As another year comes to a close, it’s a good time to determine whether there are improvements you can make to your personal and/or professional life to ensure the next year is your best yet. I asked my colleagues what New Year’s Resolutions they are making for 2015 and thought you, our readers, might enjoy the answers (and perhaps be motivated). I shared one, too. Enjoy!
Barrett Hahn, advertising sales: “Well, mine is obviously to work on my procrastination issues. I’ll send more soon.” [Editor’s Note: He never did.]
John Riester, publisher: “My New Year’s resolution is to be more organized.”
Elyse Cooper, senior editor: “I resolve to give my life more balance. Right now it’s very work-focused, leaving me with little to no time to truly relax, unwind and press the reset button. In the evenings, I need to truly shut off and, on the weekends, I need to stop spending Saturday reviewing the previous week and stop spending Sunday anticipating and planning the following week. I believe in the mindset of working to live, not living to work, so I aim to go back to living my life with work as only a part of that instead of it becoming all-consuming.”
Dan Burke, advertising sales: “I’m going to run a marathon. LOL!”
Robert Nieminen, contributing editor, interiors: “This year, I resolve to personally do more to help others in need in my community. During Thanksgiving, my wife, son (8) and I delivered meals to a couple of needy families through our church, and it was a tangible reminder that we have the ability to make a profound impact on others through the simplest acts of compassion. In short, we realized afresh that it truly is better to give than to receive.”
Christina Koch, editor in chief: “As each issue begins, I’m going to do my writing first, so I’m done by the time contributed articles come in and need to be edited. Hopefully, that will ensure I’m always ahead of schedule!”
Vilija Krajewski, art director: “Hit the gym every day and lose 20 pounds (this is my old standby that I never accomplish). But, seriously, since we no longer can use our cell phones while driving, I resolve to sit down and figure out how to use the Bluetooth earpiece for my phone (which I bought two years ago and is still sitting on my desk) and/or figure out how to use my car’s Microsoft Sync feature, which has been a mystery since I bought it three years ago. On the same note, I received a Fitbit for my birthday from my husband (wonder what he’s trying to tell me), which is also sitting in its box. I have no clue how to use it nor what it actually is. I’ve seen the TV commercials and I’m thinking it sends electric shocks to the user every time they sit down or something. This will help me keep my hit-the-gym resolution … .”
Here’s hoping everyone achieves their resolutions. Cheers to a very successful 2015!