Goals for 2009

When December comes most people start thinking about which habits they have to kick and what other changes to make to their lives. I have never really done that and always thought that changes will happen when they are due, which has worked well for me in the past. Lately I have been reflecting on my past strategy and came to the conclusion that there are at least two different types of change:

1. The ones you can plan and implement strictly through being persistent
2. The ones you cannot plan, the changes that need to come naturally, in one of the moments of situational relevance.

For example people who are thinking about ending a relationship should have probably already done so as such a decision falls into the second category but going to the gym more often or eating better can definitely be planned and falls into the first category. In fact some good efforts deteriorate due to a lack of planning or not being conscious of the effort or its need anymore Therefore, for the first time, I am articulating my 2009 resolutions of the first category here, so that I won’t forget about them and live up to the expectations I have towards myself!

Here are my resolutions for the first category and the list is still work in progress:

Nutrition

Eat less fast food, less meat (especially red meat) and eat more fish and vegetables instead (immediately)
Coca Cola an other sugary soda is only allowed on hangover days (immediately)
Hangover days should occur less frequently…not through drinking practice but through drinking less frequently (immediately)
Consume less coffee at work (immediately)

Lifestyle

Exercise at least three times a week (immediately)
Read at least 50 pages in good books every week (immediately)
No more tv zapping to kill boredom (immediately)
Waste less money on magazines etc (immediately)
Save a minimum amount (tbd) of money every month (immediately)
Pick up a team sport (football, american football or tennis) again (by March/April)
Write more, at least twice a week; this concerns my blog, forums and maybe more… (immediately)

Pickup and Self-Improvement

Focus on becoming the best person I can possibly be in all relevant areas of my life – become THE Satisfaction (continued effort)
Redirect part of my information focus from pickup to self improvement for a more holistic approach to improvement (immediately)
Improve my game but don’t get lost in the game (continued effort)
Articulate sticking points and take a boot camp to overcome them (by the end of August)
Enjoy the ride, have fun in the field and be open to new concepts (continued but effortless)

Professional

Become the consulting rock-star again that I used to be in April (by mid-year review in May)
Go up or leave for a better firm (Decision due latest in May)
Start my own business on the side (by the end of June)
Keep my mind and eyes open for out of the box alternatives to my consulting job – I like my job but there might be more for me in this world (continued effort)

As stated above, this list is still work in progress, I might add a thing here and there before I come with a final timeline to implement the above.

Satisfaction