Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Marie Monroe

Out of the mouths of babes…

A friend recently told me a story about a little boy who, in the spirit of this holiday season, declared that he was making his New Year’s Revolutions.  I loved that and resolved to take that meaning and intent as my own in the New Year.  Ever since hearing that story I have thought about what a personal revolution would mean in my own life.  Even more, what would multiple personal revolutions mean?!

It’s been only a couple of weeks, but this story has become a touchstone of sorts in my thinking.  I find myself turning it over in my mind from time to time, trying to understand it more.  It’s become a sort of holiday meditation for me that I do anywhere:  in traffic, at work, standing in check-out lines.

New Year’s Revolutions…

Re-Inventing Ourselves

As I’ve meditated on this little boy’s understanding of what one does in the New Year, I’ve returned again and again to the idea of re-inventing myself and my life.  I think of revolution, personal revolution, as a way of turning things upside down in order to create a new and better life, be a new and better version of who I want to be.  It has been an exciting and interesting way to think of what I want and how I might grow. Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Marie Monroe

The word “multi-tasking” has become a common verb in our world.  It reflects an experience now well known to most of us.  We usually take pride in our ability to multi-task and many times, the word itself carries a decidedly positive tone.

It describes how we are on top of our game, how efficient, how important, how skilled or how clever we are.  It is also a powerful interpersonal boundary. It will stop our colleagues in their tracks when we say, “I am multi-tasking right now.”  Our loved ones, and even strangers, will also pause.

Not exactly a polite way to communicate, but effective and efficient.  Having had this experience themselves, people know how consumed we are at that moment and how intensely we have to concentrate in order to continue our tasks.  They also know that we are at maximum speed and capacity - that we can’t handle more at the moment. Read More »

Second in a Series of Article on Goal Setting
By Make The Days Count Contributor Philip Wood

The first step toward effective goal setting in any area of life is deciding what you want. 

Although this statement may sound simplistic, it is helpful to recognize that every decision we make is naturally followed by one or more commitments.  Certainly trivial decisions require less substantial commitments than monumental, life altering choices.  But they require commitments none the less.

As this applies to goal setting … larger wants require larger commitments.  With this in mind, I personally find it helpful if I ensure that any goal I decide upon is cost effective, genuinely personal, and clearly defined. Read More »

Article by Kevin L. DeWitt

For all the tips and advice on being productive, it’s all ineffectual if we can’t focus on what we’re doing.  We need to work as efficiently and in as stress-free a way as possible to be productive. 

Yet we can’t do any of that if our mind keeps flicking to other things every two minutes.  Having had my own struggles with focus recently, here are some tips to get back on track when focus is lost: Read More »

This is the First in a Series of Articles on Goal Setting

by Make The Days Count Contributor Philip Wood

Back in Chicago for my first winter in nearly twenty years, I’m faced with the harsh reality that I am about to abandon one of my oldest goals.  Shortly after leaving the City all those years ago, I vowed never to own a winter coat again.  I woke this morning to a temperature of 8 degrees.  Although I considered the notion inviting, hibernation does not appear to be a realistic option.

I’ll have to buy a coat today.

Thankfully, the mild weather held longer this year than most.  I am grateful that I have been able to stall the inevitable parka purchase.  I’m grateful as well that my youthful boast stood for as long as it did.  As the weather changes and snow begins to pile up, my snow gear stall reminds that it’s the time of year for procrastination.  In a few short weeks, 2008 will become 2009 and many of us will make New Year’s resolutions. Read More »