It’s January 2nd. You’re back at work, the kids are back in school, you’ve recovered from your eggnog hangover. (I take mine straight, but it still gives me a hangover.) You’ve set your resolutions and decided to end world hunger, lose that weight, get out of debt, and get your house organized.
In your heart of hearts, you know some of those resolutions are just fantasies because you had the same resolutions last year, and the year before, and the year before that. For your other resolutions, you have a plan and you know how you’re going to succeed. That is the secret to every accomplished goal: having a plan.
One very worthwhile goal you might consider for 2007 is to read more. I can think of very few pursuits that would be more rewarding. Reading increases your knowledge. It makes you more valuable on the job. It makes you more interesting to talk to. You become more compassionate toward others. It relaxes you and gives you a break from the world. I could go on and on, but I think we all know how beneficial reading is. Why shouldn’t it be on our New Year’s Resolution list?
The main factor is time. We are all allotted just twenty-four hours in a day, and each minute seems taken up by demands and emergencies. How can we ever fit it in? I’ve written two previous blogs on this topic, one serious and one tongue-in-cheek, but the points in both are valid. We possess the time we create. Create some time for yourself, whether you take the bus or train to work and read while you commute, or keep a book by your bed to read while you’re drifting off to sleep. Your mental stimulation is worth whatever efforts you put forth to get it done.
So make a plan for success. How many books do you want to read this year? Or quantify it by time – how many minutes a day or hours a week? For some, it will be minutes a week. Do whatever you can fit in. And, in addition to reading books, I encourage you to read newspapers and stay abreast of the situations in the world. It is not selfish to better yourself.
I wish you all a wonderful new year. The page is blank, the slate is clean. You can make this year anything you desire.
Related Blogs:
New Year’s Resolutions — a Family Challenge