Time off gave me the opportunity to read and listen to more news and pop culture media than usual. The myriad of suggestions is staggering. I have chosen a few I found interesting and doable. Try some and you will be well ahead of the curve.

In 2011 I will:

  • Backup personal data as regularly as my office work.
  • Start and end with veggies.
  • Begin each day with a visualization of how I want the day to end.
  • Drop a toxic person in my life.
  • Nurture a friendship.
  • Book all prevention medical appointments for 2011 now.
  • Enforce the one-in-one-out rule when it comes to books, clothes, tools, etc.
  • Reduce paper/plastic use by 10%.
  • Take more photos of the people in my life.
  • Place something in my workspace that makes me smile.
  • Delegate a mundane task.
  • Increase charitable giving of time, money, or advocacy.
  • Interact with people of another generation.
  • Refuse to talk about work during meals.
  • Increase sleep by half an hour a day.
  • Reduce calories by 100 per day.
  • Change my hair -- style, color, quality, something.
  • Try one new way to market myself, personally and professionally.
  • Hide the clothes I wear too often.
  • Meditate five minutes a day.
  • Edit my Contact List.
  • Talk with an elder; get the real scoop on the family(ies).
  • Stand during phone calls.
  • Update my will and feel obligated to no one.
  • Delete 20% of my e-mails daily.
  • Limit my time on social networking to “really fun” or “useful.”
  • Read someone you disagree with.
  • Play a mind game (crossword, Sudoku, jumble) daily.
  • Cry as needed, laugh when in doubt.
  • Write more thank you notes; send fewer complaints.
  • And Jane’s professional favorite…hire a coach.

That’s right, most people will think this list interesting, maybe even useful. Then they’ll do nothing. Why? Because their day-to-day obscures the eye-on-the-prize and the immediate demands supersede the future. A coach can help you keep on-point and assist you in getting there faster.

(c) Jane Cranston.

Author's Bio: 

Jane Cranston is an executive career coach. She works with success-driven executives, managers and leaders to reach their potential, better manage their boss and staff, as well as develop a career strategy to reach goals and aspirations. Jane is the author of Great Job in Tough Times a step-by-step job search system. Click here to subscribe to her twice monthly Competitive Edge Report.