Start your 2017 productively
It’s fair to say, 2016 has been an eventful year. As we look forward to 2017, what do we know? 2017 will be the Chinese year of the Rooster, we are due a partial solar eclipse, and it is the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. However, 2017 is already characterised by a great deal of uncertainty, the Brexit debacle will rumble on, Donald Trump will take the reins of America, and, terrifyingly, experts are predicting a global coffee shortage. It’s no wonder Nostradamus foresaw 2017 as a year of international unrest!
Luckily, we have a few tips to help you charter these uncertain waters, and get 2017 off to a productive start.
Tidying up 2016
Before we wave goodbye to 2016, ensure that you tick off any items lingering on your ‘to do’ list. You know the ones, the big-ticket items you’ve been putting off ‘until you had a moment’. With 2017 fast approaching, you have no more moments left and are going to have to create one!
Take this time to perform a personal audit of 2016, taking stock of where you are now, and where you would like to find yourself this time next year. Assess what went well for you this year, what made it so, and how you will replicate this success in 2017. What didn’t go so well? How will you avoid these pitfalls?
Goals and resolutions
What are your major goals for 2017? Map out what it will take to achieve these, and go into detail. Try to pin key points to deadline dates, we are far more likely to put the effort into achieving a goal if it has a deadline.
There is some great software available for helping you stick to these targets, have a look through the app store on your phone and computer and find something that will work for you. And, what’s more, pay attention to the notifications! It’s easy to set up your goals and targets for the next year, the real challenge comes to sticking to them.
Calendar
Underestimate the power of the simple calendar at your peril. It offers a visual representation of your time, reminds you of upcoming commitments, and ensures you never miss a birthday! This year, ensure your calendars are synchronised, we’re taking your phone, computer, work phone, and work computer.
Schedule all events that you’re currently aware of, including ones that are yet to be confirmed. What do you need to do to prepare for these events? Plot these out in your goals map and coordinate the deadlines across your calendars.
Trends
The end of December is commonly downtime for businesses. Take this time to research the trends and events predicted for 2017. Find popular and trusted bloggers within your industry, and find out what they consider to be ‘the next big thing’. How can you incorporate this into your plans for 2017?
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2017 may be clouded by uncertainty, but if you follow our tips, you will ensure you aren’t. What are your top productivity tips for the upcoming year? Tweet us at @BorgOverstrom to let us know.
