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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Category Archives: Goals

December 6, 2023 Why to “Ramp Up” Your Resolutions

When the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, we feel a sense of renewal, a fresh start. Many of us make New Year’s resolutions and pledge to begin our new healthy habits as soon as the year begins. Although the energy of a new year can help us along for a while, it can be very difficult to sustain a new habit if we aren’t used to doing it. Making the switch from a junk food diet to a healthy one, going from the couch to the gym, cutting ourselves off from social media, or any big lifestyle change can rock our routines and make us feel a bit off balance. And this discomfort might be enough for many people to eventually give up and say, “Well, there’s always next year…”

How can we avoid making short-lived resolutions? How can we make healthy changes that last? The answer might be “ramping up” your resolutions.

It is difficult for most people to make a major change at the drop of a hat. Instead, it can be helpful to make incremental changes—minor tweaks to your usual routine that are relatively painless to implement. Small changes can add up, especially when you make a conscious effort to ramp up those changes day after day, and week after week.

If you haven’t been jogging lately, it would be exceedingly difficult (if not impossible!) to run a marathon. That’s why there are marathon training regimens in place. These programs help people build up speed and stamina over the course of several months, so by the time the marathon rolls around, they’re well prepared.

The same idea can be applied to ramping up your resolutions. A month or two before the new year, you might start building toward your resolution. Let’s say you’d like to read two books every month next year. You can start by committing to reading a minimum of three pages a day for a few days. Then, you can increase that amount to five pages, then ten pages, then an entire chapter. By New Year’s Eve, you will have developed the beginning of a reading habit and will be ready to tackle your resolution in earnest.

Another example is eating a healthier diet. To prepare for this resolution, you can start small. Try swapping a daily junk food snack for a healthier option (swap potato chips for sliced veggies or an apple; swap a cookie for a piece of low-sugar dark chocolate). Or, you could modify one of your daily meals to be healthier (eating a salad for lunch instead of a pre-packaged sandwich or mac ‘n’ cheese).

To ramp up to your resolution, it’s a good idea to keep a few things in mind:

  • It pays to plan! Set a starting point and map out how you will slowly ramp up your behavior.
  • Use a calendar and set alerts. This will help remind you of your next “ramp up.”
  • Don’t stress the start date. You can start making incremental changes at any time of year, not just before the new year. Just make sure you have a clear direction and have mapped out how you will ramp up.
  • Celebrate wins! Don’t forget to recognize the progress you’re making.
  • Get others on board. It can be very helpful to include others on your journey of self-improvement. Ask a friend to check in from time to time to help you reach your goals (and don’t forget to offer to do the same for them).

The end of the year is fast approaching, and it’s not too late to start thinking about the changes you’d like to make for yourself. No matter your goals, it can be hugely helpful to tackle them slowly, one small change at a time. You’ve got this, and I’m cheering you on!

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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September 20, 2023 Always Growing: 6 Ways to Cultivate Continuous Learning

At certain points in our lives, we are learning almost nonstop. In school, we’re introduced to new subjects and topics while adapting to new environments and teachers. When we start a new job, we’re learning about the expectations, the workplace culture, and the ins and outs of the job itself. But if we’re not in a situation where we’re “forced” to learn, do we make an effort to expand our knowledge? If not, how can we make this a priority? And why is it important to keep learning anyway?

Continuous learning is vital for many reasons. It can help sharpen or expand your skillset, introduce you to new perspectives, help you master new technology, or even increase your leadership skills. Lifelong learning is also great for your brain health. Scientific studies have demonstrated that “when we learn new skills, the density of our myelin, or the brain’s white matter is increased. This in turn helps improve performance. Our neurons are also stimulated, forming more neural pathways which allow us to learn better.”

So how do you keep on learning? Try any or all of the following tips:

Maintain Your Curiosity

My grandson Leo is always asking, “Why?” Why this, why that. Why do I have to go? This childhood sense of curiosity is not only adorable, it’s helpful for expanding his world. If he doesn’t understand something, he asks about it. As adults, we do not always admit when we’re confused or need clarification. We don’t always acknowledge our shortcomings. I encourage you to get curious! Ask questions, find your sense of wonder, recognize that there are many things you don’t know about or understand (which is fine! You can endeavor to learn about these things…).

Learn Every Day

How might your world change if you attempted to learn something new every day? What if you woke up and, instead of scrolling through social media or checking your email, you read an article by Wired or Harvard Business Review? What if you read a few pages of a book? What if you spent just 10 minutes taking a go-at-your-own pace online class?

