My ‘Not-to-Do List’ for 2008
That’s right. I am starting off the year by composing a ‘Not-to-Do List’ for 2008.
I already make a Daily To-Do List of five items before each work day. Only five items make it each day. These are items that will get completed before the end of the day, no matter what.
And, I always have New Year’s Resolutions. I will be sharing those very soon, once I narrow down my high hopes. I think I will limit it to five as well. Maybe less. Perhaps only three.
It is only fitting that I start off focusing on what I no longer wish to do as well.
U.S. News & World Report writes that “Since time is finite and your work is not, deciding what you don’t want to do can be crucial to getting things done.”
So, here is what I have identified as what I need Not-to-Do in order to pave the road for successful accomplishment of my New Year’s Resolutions.
Not-to-Do List
1) Stay up excessively late.
Yes, I am a night owl. I discovered my natural circadian rhythm skewed towards the late night during college when I exhibited enhanced studying and writing starting at midnight. Now that I’m in my mid-thirties I can no longer live on the extreme sleep deficit on which I have subsided for the past 15 years. I am going to start slow with staying up 15 minutes less each night for the first two weeks or so, and then increase it at a similar rate. I don’t think I can ever ‘get to bed early.’ But, I can accomplish ‘NOT staying up so late.’
2) Sit on my ass all day.
How exactly did I get this way? I have gone from a teenage ballerina who danced 5.5 hours per day to a sedentary piece of mush and this upsets me beyond belief. Strength and well-being have been part of my self-identity since early memory. I am out-of-balance without it. Frequent work-hour walks around the block, here I come!
3) Forget my off-line friends.
The past few years have been amazing in terms of forming friendships with moms and executives through the power of internet communities and social networking. What I haven’t done is use those same tools to connect with my ol’ friends from the past, the ones I met off-line. I will not forget thee. There are Twitter and dinner invitations coming soon. I promise.
What is on your Not-to-Do List? Com’ on, share.
