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January 01, 2007

New Years Resolutions

It's a problem that's plagued me for years, and one that's just gotten worse in the last 2 years. It's embarrassing, shameful, and entirely of my own making. And so, dear reader, I have one tiny, simple, straightforward goal for 2007--one that, if I can manage it, will completely revolutionize my life.

Be On Time

I admit it, I have a terrible habit of showing up 5-10 minutes late (and occasionally more) for everything. It begins in the morning, when I get up a solid 20 minutes later than planned...and then dawdle over email when I should be jumping in the shower and getting a start on the day. Because I haven't found the time to stay organized, the process of getting out the door (or parked at my desk for the first conference call of the day) is unnecessarily complicated, and I usually end up dashing out the door with a crucial bit of information missing (like directions), which then puts me even farther behind.

Because I'm always late, I rarely take public transportation--since I can't find the 20 minutes necessary to walk to the nearest metro station. So I end up paying exhorbitant parking rates, which then makes me feel like I need to work MORE hours to pay for it all.

Because I'm trying to juggle a dozen projects at once, I'm chronically re-prioritizing tasks throughout the day. The nature of the Big Idea means that I need to be immediately available when potential clients come calling, and between current paying projects and business development things, I rarely have a "big picture" view of where things are going.

By the time I get back to the house in the evening, I already have a list of over-due tasks, reminders, and obligations. I end up working throughout the night, which means that I go to bed around 2 a.m.--making the alarm clock beeping a most hated noise, and going far to explain why I start off slow in the morning.

All in all, it's a vicous cycle, and so my goal this year is to commit only to the things I can complete in good standing, to allocate enough minutes to getting to places on time, and to be prepared when I do arrive to begin work (or fun) without scrambling for additional information.

Let Operation Be On Time (OBOT) begin.

(And dear reader, help me create a feeling of solidarity by sharing your own New Years Resolutions in the comments section below. Remember that you can leave the name/email/website sections blank if you'd like to protect your anonynmity. Mr. Bastish has fixed the comment problem, and so everything should run smoothly!)

Posted by madchen on January 1, 2007 04:42 PM

Comments

I have no NYRs this year. I am however embarking on the Fly Lady routine by keeping my sink empty, clean and shiny.

Posted by: La at January 1, 2007 06:07 PM

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