Forget Traditional New Year Resolutions! Just Carry Forward Learnings of 2020 and Implement Them

There have always been those who are die-hard New Years Resolution makers.  And even though, it’s well determined that by the middle of January the largest number of these resolves have fallen off the map.  However, it appears this year, as we approach 2021, many people are clearly focused on individual learning take-aways from 2020 that they want to carry forward into the new year and even those beyond.  Be them things they have learned as related to their job, business, family or friends, it is hoped that these are things that will significantly minimize ever having to live through what 2020 has delivered.  In swapping the resolutions of things we want to do … i.e. joining a gym, losing weight or finding a new job …  to those aimed at implementing what we have learned in getting through this year is the focus of many.  Our learning encompasses all areas of our lives.

I have little doubt that in reviewing the following things you will be able to add to your personal list.  Given that we are still a couple of weeks away from the new year, I, for one, think that it will be a valuable topic of discussion.  Here are some worth consideration.

• Be ready for anything … and be flexible
  While we personally or business-wise may have felt like we had contingency or rainy-day plans, nowhere did our experience lead us to create concrete emergency plans due to something that impacted our lives on every level.
  The Carry forward? – redefine what preparedness would mean for us personally and in all aspects of our lives.

• Create a cash emergency fund
  Feeling we have enough money to put something aside if a COVID style emergency were to arise can’t be taken for granted as a given. It must become a serious consideration and decision if we truly don’t want to experience the same degree of uncertainty and worry.
  The Carry forward? – Regardless of the amount, having anything … something … that will allow us to live our lives with knowing that we have some bandwidth is critical.  It can serve to stave off immediate panic while we contemplate our next steps and allow some time to create and act on a plan or possible solution. 

• Bring budgeting into your world
  Maybe before this year we were doing well enough to live and enjoy the kind of life we envisioned. We didn’t foresee any real changes and only anticipated that we would advance our income.  However, 2020 taught us all how wise it is to expect the unexpected.
  The carry forward?  in our work and maybe even enjoying dual incomes into our homes we learned that we had best be prepared for unimagined issues for we now know that unimagined doesn’t mean impossible.

• Working remotely is beyond doable
  What began as something unimaginable and unworkable emerged into a situation wherein employees and their employers came to realize the array of benefits to both. There is evidence that for many the past beliefs and approach to working and running a business is no longer valid.  In fact, remote work is preferable in so many situations.
  The carry forward? – Remote working can be both effective and efficient in ways never envisioned.  For the company to require less physical space and for the employee to enjoy reduced costs related to the likes of commuting time and office attire needs is a win for all.

• Being around others when sick isn’t cool!
  How many times have you socialized with friends or been at work wherein someone was there who was ill? Of course, they felt they were better and no risk and their boredom or feeling the need to get the project out drive them to be among others.  COVID has shown us differently.
  The carry forward? – We have not all experienced the danger of being around those who ignore their own health.  As such, they move forward based on their own desires or sense of responsibility and COVID has demonstrated the need for the greater good in our thinking and decision making.

• Social interaction is a need to be respected
  As human beings most of us have a need for human interaction. It’s also our desire and with the water cooler gone or the restaurants and gyms closed we have had to devise ways to satisfy ourselves to create such opportunities.
  The carry forward? – The world of zoom has done much to narrow the gap.  In organizations it allows us to come together and conduct business and has been found to create a more efficient atmosphere.  On a personal level it has allowed us to stay connected to friends and family beyond what we may have enjoyed previously.

• NOT Being techno savvy is much less of an option … and that’s good
  With the never-ending rollout of new and enhanced technology designed to make our lives easier, faster or more efficient, so many have adopted a maxed-out mindset. “I like my old way and am tired of always having to learn to do things differently just because it’s there” has been heard often. Working remotely has forced so many to learn different technology in order to keep up.  And if our children are at school remotely, we have come to realize how much they know and how easy it is for them to learn using these new tools.  Thus, we have been forced to learn what they know just to be able to help them.
  The carry forward? – Realizing that being resistant to new technology has been an added disadvantage and challenge this year and should increase our willingness to learn to use it.

• Reinvent ourselves and allow flexibility to be our driver
  COVID turned so much of our known habits and routines on their ear. Did we really ever imagine we would be going to work … at home?  Or did we ever think that we might become teachers?  Or did we ever envision meeting a friend for a glass of wine would take place via zoom?  And yet there we have been.  Forced to step out of various comfort zones and just do what had to be done.
  The carry forward? – hold onto to the flexibility we were forced to incorporate.  Doing so enhances our value to our work and to deepening relationships.

Boxing legend Mike Tyson once said: “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” While we may feel that we always had some sort of contingency plan to deal with the ‘what ifs’, this year has taught us that COVID-19 has done exactly that to us in different ways.  Taking real advantage of what we have all learned pertaining to our individual worlds is to reduce the terrifying impact of any future pandemic and in the meantime improve our day to day lives.  Putting 2020 in the rearview in this way seems like a great resolution!  On your way to the New Year, enjoy a safe holiday.
Mike Dorman