Boiling Hot

Resolutions and David Allen’s GTD

We went back to the US for the holidays and it was bittersweet to be home. Interestingly, I thought it would be hard to leave but, as my husband put it, “our lives are in Paris right now” and it is always good to get back to routine after the holidays.

We’re now a few months in to the school/work thing in a big city. Our kids are basically adjusted to their lives on and off the Metro (speaking of which, I owe you all an update to my post on average commute time).  We are finding our way about town and have settled in here fairly well.

2009 brought some challenges our way - high highs and low lows.  We lost my dad and moved to France.  Really, shouldn’t that be enough?  Needless to say there is much to reflect on.

Time for a TB Tip.  For those of you who haven’t had exposure to David Allen and his “Getting Things Done” books and other resources, I highly recommend you check them out.  I have read one of the books and subscribe to his free newsletter.  While I’d love to tell you I’ve employed his every suggestion to make my life run like clockwork and fulfill every goal - I can’t.  This is about balance, remember - which means compromise.  However, I do enjoy the nuggets I get from his newsletters and I occasionally revisit the book to refresh my memory and get a better grip on organizing my time.

His most recent newsletter focused on reflecting on 2009 and setting some intentions for the new year.  He offered some questions to ask yourself and I plan to set aside time for this over the weekend.  I think if I only do one, I will focus most on my plan for 2010.   Here is what he suggested we consider:

Creating the new year

What would you like to be your biggest triumph in 2010?
What advice would you like to give yourself in 2010?
What is the major effort you are planning to improve your financial results in 2010?
What would you be most happy about completing in 2010?
What major indulgence are you willing to experience in 2010?
What would you most like to change about yourself in 2010?
What are you looking forward to learning in 2010?
What do you think your biggest risk will be in 2010?
What about your work, are you most committed to changing and improving in 2010?
What is one as yet undeveloped talent you are willing to explore in 2010?
What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that in 2010?
Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving in 2010?
What one word would you like to have as your theme in 2010?

- David Allen “Productive Living” Newsletter

Oh, and my theme of the year?  Balance, of course.

What’s yours?

© 2010 Work Life Balance.