3 Keys To Making 2013 Your Best Year Yet

 I, like many people, LOVE starting a new year. It’s akin to buying a new laptop, starting a fresh Moleskine notebook (my all time favorite notebooks…check them out here: Moleskine), and getting a brand new car. All of those things, to me, represent a fresh start. A new beginning. A line in the sand.

I can close the books on the previous chapter, and find it easy to mentally look ahead, getting excited about what the near future holds.

I have to confess, though, I’m not much of a New Year’s Resolution kind of guy. I’m very goal and list oriented, but like to set them on a more frequent basis than once a year.

As I was reflecting on 2012, what I did well, what I wished I would have done better, and thinking about  what I wanted to accomplish 2013, I determined a few things I want to work on in this new year. They are not so much goals, per se, but more habit or way of thinking changes.

I have some goals for the year and things I want to accomplish, but I see the following 3 things as keys for me to be more productive this year. I’ve boiled each down to a single word so they would be easy for me to put a lot of places as reminders, as well as commit to memory.

Before I give you my 3 Keys To Making 2013 Your Best Year Yet, I want to mention that I’m not one of those people that thinks I have the answer or secret solution that will revolutionize anyone’s life that is willing to listen and follow my advice. What works for me very well may not work for you. They may help you, they may not. These keys are also things you have likely heard from others long before me.

3 Keys To How I’m Going To Make 2013 My Best Year Yet!

1.  Focus

Simple enough (that’s the point of all 3 keys…simplicity). I find I have a VERY tough time focusing. A few years ago, I wrote a post about a study that revealed a test group of stoned workers was more productive than a test group distracted by email and ringing phones (Smoking Weed vs. Multi-Tasking). I’m a pretty bad multi-tasker and I get distracted easily. This year, I’m going to make a conscious effort to be more focused, minimizing distractions, and wean myself off of the addiction to constant email checking.

How am I doing so far? Honestly, terrible. However, starting Monday morning, I will be checking my email only 3 times during the day: first thing in the morning, at lunch, then at the end of the work day.

It’s going to be brutal to get myself out of the regular habit, but it has to be done.

The other thing I’m working to do is focus on one thing at a time and see it through to completion. Which brings me to my second key.

2.  Plan

My second key is just as simple as the first, and related very closely to it. Because I tend to be haphazard, I’m being intentional about planning things out. Planning my day/schedule. Detailing what steps need to be taken on a project, and in what order. Planning what needs to be done each day with daily reminders for me (including blog posts, project work, exercise, etc).

Although I’m not a plan every second person, I am trying to get a general framework in place for each day, with specific things to tackle. That gives me a sense of accomplishment at the end of every day (very important for my personality type) and consistent progress on my projects.

I’m doing this by planning for each day the night before, and keeping my lists of tasks manageable. It’s important to keep tasks/lists in one place so you’re not just managing a bunch of clutter.

3.  Systematize

The last key for me is equally as simple as the first two. I really need to put more systems into place so I don’t continually spin my wheels on all sorts of things. Really, this final key is a result of success on the first two.

If you plan things out, then focus on them, you should end up with a system you can ultimately document and follow each time (taking less time to plan out). This also enables you to hand off regular tasks to outsourcers, employees, your kids, your parents, or whoever. You will end up being able to accomplish more in less time and really focus your energy on the things you’re good at and enjoy.

Anything you do more than a couple of times should be a candidate for a system of some sort. This especially applies to tasks like SEO work, blog/site setup, server updates, marketing, affiliate offer selection, niche research, etc. Even if you don’t hand the task/system off, you will know exactly what you need to do when you go to plan to that task, and how much time it will take. Making you more efficient.

That’s it! I’ve got a great feeling about 2013. It’s going to be my best year yet, and I can’t wait to get to the end of the year and see which I accomplished.

If you have a resolution or something you’re taking on this year, put it in the comments. Let’s inspire each other!