It’s 2014 and we’re all already breaking our new year’s resolutions. How many of us said to ourselves, on the stroke of midnight, that we’d lose weight or give up smoking this year; only to find ourselves now avoiding the scales or sneaking out for a cheeky cigarette at work?
Don’t be ashamed: research suggests most of us break our resolutions within two weeks of making them. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The problem is that we frequently set vague goals like “becoming a better person”, rather than something concrete we can work towards. This means our brains are only too willing to throw in towel when we suffer our first stressful day at work or pass our first burger van. Instead, we should be looking to invest in ourselves through a number of different, easily-achievable goals which can incrementally take us towards becoming that “better person”:
Invest for the Future: Keeping on top of your finances
During the holiday season it is easy to get carried away and spend too much. Many of us are guilty of doing this and as the New Year begins, a little housekeeping with our finances could get us back on track.
One look at the front page of a newspaper and you will soon read that we are in the middle of a financial crisis. With this in mind you might want to look at your savings and investments, while making sure any stakeholder pensions or SIPPs you have in your portfolio are performing as they should.
Invest for Now: Start Reading
Here’s a scenario you may recognise: it’s getting late so you retreat to bed, only to spend the next 40 mins browsing on your tablet, checking email and Facebook. Fair enough, it’s an amusing enough way to pass the time, but that’s all it is. If you’re going to stay awake and mentally active for that extra half hour or so, why not use that time to read a book? Not just any old book: a book that’s useful. One that will give you a new perspective on your business, teach you about something you’ve always wanted to learn about, or make you a more-intelligent person.
Make an effort to do this every evening for a year and you’ll soon become incredibly knowledgeable. Half an hour a night on weekdays for 52 weeks equals 130 hours of learning time. It takes about 80 to become a passable speaker of a new language. Imagine what you could learn in 130.
Invest in You: Learn to be Positive
Believe it or not, there is one simple trick literally all of us can do to start feeling more positive about ourselves. Every day, set aside five minutes from your business and retreat to somewhere – even if it’s just a mental state – where you won’t be interrupted. Once you’re there, simply relax and mentally list three things in your life you’re thankful for. It could be your family, your business or simply that it’s a sunny day today and you’re going to a barbeque after work. According to one of TED’s most-popular talks, this simple act can put your brain on a positive path for the rest of the day – and positivity means happiness and enhanced creativity. Try doing this once a day for a month – even on bad days – and see the difference it makes.
Invest in Others: Make Time for Family
It’s an obvious one, but being in business often means sacrificing family time. This year, try putting aside just one day or evening every week that’s all about your partner/kids/parents. The emotional support this can offer in the long run will make it all worth it.
That’s it: four simple steps you can follow without too much hassle to make you a better, happier person. Start off slow and don’t expect a sea-change all at once, but stick at it and 2014 may yet be the best year yet: for both your business and you.
