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We’ve got seven days left before 2012. And much like how we do when we have any deadline left to anything, we’ll mostly ignore it until the last possible second. With that, a few ideas on things you can do this week (come on, it’s not like you’re actually that busy this week) that’ll make the next 52 weeks a little easier.
Back up, clean out. This week is the perfect chance to upgrade your computer without spending a cent. Back up all your important files to multiple places, then go through your applications one by one: If you don’t remember the last time you used one, trash it. Do the same thing on your iPhone or Droid, and all of a sudden, everything is running faster. It also helps to go to your upgrade center (app store, whatever) and make sure you’re up to date on all of the latest everythings. One less thing to worry about for a while next year.
Examine how you schedule. I’m a huge fan of Google Calendar – Perhaps it’s time to figure out a better way to organize your schedule. The better your schedule is, the less likely you are to miss appointments or screw up meeting times. One of the best things about Google Calendar? I can set every meeting to start on the 50s – i.e., 10:50, instead of 11am. This reminds me to get there a few minutes early and be first to the meeting.
Get a better alarm clock. By now, we all use the alarm clock on our phones to wake us up. But I’ve got a backup, as well. It’s a $15 Sony alarm clock, and it sits across the room. When it goes off, I have to get up to shut it. You know what that means? It means I’m up.
Buy a nice one-liter bottle. Each night, fill it with water. Each morning, as soon as the alarm goes off, drink the water. Boom. You’re awake and starting your day.
Open a savings account this week. Yeah, savings account interest rates are for crap right now, but it’s still better than nothing. Set up an auto transfer of $10 each week from your checking account into it. By the time next Christmas rolls around, you’ll have all the money for all your holiday shopping set aside and you won’t have to worry about it.
Defriend. Go through each Facebook friend and ask yourself if you’re really going to communicate with them in 2012. Will they bring any value to your life, or you to theirs? If the answer is “no,” or if you even have to think about it for more than a second, unfriend them. Your network is only as strong as your weakest relationship in it.
Get to the gym and meet the trainers. They’re all going to be slammed on New Year’s Day, dealing with the Resolutioners – The ones who come in for two weeks then you never see again. Go in NOW, and forge a relationship with one. You’re more likely to go back come New Year’s Day if you have someone to go back to now.
Finally, block one day a week on your calendar next year for FUN. It doesn’t have to be the same time each week, but start blocking off now, with things to do that take you out of your comfort zone. This guarantees that 2012 becomes a year of growth for you, and not just another checkbox on the list of life.
Happy New Year!