Alternatively, what if you dared to ask questions at your next meeting? Or asked for help or additional guidance/insights from one of your colleagues? Your curiosity and willingness to learn can open doors and expand your perspectives.

Cultivate Your Newsfeed

There is an educational side of the internet, but you have to look for it! There’s nothing wrong with occasionally checking Instagram or watching a cute cat video, but if this is all you’re doing you’re missing an opportunity to learn and grow. Try replacing some of your social media time (or mindless scrolling time) with something educational. The more you seek out and click on enriching, informative articles, the more these items will populate your newsfeed (through Google, Apple, or through a social media site). That’s how their algorithms work. But you have to make the first move! Seek out educational material, and eventually you’ll see similar articles suggested to you.

Create/Join a Book Club

There are many incredible books out there that can introduce you to new ways of thinking, expand your skills, or simply offer you a fresh perspective. No matter your interests, there’s a book out there for you. It can be easy, however, to let reading take the backburner. To keep up on your to-read list, consider starting a book club with like-minded folks. Discussing the books you read with others will help you appreciate them in a deeper way.

Change the Channel

I certainly understand the need to tune out at the end of the day with any old TV show. But what if you made an effort to watch something educational or informative once or twice each week? Several fascinating documentaries exist about a variety of topics. You don’t have to watch a five-hour Ken Burns documentary (unless you want to!); instead, you might opt for something like “Explained,” a mini-documentary series on Netflix, or switch over to YouTube to learn about a new topic.

Take a Class

It’s easier than ever to take a class on a new subject. You might opt for an in-person class (through community education programs, local arts or sciences organizations, a nearby university, etc.) or an online class (several platforms exist, including Teachable, which hosts my online leadership class). Each route has its advantages and disadvantages, so choose what’s right for you.

Happy learning!

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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September 13, 2023 Mastering Time Management: Tips for Boosting Productivity

We’ve all been there. There’s a deadline looming ahead of us, or a work project that we really need to start…but we log into social media instead and start scrolling. Or we check the news. Or we get distracted by daily life (the laundry needs to be done, the kids have school and sports, the dog needs a vet appointment), which can derail us even more.

With so many things vying for our attention—both entertainment and little tasks—how can we boost our focus and get the things done at the TOP of our to-do lists? How can we practice better time management and boost overall productivity?

Here are five ways…

Opt for Airplane Mode

If social media or online browsing is your weakness, try to do whatever work you can in airplane mode (yes, your laptop has this function too). This will give you a measure of control over mindless scrolling and help you to solely focus on the task at hand.

Set a Timer

An excellent productivity method is to use timers to do “work sprints.” Set the timer for a short amount of time (say, half an hour or even twenty minutes) and focus on ONE task until the timer beeps. Do not multitask or stray from what you’re doing. These short bursts of concentrated work can help you stay focused and productive.

Prioritize Tasks

Make a to-do list and prioritize the tasks based on their importance and deadline. Start with the most critical tasks first and work your way down the list. By focusing on the most important tasks, you can ensure your time is spent efficiently and effectively.

Eliminate Distractions

Identify potential distractions in your environment and take steps to eliminate or minimize them. This could involve turning off notifications on your phone, closing unnecessary tabs on your computer, or finding a quiet workspace where you can concentrate without interruptions. If you’re working at home, it’s a good idea to go into a room and close the door to separate yourself from the rest of the house (and all the housework that’s waiting for you!). This sends the signal to yourself (and anyone else at home) that it’s work time, and you’re about to dig in.

Take Breaks

While it may seem counterintuitive, taking regular breaks can actually improve your productivity. Research has shown that short breaks during work can help recharge your brain and prevent burnout. So, get up and stretch, practice a little yoga, take a walk, or enjoy a cup of tea—whatever will help you relax and detach for a few minutes. Then, once you’re feeling refreshed, you can tackle your work with renewed energy.

Bonus Tip: Use the Pomodoro Technique

This technique is another effective method for managing time and boosting productivity. This technique involves breaking your work into intervals called “pomodoros,” typically 25 minutes long, with short breaks in between. After completing a set number of pomodoros, you can take a longer break. This method helps you maintain focus and prevents burnout by providing regular breaks.

By implementing these strategies and making them a part of your daily routine, you can improve your time management skills and increase your overall productivity. Remember, it may take some trial and error to find the methods that work best for you, so don’t be afraid to experiment and adjust as needed. Good luck on your productivity journey!

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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