Prepare Yourself

There are times when we make an extra effort to get in shape for situations that matter. You know, like running a marathon (or a 5k), attending the next high school reunion, or practicing for your firm’s donut eating contest. Whatever is necessary, you prepare yourself for the event and get in shape.

Well, it’s a new year and not too late to get yourself in professional shape. How can 2024 be a great year for you? What can you do now that will benefit you later? Even though January is closing out (where did it go!?), there are eleven months left. Here are some suggestions that you can do that your colleagues in other firms are doing to get in shape.

Plan Your Year

• First, schedule your personal time. No one will do this for you. Block days off and vacation weeks at strategic times throughout the year. And don’t forget to let people know about your plans.
• Realize that in some of the months, you will be heavier in administration and other months in production, so plan accordingly.
• In between heavy seasons and time away, take advantage of other opportunities to give and receive training, network with referral sources, and contribute to your firm’s health and growth.
• Have some thoughts about where you want to be by year end. What would make 2024 a satisfying year, professionally and personally? What do you want to know about and have experienced?

Get Organized

• Prepare your staff for their projects so they know the specifics of their jobs and how to perform them—anything you can do to keep them from buzzing like flies when you have your own work to do.
• Finalize your client communications so they know what you need and by when. Some may have to hear it again. And again. They may act like they are deaf, but don’t give up!
• Schedule team meetings before beginning large projects. There are too many things that can go wrong, so coordinate and communicate. Either manage those big rocks or they will crush you.

Commit to Effective Routines

• Know your week ahead of time and schedule it accordingly. Otherwise, you will run out of week before you’re done.
• Block off chunks of time on your calendar for the work that requires your total concentration.
• Save important lighter work (admin tasks, completing reports, updating Instagram) for times in the day that don’t require deep thinking.
• Get away from your desk for a few minutes several times a day. It’s the only way to avoid becoming a permanent workspace appendage.
• Don’t eat lunch in your work area. How many times have you heard this but don’t listen?
• Connect with colleagues more than just status and update meetings. After all, we are human beings first.

Remember how brutal your previous years were when you didn’t do these things? How stressed and overwhelmed you were? How everything became a drag and you ended up in the emotional dumpster? Eliminate a repeat of those years and get in shape.