ways I make decisions for the upcoming year.  Do all of these decisions turn out just the way I envisioned or, dare I say, planned?   Heck, no!  But how many would have gotten done at all without some advance decision making?  Not many!


Step One - Brain Drain

I'm not sure where I acquired the term Brain Drain - perhaps David Allen, of the very complicated and popular Getting Things Done system.  But I liked the term it and it has become very important to me.

A brain drain consists of merely getting everything you'd like to accomplish down on paper.  When I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING.  Please don't turn this into a huge chore. Keep a notebook with you and whenever something pops into your head (which happens way more often than you suspect), write it down.  Think of this as a grocery list for your life.   Wish you could go to Italy?  Write it down.  Paint the living room?  Write it down.  Lose 10 pounds (doesn't everyone?)  Write it down. Wish you get more organized (another no-brainer - who doesn't?)  Write it down.  Don't worry about sorting this out for now.  We'll get to that next.  As David Allen says, "Just Do It."

Moving on to:

Living the Savvy Life

Yesterday, I received my advance copy of this snazzy book which is due to be released January 11th.  One of my favorite blogger buddies, Adrienne, over at Rich Life on a Budget, did a wonderful review of this book.  Melissa Tosetti, the author of "Savvy", found me by way of the Adrienne's blog and asked if I would also do a review.  Obviously, this lovely lady has a thing for Adrienne's (proving she's smart as well as lovely!)

I've already made my way through about half the book and will finish tomorrow morning.  I'm looking forward to doing the review.