During this last week of 2016, many people’s thoughts are turning towards the annual “New Year Resolution” ritual.  Millions will make anywhere from a few to dozens of decisions about how to change their lives for the better – and if history is any indication, 98% of all resolutions will be in the waste bin before the new POTUS is sworn in.

So, I have been thinking about life itself for some time, and I’ve noticed something.  Ever since the early ’80’s there has been a trend of people demanding ever more of themselves, and businesses demanding ever more of their employees.  This inevitably results in people multi-tasking (trying to do several things at once, like a woman driving her car while eating breakfast and using the rear-view mirror to put on her makeup).  I’ve even seen people BRAG about how much they can get done by trying to multi-task.

I have news for you.  NOTHING in this world is designed to help you become a better version of yourself.  Nowhere is that more true than the pressure to multitask, because every self-help and spiritual growth guide I’ve ever read said that the key to growth is being ever-present in NOW.  You absolutely must focus on ONLY what you are now doing.  That means if you are eating breakfast, you are only eating breakfast.  Your mind can’t be on the business meeting you have scheduled for 1330 hrs., or reminding yourself of the parent/teacher conference you have tomorrow morning, or Aunt Bigear’s birthday next week.

So, if there is only room in your NYR’s for one resolution that you might have a chance to actually keep – I’d challenge you to start learning to focus.  Do ONLY one thing at a time, do it to your very best, and do it completely so that when you move to your next task, you have no reason to continue thinking about the one just completed.  Use a list or computer scheduler to keep track of what needs done, so you don’t have to keep thinking about what else you could be trying to do. Who knows, you might even learn that you are getting more done, and doing better work could even get you that promotion at your job!