Forget The New Year Resolutions, Just Pick 3 Words To Live Your Life By via @companyofwomen

by Anne Day | Featured Contributor

How many of you make New Year Resolutions each year – you know the ones – lose weight, exercise more or eat sensibly? And how long do they last? Experts say around six weeks. In January there’s this flurry to join the local gym and then it tapers off, as the urge to get fit wanes.

What I have done for the past three years, is instead of the resolutions, I come up with three words that I want to live my life by and I focus my energies on them. The first year it was health, acceptance and authenticity. Then it was energy, creativity and connectivity, and last year I chose courage, curiosity and collaboration.

Before picking the words, I’d reflect back on what I had needed more of during the past year and then consider what is going to happen in the year ahead. And for the most part it has worked for me, as it makes me focus.

For example, I chose courage because I’d decided I was going to do more public speaking, and I have. While I still get butterflies in the stomach, with each presentation I give, I become closer to being comfortable talking in front of an audience.

The word curiosity was picked because I am (and still am) researching and writing a book with Amy Hunter about why women don’t feel good enough, and what we can do about it. Over the year we have connected with over 350 women as part of our research and our challenge now is to synthesize what we have learned into a practical, meaningful book.

As for collaboration, I recognized that in order to be more successful in what I offered, it was important to work with others who have similar goals or work with similar audiences. I way, way prefer working in partnership with others as you gain their wisdom and input, and end up with a much better result.

So what am I picking for next year. I’ve actually been struggling with that one as it is hard to narrow it down to three words. But here you go – Bold, Balance, Book.

Why bold? I have decided that 2015 is the year I become comfortable with all things technical, and I learn how it works, use it and start delivering my message through webinars, video and podcasts. There, I have put it in writing for the world to see. Guess that will make me deliver☺

I don’t actually believe in work-life balance. I think you can have it all, just not at the same time. However…. I know I need to build more “me” time into my schedule. Get rid of the guilt, and do stuff that is just for me and that I enjoy, instead of eating me up, physically and spiritually. So balance kind of encompasses that.

The book – well for obvious reasons, Amy and I need to get it written and out there. Our focus will be on getting down on paper all the stories we heard, the advice we gleaned and ways for us all to move forward. Plus it’s a B and I like alliteration.

Got you thinking? What words would you choose? I really recommend this approach, it is so much more effective than writing down those same old, same old resolutions each year.

Change your approach. Choose your words carefully and create the year you want for yourself.

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Anne Day has had a somewhat eclectic career from heading up several charities, to being the editor of a national parenting magazine, to working for government and then launching her own business.

But she found working for yourself can be isolating and so eleven years ago she started Company of Women as a way to connect and support women entrepreneurs. Today the organization has six chapters across the GTA and beyond, and over 300 members. In 2009 she received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Oakville and the TIAW World of Difference award for her work in supporting women internationally. Over the years she has helped thousands of women grow professionally and personally through her programs, services and personal encouragement.

She is the author of three books, the most recent being Day by Day – Tales of business,life and everything in between. She is a regular business columnist with Huffington Post, and blogs for numerous other publications.

Anne Day