{"id":4382,"date":"2019-03-13T03:45:56","date_gmt":"2019-03-13T08:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hectic-dad.com\/hectic-dad\/?p=4382"},"modified":"2019-03-04T12:59:42","modified_gmt":"2019-03-04T17:59:42","slug":"yearly-theme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hectic-dad.com\/hectic-dad\/yearly-theme\/","title":{"rendered":"Yearly Theme"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For several years now, I\u2019ve been setting <\/a>three words<\/a><\/em> to help guide me. The first year I did it, I was really good about referring to the words often, and made a concerted effort to have them everywhere so I would be reminded of what my over-arching focus<\/em> was. The second year I did a good job, but not nearly as well as the first. As each year passed, I became a little bit more lackadaisical about using the three words<\/em>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By last year it\u2019d gotten to the point that I had to look them up every time I wanted to refer to them in conversation, especially with my accountability partner Andrew.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In taking January to do a focused plan for the year, I decided my three words would be five, and drawn directly from David Allen\u2019s Getting Things Done<\/em>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I wanted something more. A single, pithy phrase or word that I could compare everything I was doing\u2026with. The idea was that if I was about to embark on something, I want it to be related to my core values<\/em> that I\u2019m trying to live by. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While listening to the Cortex<\/a> podcast with Mike Hurley and CGP Grey, Grey mentioned a kind of cool trick to get two words in one. Grey used (re)Order<\/strong> so that he could focus on both a new and revised aspect of essentially the same idea\u2026creating order<\/strong> in his life.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I started listing ideas that might work for me. I had 10, 20, and pretty soon 50. I kept writing away. As the day wore on, I generated more and more. I was beginning to see a pattern emerge\u2026but I tried to stick to brainstorming mode<\/em> and kept generating ideas. Day faded into night and the ideas kept coming. Finally by bedtime I knew my yearly theme was amongst the ideas\u2026but I needed to let the project rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or so I thought.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As I was drifting off to sleep, more yearly theme ideas came to mind. Although capture<\/strong> is one of my words for 2019, I opted not to pull out my pad and write down every idea that came to mind. It was time to sleep\u2026and I really wanted to. But my brain kept generating ideas. As I was finally dozing off, a word sort of floated to the fore and then evaporated into the mists of my brain. I didn\u2019t really see it<\/em> so much as just knew<\/em> it was there.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know it sounds all woo woo<\/em>, and that\u2019s not something I\u2019m usually given to. It was a very weird experience though.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And obviously my unconscious mind was working on the idea, because I had several dreams that night surrounding a quest. I wasn\u2019t really clear what<\/em> I was looking for, but I knew I would find it and then I\u2019d know<\/em>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next morning, as I was showering the misty word reappeared in the forefront of my mind.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(re)Build<\/strong>
<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

That was it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a while now, I\u2019ve let some habits atrophy. The three words is one example, but there are dozens more. They\u2019re things I know if I do them (e.g. daily journaling) I\u2019m better for it. In fact, some of them seem vital to my actual success, and when I ignore them things go from the frying pan into the fire really quickly. But I\u2019m also lazy, so I\u2019ve let those habits deteriorate.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even more so, there are some newer habits that I\u2019ve been thinking<\/em> about adding to my life. But like the question regarding the four frogs on the log<\/a>\u2026thinking is not doing<\/em>. I\u2019ve spent a gob of time in the planning or thinking stages regarding good habits, but I haven\u2019t put them into action.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I need to rebuild<\/strong> some of the my atrophied habits and I need to build<\/strong> some new ones.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

(re)Build<\/strong>
<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Same goes for the systems I use. I\u2019ve got systems for tons of stuff. Some I use really well, every time I\u2019m engaging in the activity. Others I use once-in-a-while, and the times I don\u2019t\u2026I get bitten in the butt. There are tons of new systems I want to implement. Like automating some of the processes that consume a lot of my time. I know what an amazing improvement in my life automation can make\u2026but I never seem to take the time to actually create the automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the year to do that.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I stood there with (re)Build<\/strong> on my mind\u2026I knew I\u2019d hit on my yearly theme for 2019. But I also knew I was going to have to fight my urge to try and do a dozen other things. Heck, I couldn\u2019t even stick to three words<\/em> for 2019, it was five<\/em>. Sure, there was a great reason, since they are drawn directly from David Allen\u2019s book\u2026but still, I\u2019m always trying to do more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And often it\u2019s just too much<\/em>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I knew I was going to have to remind [or is it (re)mind]<\/strong> myself on a regular basis that I have to stick to the plan. While there may be loads of offshoot trails, I need to stick to the main road for the year. Otherwise I\u2019ll end up in the brambles, lost, confused, and foundering.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So there you have it. My yearly theme for 2019: (re)Build<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the year I\u2019m going to be reviewing my progress, and my plan is to put part of those reviews on the blog. Watch for them!
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you set a theme for your year? I\u2019d love to hear if you have and what it is. Let me know in the comments, and as always, make it a great day!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For several years now, I\u2019ve been setting three words to help guide me. The first year I did it, I was really good about referring to the words often, and made a concerted effort to have them everywhere so I would be reminded of what my over-arching focus was. 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