Resolved
Once a week, I take an hour—usually less than an hour—to clear off my desk. My stack of papers is gone through and sorted, either into files or the recycling bin; my calendar is cleaned up and updated; my pens go back into the vintage college mug where they belong; and all the stuff that accumulates is put into its rightful place. And after that, I spray Mrs. Meyers spray on the surfaces and wipe them all down, which makes the room smell nice. If I remember, I wipe down my keyboard and mouse and dust my monitor and printer. After that, I try to get to inbox zero, or at least inbox no-scrolling-down-to-see-it-all. And then I get back to work in a much more pleasant and humane environment.
The habit started as a new year’s resolution a few years ago and has stuck, mainly because I love that clean smell and the feeling of being in control of my clutter. It helps fewer things slip off my personal radar and it generally makes me happier and more productive.
Not all my resolutions stick—like most people, I ditch the vast majority by February for one reason or another (“lazy” factors in). I have huge admiration for the people who make the big ones—weight loss and clean diets, measurable professional development, financial priorities—work for them, because best intentions aside, this stuff is hard.
This brings me to my point: What’s your resolution this year? Do you have a personal one and a professional one? Does your organization resolve to make collective improvements or changes?
January is a natural time to set goals and start trying to establish new habits. We have fresh notebooks and planners, clean Google drives and computer files, and the motivation to make the new year better, more efficient, happier, and healthier, both on our own and with our organizations. With any luck, 2022 will be better than the last two years, as we learn more, do more, and work toward new goals.
Finally, with this column, I bid you farewell—I am moving to a new opportunity. It has been a pleasure and an honor to be part of this community and I’ll miss you all terribly. Please connect with me on LinkedIn if we’re not and stay in touch. I wish you all the best and thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for an amazing decade. Until we meet again…
