New Year's Goals - Leave 10 Bad Habits in the Dust

New Year's is upon us and we all hope to make each year better than the last. I was perusing my Facebook account and happened upon Craig Darling's inspirational idea that New Year's Resolutions should be goals rather than hokey resolutions. He said, "I know it is hip to set a few resolutions. How many do we actually keep? It is a pretty poor success record over all... Try to set some goals instead. Goals drive you in ways a resolution can not. Set a detailed goal.. and every time you ponder your goal... picture the success in your mind.. Did you know that many years before Jim Carey made it big... he wrote himself a check for 10 Million to make a movie... kept it in his wallet. Hey, that goal worked out for him... Try it... To your successful New Year then!" I think this is a much better resolution to resolve to set achievable goals that short term plans - remember habits take weeks at a minimum, on average 66 days according to Psych Central (http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/10/07/need-to-form-a-new-habit-66-days/).

So in the spirit of the New Year and all things new let's check out a this article featured today by Laura Frongillo, Salary.com contributing writer. There are great tips for stepping out of our ruts and getting on with the new. 


Many thanks Laura Frongillo for your encouraging words and ideas. 

10 Bad Habits to Leave Behind in the New Year 

1.  Put off procrastination…now

Overwhelmed by the difficulty or size of a pending chore? Make use of calendars and computer alarms to plan out and schedule small pieces of big projects. Doing a little at a time is usually easier than tackling a whole project at once – and always more productive than putting it off ‘til you’re “up to” a big challenge.

2. If your system's broke, fix it

Do you clean up your act every few months only to find your folders empty and your desk a mess again in no time? If you’re constantly unable to find things, you may be trying to adhere to a filing system that doesn’t work for you. Notice where your various papers naturally end up and base a new categorization scheme on what works for you.

3. Are you too accessible?

Nothing hinders a project’s progress more than incessant interruptions. When you really need to focus, be sure you will not be bothered. Let co-workers know you are busy. If you have a door, shut it and hang a do not disturb sign. Turn off phone ringers if possible, as well as instant message boxes and incoming email announcements.

4. Cool the water cooler gossip

Sometimes it gets a little too easy to join in the office banter, even when it starts heading down the wrong path – like discussing the boss’s bad breath or which sales rep’s going out with which admin assistant. If you need to vent about a co-worker, do it with a trustworthy non-colleague. Limit the work coffee talk to sports and “Idol” chatter.

5. Poor planners don’t get rich

Do you arrive at your office without a plan for the day or run into meetings unprepared?  If so, it’s likely you’re wasting valuable time – and annoying your co-workers. Leave the poor planning in the past. Take a few moments to write a to-do list or an outline for the next day or an upcoming meeting so you can show up ready to go.

6. You won’t get ahead by being behind

If you find you are constantly 10 minutes late for work or appointments, chances are others notice it too. Nip this habit in the bud by setting all your alarms 15 minutes earlier and leaving yourself an extra half hour to get to work. The worst that can happen is you’ll be a little early and find yourself with some valuable free time.

7. Cut out crude cubicle conduct

Remember, your cubicle is not your castle. That’s because in most offices cube walls are not made of stone. Therefore it’s not okay to talk loudly, produce offensive smells, clip fingernails, blast music, belch, or cough incessantly. Be sure you leave the nail clippers, dental floss, strong perfume, and colds and flu at home or behind closed doors.

8. Unchain yourself from your work

It may seem like keeping your nose to the grindstone is the height of efficiency, but studies show that taking regular breaks from your work is a more productive approach. Step away from your work every so often so you can come back with a fresh outlook. Or take a break from one project every so often to work on another.

9. Unhealthy habits can affect your work

It’s easy in an office to get into a sedentary routine. But your physical health has a direct correlation to your mental health, which in turn affects your work success. Bringing healthy snacks to work instead of eating fast food can do wonders for your mood. Likewise, taking a walk after lunch can revitalize both your body and your mind.

People notice smart dressers – even if unconsciously. So, if you’ve gotten a little lazy in the wardrobe department, it’s time to weed out the “comfy” clothes and spruce up a bit. Don’t worry; you don’t need to be a GQ model or glamour queen to dress for success. Just tailor your look a little. Here are some helpful hints about clothes that say “pay me more.”

Full speed ahead

Once you’ve divested yourself of behavior that may be holding you back, replacing it with positive work habits should be easy – in fact, it often happens automatically. Congratulations on leaving the past behind and following the road to career success! Now, how about resolving to call your mother more often?
http://www.salary.com/Articles/ArticleDetail.asp?part=par1670

Great article Laura, now what we do with these items are what count. I wish someone had written this when I used to work a full time, in office, job, but of course many of these items still apply to the work at home, self-employed.  

 Let's start making those goals today and not wait until the New Year to get started. 66 days start now! Happy 2012!

Katherine

A Year In Rewind - 2011 What a time!

2011 has been a wonderful year filled with joy! Naptime Design has taken on numerous new clients and projects. I am so beyond words as to how thankful and blessed I have been. In the past year we have continued to serve a wonderful boutique (as we have since 2008/2009), Get Noticed Boutique, in Richardson, Texas. I maintain their website, social media, email marketing and all their graphic design and photographic needs. Around the same time I began helping Canyon Creek Fitness with their website and social media management and set up Cottonwood Creek Civic Associations websites.

Later in 2011, I began work with Fit For All Now with Stephen Volcik, my wonderful personal trainer and client, who I built a website for and maintain his social media, blog and graphic design. The work for him has been rewarding and fulfilling as I have also been able to create and maintain his YouTube channel as well as his photo galleries.

Another fantastic unique small business who we assist is Southern Vintage Glam in Plano, Texas. This shabby chic boutique and with a hair salon station in the back of the store, on 15th street in Plano, just down the way from Urban Crust. We enjoy photographing their merchandise, updating and maintaining their website, and managing their their social media.

I love that Naptime Design is not limited to any category of business. I love helping my sweet childhood friend with her online handmade craft store, The Sweetest Stitch. It has been so fun seeing all the wonderful crafts that such crafty ladies have made. Although, my friend runs her business from about 250 miles away from me, she has put me in charge of working on some of her blogging and graphic design as well as her managing her social media, Facebook and Twitter.

A new industry that I am knowledgeable about, but certainly not an expert on has become a new client and interest of mine. Jerry Parks, of Traditional Select Homes, has hired me to manage his social media. I love keeping up with home building and remodeling. This is a secret passion of mine - I secretly desire to be home builder/realtor/stager - I love this industry. My knowledge may be not be 40 years like Jerry's, but my personal experience of buying and remodeling the homes I have owned has been my own inspiration. Jerry has recently published a book on his incredible experiences over the past 40 years to help you build your dream home. The Builder Book is a wonderful book that will help and inspire you. Check out his book, available for Kindle, on Amazon.com.

A passion aside from my husband, children and clients is my newly formed, 501(c)3, non-profit organization, called Trooper's Team. Trooper, a badly burned dog, was found wandering the streets of south Dallas, and his story won the heart of my friend Kim Whiting, as well as mine. She fostered Trooper and has since adopted him. We started this non-profit organization to be able to support animal rescue groups and prevent the unnecessary euthanization of pets. There is much more to come from Trooper's Team - stay tuned in 2012 for great things.

Over the past year, I have also has some clients which I have done graphic design work for, Ebby Halliday (Lake Highlands Office), Tina Booth (Scentsy distributor), numerious friends and family who have graphic design needs for invitations, etc. I love it all!

There are special things in the works for Naptime Design and myself. I have loved 2011 and am anxiously awaiting all the fantastic projects ahead for 2012. Happy New Year!