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Ringing in a new year usually causes us to pause and
think about what we would like to accomplish during
the next 12 months. Regardless of whether we have a
real resolution or just a desire to make something different
happen, the new year is the beginning of setting goals
on which we can focus. I know that statistics overwhelmingly
indicate that few of us will follow through and actually
make major changes in our lives, but making resolutions
does provide a collective energy around an agenda as
we start the journey into 2003.
I have thought about the things that I would like to
accomplish this year. The first is to get organized.
Despite several calendars, multitudes of lists, yellow
Post-it reminders everywhere and asking friends to remind
me of things, I invariably hit the panic button when
I find I have either forgotten something important or
nearly forgotten and it is the nth hour to get it done.
Surely there must be a better system to keep me on track
so I do not have to rely on my memory and the dreaded
2 a.m. wakeful worry time.
The second thing I would like to do is to stop procrastinating.
I periodically monitored my own stress this year and
concluded that most of my stress was due to being under
the gun for deadlines, which I invariably had known
about for a long time. In watching my own behavior,
I know that when I am spending time doing those things
I don't enjoy, such a washing the car, mopping the floors
and cleaning out the garage, there is a deadline for
something I need to do lurking in the background and
I am working hard to avoid it. So, in avoiding it, my
stress rises and-voilà!-there I am, back in the
vicious cycle of panic. I rationalize this behavior
by telling myself that this is the only way I will periodically
have a clean garage.
My other resolutions are simple: lose weight, exercise,
eat healthy foods, contribute to others, spend quality
time with my family and have some fun. The one thing
missing from this list is to work harder. I don't need
a plan for that because it is the default activity on
which I spend most of my waking hours. I love to work.
I find professional challenges to be a type of rush
that I thrive on. I love the colleagues with whom I
work. And I am fascinated by the way things in organizations
get done. Although it is not always easy to be a part
of organizational life, if we could step back and look
at it from a distance, I think we would find the organizational
labyrinth and intrigue to be better than an award-winning
movie. I think, as nurses, we are natural hard workers,
so it is nice not to have to add that to my priority
list.
So, I am entering 2003 with a fairly clear idea of
what I might do to have a successful year from a personal
standpoint. I am hoping for the ability to stick to
the goals that I think will make me a better person,
both at work and at home. Fortunately, I have a fallback
position that ensures that if I don't succeed with the
changes, at least I will have a clean garage.
Best wishes to you in keeping your resolutions for
2003.
Discuss this and other topics with your colleagues
at www.nurseweek.com/rnvillage
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