Unlike every year, I resisted the temptation of writing down a list of resolutions this year.
That does not mean that I have no goals to pursue in 2021. I do. In fact, I plan to double down on my goals this year. However, I don’t want to set my goals in the quicksand of resolutions. I want my habits to drive my goals. I will write more about it in a future post.
My focus this year is on things I am sure I won’t want to do, things I don’t want to practice.
So, what I have, instead, are anti-resolutions and they are a part of my anti-resolution manifesto.
You may think this is some kind of reverse psychology trick. Actually, it could well be. But, it could make for a solid stab since resolutions don’t work for me. So withour further ado, let’s dig into my anti-resolution manifesto:
1. No Reading Goals In 2021
As a business book lover, I have many issues with this. Fiction lovers have the right to disagree.
In my opinion, having 50 books on your TBR list doesn’t serve any purpose unless you are reading to forget. Your friends and fans might applaud you, you might feel elevated but that’s not what nonfiction books are for.
I would rather devour and extract as much as I can from a book even if that results in me reading a lesser number of books this year.
2. Thrive On Calculated Procrastination
I am sure this one is going to draw a lot of flak. But I have realized that procrastination is like a much maligned friend.
It sounds counterintuitive but when you procrastinate to take a breather, organize your thoughts and whet your ideas, it can boost your efforts. I mean calculated procrastination can be therapeutic.
Procrastination becomes a villain when you run slipshod and inordinately prolong a task.
One of my favorite authors Nassim Nicholas Taleb wrote about procrastination in his book The Bed of Procrustes:
“Procrastination stems from some ecological or naturalistic wisdom, and is not always bad—at an existential level, it is the soul rebelling against its entrapment.”
3. I Plan To Give Up ‘Perfect’ To Focus On ‘Done’
Perfection works if you are blessed with the intellect of Leonardo da Vinci or Benjamin Franklin or you have all the time in the world to work on your creation.
But if you are an early stage blogger or an entrepreneur, speed can be your friend. Pursuit of perfection can prove detrimental.
Look, conventionally, quality has always taken precedence over quantity. But these are not conventional times.
I am not saying, if you are a blogger, you write tripe and consider it job done. No. But it is only when you produce more work, you can actually begin to hope that one or two pieces catch the attention of 10x your usual audience.
So in 2021, I am going to sidestep perfection and focus more on done.
4. Not Giving A F**k About Others’ Opinions
If what others think of your work bothers you, then you will never leave the station. You will never be able to realize your potential.
The stark truth is that you can’t control opinions of others, they are going to have one, anyways.
I am lecturing you because I have been down this road and it sucks. When you strive to create a perfect piece of work (this goes with the above point) so that you can earn validation from others, you are like a blind man aiming a rifle at a bull’s eye.
It leads to nothing. You get nothing done.
You would spend days overthinking a blog post or a tweet, whether to publish it or not, thus, wasting time and your potential, both.
In 2021, no more chewing fingernails over what others would think of your work. Just go ahead and put it out there. I am going to do the same.
I was not going to post this article, initially, but then in the spirit of item no. 3 & 4, I thought why the hell not.
5. Don’t Let The Subconscious Drive My Decisions
Don’t let your subconscious mind indulge you. Stay in the present. Always be conscious of what you are thinking and in which direction your thoughts are flowing.
This is easier said than done though and can only come with days and months of mindful meditation. At least, that’s the best route to develop the powers of controlling your conscious thoughts.
Staying in a conscious state could also be mentally fatiguing, but it’s far better than letting mind aimlessly wander.
6. Don’t Let Bullshitters Stand A Chance
If someone’s bullshitting you and you know they are, yet you choose to remain silent, then you deserve what they are giving you.
I learnt this lesson the hard way when I had a major BS artist as a senior colleague. Trust me when I say this: BS artists are an anathema to productivity.
If you have one in your friend circle or office, either cut them out or call them out on their exaggerations.
Don’t let anyone, even your boss browbeat you into accepting their nonsensical perspective. Don’t stand around and tolerate bullshit. By calling them out, you will be doing many people a huge favor.
What are your plans for 2021? Are you sticking with a list of resolutions or have you also crafted an anti-resolution manifesto? How does that work for you? Please let me know in the comments box below.
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