There is only one person in the world you can control. And you know who that person is!! Go look in the mirror! And while you’re there, give yourself a thumbs up.
It’s not easy to bring your best self to work everyday — but you do. OK… maybe not last Friday, but who’s counting? Do you take time to truly appreciate all you accomplish throughout the day? That’s why I’m a big proponent of the concept of self management:
Being your own boss even when your paycheck is cut by someone else.
But self management requires a shift in attitude, an acceptance that effective praise does not have to (even though it is nice when it does) come from outside sources. You know when you’ve put in your best work — and the effort it took to get it done.
So before you move on to your next task after filing that complex budget report, step back and acknowledge what you’ve achieved with a good old “Yay Me!” Maybe even take yourself out for a coffee. Not only will you notice a self-esteem boost, you might also see a surge in productivity, just like when you have a boss who is good at delivering positive feedback.
And do you appreciate yourself when a colleague says something snarky, and you choose to hold your tongue? Or when you see something really inappropriate, and you find just the right time and place to address it one-on-one? Or, for those of you who have trouble speaking up, do you silently applaud yourself when you pitch an idea at the meeting? We need to appreciate both our tangible work efforts AND the way we notice and manage our emotions and interactions.
While it’s true that you are the only one you can control, it’s also true that your opinion of you has a huge impact on your ability to succeed. So look within, and in 2018 be the best manager you’ve ever had!
So your son or daughter is off to college. Now…what about you?
You will have more time now than you have likely had in about 18-25 years. Below are what my friends who have enjoyed the challenge have done with the time.
Dating – That’s right, why should the kids have all the fun? My single friends have gone on-line. My married friends have re-discovered why they got married to that person beside them. It can be fun to find that person again. If you think date night was important when the babies arrived, it’s even more important now.
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Start a new health habit. – Train for a half marathon. Walk around the block each night. And of course, my favorite, begin or continue your yoga practice.
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Start a new hobby – The more time-consuming the better. What will it be? Golf? Gardening? Gourmet cooking?
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Volunteer – There are so many little league teams that need coaches; food pantries that need organization; elderly neighbors who need a friend.
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Reinvest in your career – Go back to school. Take a certificate course. Consider a new avocation. If you are well and in your fifties or sixties, you could have a wonderful 10-20 year “run” in a new profession. Your kids don’t have to be the only ones that “take off”.
For many of us who are in good health, we can look forward to (almost) as many good and productive years ahead of us as we have already experienced.
Some good reads on this topic:
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What Should I Do With the Rest of My Life?: True Stories of Finding Success, Passion, and New Meaning in the Second Half of Life Paperback – March 1, 2011, by Bruce Frankel (Author)
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Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Finally, Really Grow UpPaperback – March 16, 2006, by James Hollis (Author)
What are your plans now that your child is off to college?
