2013年快结束了!年底前要完成的3件事There are only 50 days left in 2013. And while I love the fresh beginning of a new year, as you head into the next couple months, it’s all too easy to get caught up in the resolutions you want to make for next year, rather than focusing on finishing this year strong.
You see, I don’t want you to wake up on January 1 thinking you should have—and could have—done something better last year. You’ve still got time! Whether it’s a big project you want to attack or a small habit you want to change, you can go into the new year feeling triumphant.
And so, since I’m all for making progress by achieving small wins, here are three common challenges you can master before the end of the year: one thing for today, one for next week, and one before year end. Then, when the new year rolls around, you’ll be way ahead of the game—and ready to tackle a new set of resolutions.
Today: Stop Living Out of Your Inbox 遥:从收件箱的工作方式中跳出来 There’s a reason that you probably struggle with this one (and many of my clients do, too): Responding to the constant “ding” fills your brain with dopamine, a little squirt of happy juice that gives you satisfaction.
Despite that good feeling, centering your work around your inbox isn’t exactly effective—constantly stopping to check and respond to messages is a distraction that keeps you from staying focused on your bigger tasks and priorities.
The good news is, there are some quick steps you can take to break this habit today.
好消息是遥你可以采取一些快捷贴士打破这个习惯。
1. Check Your Email Only at Certain Times of Day 只在一定时间段查收邮件 At the beginning of the day, determine a few designated email checkpoints—maybe once in the morning, once at midday, and once before you leave for the night.
在开始每天的工作之前,确定几个指定的时间点收发邮件,早上查收遥、中午查收遥,晚上下班之前查收遥。
2. Turn Off Your Email Feed 关闭邮件提醒功能 Instead of letting new email alerts interrupt your work, try using an app like Freedom to turn off the internet and allow you to focus on the task at hand.
3. Change Your Outlook 换掉Outlook邮件 Essentially, your inbox is a place where other people get to send their priorities, issues, and demands for your time. And so, when you base your workday around your email, you’re letting others control your time. Once you realize that, it’ll be a lot easier to prioritize the things that are important to you, rather than simply what comes into your inbox.
By Next Week: Stop Hating Monday 从下周开始:不要憎恨星期一这天 Ask anyone, and you’ll get a pretty universal consensus: Monday is the worst day of the week. The weekend’s gone, and it’ll be another long five days before another comes around. And so, most working hours are spent complaining about how awful the day is. (Sound familiar? ) 你问任何人都会有这样一个相当普遍的共识:星期一是一周中较郁闷的一天。 遥过完了,即将开始另一个漫长的5天工作日,另一个遥还远着呢。 因此,大部分工作时间都在抱怨这一天有多么讨厌。 (听起来很熟悉吧? ) The thing is, hating Monday doesn’t actually do anything to make it better. The way I see it, Monday offers huge opportunities—if you approach it the right way. Regain control over your Monday with these three steps over the next week.
1. Create a Clear Plan for the Week 做一个明确的本周计划 This fresh start to the week is the perfect opportunity to create a road map for what you want to accomplish over the next five days. So, take some time Monday morning to identify your key priorities and block off the time you’ll spend on each one on your calendar. (This step is essential to help you leave work on time and feel good about the work you’ve accomplished! ) 为你想要在接下来的五天内完成的工作创造一个遥的遥开个好头。 因此,周一早上找时间确定一下你的主要重点并锁定日历上每天的时间计划。 (这一步至关重要,有助于你按时完成工作,也会对已完成的工作感觉很美好! ) 2. Visualize Friday 幻想星期五 Once you have your plan for the week, think about how you’ll feel when you leave work on Friday with these key priorities completed. (Hint: It should get you excited to get going on the uber-productive week you’re about to have! ) 你若有本周计划,周五下班时候你完成了本周计划的工作重点,想想那种美好的感觉。 (提示:这会让你兴奋起来,开动起来迎来未来超遥遥的一周! ) 3. Put Something You Look Forward to on Your Monday Calendar 把你的期望写在星期一的日历上 Maybe you bring (or buy) a splurge of a lunch. Or maybe you set aside a new outfit to wear. Perhaps you bring fresh flowers to your desk to make the day a little more cheerful. One thing’s for sure: You’ll dread Monday less if you put something on the calendar that you’ll look forward to!
By the End of This Year: Crush Procrastination 今年年末:一定改掉拖延症 Putting off a few small tasks until tomorrow seems OK—until tomorrow turns into next week, and next week turns into next month. And suddenly, you have a lot more stress, tighter deadlines, and longer days at the office.
When you’ve waited until the last minute to do something, there’s no time to go the extra mile; usually, you just have to settle for whatever you can churn out at the last minute. Procrastination keeps your work ordinary, at best.
Now, tackling a challenge like this won’t take just a day or a week. But with these three steps to get you started, you can certainly help turn your procrastination around by the end of the year.
1. Schedule Your Priorities 规划你的重点 When you tell yourself, “I’ll do this tomorrow,” actually block off some time in your calendar the next day to work on it. Scheduling helps give you both the structure and the dedicated time you need to actually make significant progress.
2. Practice Focusing 练习注意力 Try this: Pick a task you’ve been putting off, and work on it for 20 minutes without looking up. Take a short, five-minute break, then do it again. This will help you form new habits that will, over time, allow you to be (and feel) more productive.
3. Phone a Friend 给朋友打个电话 Tempted to procrastinate? Ask a friend or colleague to hold you accountable. Give this person the details on what you want to accomplish, and the deadline that goes along with it. Then, ask him or her to check in with you for daily updates on your progress. You’ll be much more motivated when you know someone’s keeping tabs on your work.
Sure, you’ll have plenty of resolutions in just a couple months. But why wait? Start practicing now—while there’s less pressure and no one’s looking. Think about how great you’ll feel waking up in 2014 knowing you’ve mastered these three simple ideals. And everyone else? They’ll be amazed at how much progress you’ve made so quickly in the new year!