This is why I'm anti-resolution.

Most people quit them within weeks and then enter a shame-down cycle, whereby we tell ourselves how horrible we are, how pathetic our discipline and control is, and how we can never..blah...blah...blah

F*ck That

Let's not put that pressure on ourselves.

Instead, let's focus on the habits and behaviors we want.

As we've talked about before, start where you are and implement the smallest changes you can be successful at.

• Don't do it by setting resolutions.

• Do it by setting desired behaviors and implementing them.

That's where the idea of reservations comes in.

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Reservations over Resolutions

I've always said if you want to know what someone truly values, show me their

1. Bank statements

2. Calendar

We're not going to talk about your bank statements today, we're going to talk about your calendar.

Creating a To-Do List is a good start, but it's not enough.

Turning your To Do List into an Eisenhower Matrix is one step better.

With the Eisenhower Matrix, you're breaking things out in terms of Urgency and Importance and I'd say, in order, you want to focus on:

1. High Importance + High Urgency

2. High Importance + Low Urgency

3. Low Importance + High Urgency

I haven't even put Low + Low on the list, because it rarely needs to get done or it can be delegated.

Adding Time Required to the items you want to do on the Eisenhower Matrix is taking it in an even better direction.

The best, and most important

The best, and most important, direction of them all is putting the top priority items from your Eisenhower Matrix into your Outlook Calendar so you have the needed time to do the activities scheduled.

In my experience, it's the surest way to ensure you do something important - to schedule it.

What I like to do is use either an Excel Spreadsheet or Microsoft To Do, which I'm testing, and assigning it to the above categories - that is,

Importance and Urgency 

Using A, B and C for Importance and 1, 2 and 3 for urgency

with the most important tasks being A1, A2, B1, B2, etc.

The next step, I'll put those tasks into Outlook with a scheduled time to allow me to complete the tasks in one session or over many sessions.

Each week, I can surf through all my emails, written notes, etc and update the To Do List, schedule the activities and close any Open Loops.

So, next time you've got something important you want to do in your life, I'd suggest, you reserve the time to do it.

Last Word 👋

I love hearing from readers and I'm always looking for your feedback.

How I'm doing with the Elevated Path. Is there anything you want to see more of or less? Which aspects of the Newsletter do you like the most?

Hit reply, say hello, and let me know what you think of Reservations, Not Resolutions.

I'd love to chat with you !

All my best,

~ Elevated Path