12 Things You Need To Do Before 2012

I have some news for you.

2012 is here.

Well, just about.

Only 19 days left until the New Year.

For many, this is the last full week of work before holiday vacations.

Are you ready for 2012?

Is Your 2011 Finished?

You may be surprised that 2012 is so close.

New Year’s has a way of sneaking up on us.

“You are sitting comfortably in September, and before you know it, it’s the middle of December.”

However, there is still time to finish up 2011. But, you need to act fast.

What do you need to do?

At work? At home?

It’s time to make a list of the things that you need to complete before the end of the year.

Get Ready for 2012

It’s not too early to start preparing for 2012.

It will be here before you can finish preparing for that holiday party.

Here are 12 Things You Need To Do Before 2012 Arrives:

1. Finish Up 2011 – Many of us have things we planned to do in 2011. It is not too late to accomplish them. What is still on your 2011 goals list? For many employees, there is a mad scramble to finish things that are on their 2011 Reviews.
2. Limit Your Obligations – The holiday season can be stressful because there is simply too much going on. Holiday parties, work deadlines, vacation, travel, gift-giving. Your calendar and todo list can be overwhelming. Limit yourself and your obligations. Say “no” where appropriate and keep your todo list in check.
3. Take Note of Where You Are – The end of the year is the time to check the score. Review your accomplishments. Re-read your journal. If you don’t know where you stand currently, you can’t possibly make goals for the New Year.
4. Clean Up and Get Organized – Many people wait until the Spring to do their cleaning. But, the end of the year is a great time to get organized and clean up. A clean workplace and home can make your New Year start more productive.
5. Name Your Goals for 2012 – The time to lay out your 2012 goals is now, not after the New Year arrives. Write your goals down. Be as specific as possible as to what you want to accomplish. For example, “Get in shape” is too vague. “Lose 15 pounds” is more precise and gives you a way to measure your success.
6. Plan – Get a long-term calendar and start plotting out your 2012. Most people don’t plan out beyond the next few days or weeks. It’s important to put long-term events and milestones on your calendar. I already have my calendar booked out through next October. If you are looking for a great 2012 planning calendar, here is a great one by @JessePhillips, Seize the Year 2012.
7. Prepare – Scheduling is great. However, getting ready is the action step. What do you need to do in order to be ready to start 2012? Do you need to sign-up for something? Read some references? Learn a new skill? Do your homework so that you can start 2012 on the right footing.
8. Tell Others – Many people keep their plans and goals hidden and secret. I recommend the opposite. Tell everyone what you are going to do. Get support from friends and family. If they do not know your goals, they cannot offer support and motivation.
9. Make a Map – List and calendars are good ways to get your thoughts down. However, if you want to get a 10,000 foot view of your goals, I recommend making a mindmap. It is the quickest, easiest way to capture all your thoughts in one place. Make your 2012 map to help you find your way in the new year.
10. Set Deadlines – As the saying goes, “Goals without deadlines are just dreams.” If you want to actually reach your goals, you need to set aggressive deadlines to get there. Otherwise, your dreams will remain just that… dreams.
11. Be Realistic – Always set your sights higher than you believe you can reach. You need to stretch your potential. However, if your goals or timeframes are not based in reality, you will fail. Take special caution here, it is important not to hold yourself back. You set your own limits. Whether or not you can do something is often directly related to whether or not you think you can.
12. Start Now – There is no reason to wait until January 1st to start your 2012 goals. Start today. I am not a big believer in waiting until New Year’s. Any day of the year is a good day to start a resolution. In fact, today is always the best day to start.

What Is In Your 2012?

2011 is almost done.

It’s time to finish those 2011 todo lists.

It’s also time to get ready for 2012.

Take action today and start mapping out your goals.

What do you need to finish before the end of the year? What are your goals for the New Year?