What worked? What didn’t?

In place of resolutions, how about a quick calendar retrospective on what worked and what didn’t?

Our calendars are tools for keeping us organized and where we need to be when. They also provide invaluable insights into how we spend our time.

Instead of resolving to do or be something different in the new year, what about taking a closer look at how you spent your time?

When I first read about this exercise, the thought was a bit nauseating and way too tedious for my taste. I thought it’d take hours and lead down damp, dank rabbit holes. But out of curiosity (and maybe a bit of desperation), I set my timer for 10 minutes and started.

The first surprise was that I didn’t hate looking back. It was actually kind of interesting. I found myself muttering, “oh yeah, I forgot about that” or “huh, that was in 2021? Feels like decades ago now.” Calendars are the most accurate record of what we did when with who and why.

The second surprise was that it didn’t take as long as I’d thought. And the effort was worth it. I unearthed some insights I wouldn’t have gathered if I’d just sat down to think about it.

Here’s what you do…

1.       Grab a scrap piece of paper—or a blank page in Word. Create two columns. Title them whatever good versus bad phrasing you like. You might write something like “energizing versus draining,” “craved versus dreaded,” “loved versus hated,” etc.

2.       Click WAAAAY back to January of 2021 and skim each week’s meetings and activities.

3.       Note your observations in each of the columns as you go.

4.       Keep clicking forward and clicking so more. When you’re done, look for the themes.

I loved monthly dinners with my girlfriends and weekly coaching calls. I couldn’t believe how scattered my meetings were from 7am to 7pm with gaping holes in the gooey, productive middle of the day. Ick.

Sit back for a moment and think about what you could change. Where can you up the things that are working for you in the good column and reduce or eliminate the “bad”?

What do you need to do to create more interactions you look forward to, that fuel you, that you enjoy? Which gives you the greatest sense of purpose and direction?

How might you dump the rest—or at least get a plan for minimizing the negative impact on your days.

Curious to hear what comes up for you.

Happy 2022!

Here we go!