I decided to write about Use of Self since it is January, and many reflect on their lives during this month and decide to change. I noticed many internet posts declared on the second Friday of January that it was "Quitter's Day." I was not only disappointed, but I thought that was discouraging. We are in a field that emphasizes Self Improvement so maybe the dropout rate is not as bad. What I have noticed with people is that they go two weeks with their new habit and decide to quit after giving this new behavior a minimal trial period. They make the resolve to end their commitment that could influence their future positively.

Why Does the Self Development Plan Go Wrong?

When a self-improvement plan receives a commitment, the owner gets excited about the new habit that they want to tackle, and they overdo it. Think about it. How many times have you seen a friend who decides that they are going to exercise regularly do something like this:

They exercise for 3 hours a day for two weeks. Then they realize after two weeks that they cannot fit 3 hours of free time into their personal and work schedule daily. After all that effort, the result is little weight loss or none, sore muscles, and exhaustion. When faced with these consequences, the decision is simple. Let us stop torturing ourselves! The brain said, "This behavior cannot be that good for me." No wonder there is Quitter's Day!

 Daily Decisions We Make and Life Implications

These are conscious decisions we make. We do not realize that we make little decisions every day and that, over time, those small decisions can affect us dramatically. Take a moment to think about the thousands of decisions that you must make in one day! 

How about these:

1. What we eat: Choosing nutritious foods over processed ones can boost our energy levels, improve our overall health, and even enhance our mood. Not eating correctly can lead to obesity and other health issues related to it.
2. How we spend our time: Deciding to use time wisely, whether it is working towards a goal, learning something new, or even taking time to relax, can significantly affect our productivity and satisfaction. When we do not plan carefully, we can become stressed and end up with physical or psychological issues.
3. Who we interact with: The people we choose to surround ourselves with can influence our attitudes, behaviors, and overall happiness. When we hang with people who are toxic, it will influence us emotionally and sometimes physically.
4. Our mindset: Choosing to approach situations with a positive attitude and an open mind can make challenges seem more manageable and opportunities more visible. While believing it is disastrous limits our creative problem-solving.
5. Physical activity: Deciding to incorporate exercise into our daily routine can improve our physical health, mental well-being, and even extend our lifespan. If we decide to keep putting it off, we may face medical issues in the future.

Each of these decisions might seem small in isolation, but over the years, they can lead to significant success or failure in many areas of our lives.

The decision itself will not make this behavioral change happen.

How Can We Accomplish Them?

When you resolve to try a new habit, the first step is to look at your life schedule and ask yourself. "In the next two weeks, how much time can I commit to this new behavior?" If it is hard to do physically, it is a sound idea to start out slow. Try 15 to 20 minutes, then, after two weeks, reevaluate whether you need to reduce or extend the time allotted. If it is an effortless task physically, for example, eating healthily, assess if you must cook differently, find new recipes, or make two fresh meals - one for you and one for the family? Determine how much time you can afford to spend daily on this. Remember to start slowly, for example, just on the weekend for two weeks and then reassess. To have a new habit become permanent, one needs to do it for a month consistently. So, look at your life's demands and implement them thoughtfully, as carefully as you would for a client.

Life Goals - Fitting Them into Life!

Habits are one thing, but life goals are important too. I think about them in January and say this is the year, but a year passes, and I did not do any of them. There are so numerous things at work, with the family, keeping the house attractive, etc. that my To-Do list keeps me busy! Some tasks require weekly repetition, and little reward like grocery shopping or shoveling snow. Besides doing HAVE TO DOS - I want to have fun as well. With all these fires to put out, we just don't get around to something that seems so far in the future! We then resolve that will do them when we retire.

If you choose to delay them, you might leave this world with your music still in you. Try prioritizing them into your busy schedule!

Do you have life goals? Otherwise, consider whether this resonates with you. An uncomplicated way to make Life Goals visible is to determine 3 major things that interest you, that you want to accomplish before leaving this earth. I have been consistent with the same three all my life. 

• Top Priority - Live Healthily so I can Live Longer
• Second - Show my Love to My Family and Friends
• Third - Leave an Impact in My Profession

Those are mine and yours will be different. Twice a year, I make a subgoal to accomplish in each of these categories that will move these targets further along. After I chose the target for six months, I planned several straightforward tasks for each that I can do in 10 minutes a day- small intermediate things that are easy to accomplish. Yes, you can do something meaningful in 10 minutes. If a goal is to take a family vacation this summer, then you can go to the internet and seek places that seem fun and affordable. If it is to publish an article, you can download a few journal guidelines or look at AI to get topic ideas. Ten minutes, or a little more, is enough time to achieve various tasks. What is amazing is that if it is done consistently, you will make those Life Goals a reality!

Remember to Do Life Goals Daily

I describe my method below of including life goals daily. If you do not have a plan, then here is something you can adapt to your way of doing things. I type them to the top of my To Do list. They are just 10 minutes a day. I can fit 10 minutes in a day for each if they are on my list. Because they are on my list of Fire topics, they are a reminder that I want to do them. Here is an example:

A Weekend To-Do List:

• Have a salad, fish, and asparagus for dinner today
• Call daughter and ask if we should plan a retreat for us; call Jim to catch up
• Brainstorm some ideas for my next article

1.     Shovel walks

2.     Order groceries

3.     Read storytelling book

4.     Write for one hour

5.     Exercise

6.     Research Chapter

7.     Etc.

I am amazed at how many life goals I have accomplished by starting with just 10 minutes a day. Self-improvement takes effort and RECOGNIZE that:

It is not what you have Done but what you Do that Counts, and It is not Who you are but Who You are Becoming that is Important!

Happy 2025!

Joanne C. Preston, PhD

President of ISODC & Editor-in-Chief of the Organization Development Journal