At the end of every year, as I start to think about my New Year’s goals, I start by choosing one word. My word for the New Year. I love this tradition, it forces me to think big picture, before I get in the weeds of my resolutions list.
This year, my word is prioritize.
pri·or·i·tize
/prīˈôrəˌtīz/
verb
- designate or treat (something) as more important than other things.
“prioritize your credit card debt”
- determine the order for dealing with (a series of items or tasks) according to their relative importance.
“age affects the way people prioritize their goals”
I chose this word in part as a reaction to 2020 – a year which for me was mostly reactive rather than proactive. To me, prioritizing involves an element of control, which I love. No matter what is going to happen this year, I am not going to let my priorities get derailed. Of course, they may shift, but that will be because I decide to shift them.
I also chose this word because I tend to try to do everything, please everyone. And I can’t, or at least not well. So I am committing to the discipline of prioritizing, which involves not doing things or stopping doing certain things, which means sometimes saying “no.” With prioritizing also comes “deprioritizing.”
I am still working on what exactly I am going to prioritize… here is a start:
Getting better at Greek (I did not do a single Duolingo class in 2020….)
Feeling lighter and fresher (as I did last January, I am in the midst a 21 day cleanse and I am not giving up, no matter the political events… )
Reading more (2020 was hard on my reading… more on this in next week’s blog)
Focusing my work time on profitable projects and partners
…
And every day, when I wake up, I now start my day by thinking about my #1 top priority for that day. Only once I have decided what that is do I allow myself to look at my very long to-do list…
Do you have a word for 2021? If so, please do share!
