I'm doing something different this year.
Something I've never done before. Some might call it a mini-sabbatical or a retreat or just a getaway. It might be for self-care or time to ponder, plan and prepare for the next year -- frankly, it's all of that in various degrees.
Today I spent some time on the beach reading a heavy book that makes me think. I don't often have time to do that and certainly not in that environment.
My thoughts were clearer today than they've been in a while. I was able to process and organize. I have sketched out some visions for the new year and rethought some solutions to challenges.
I may not have the opportunity to take a mini-retreat quite like this again but I have learned some practices that I can integrate into my routine moving forward:
Take time away from the daily environment to refocus and regroup. Stop the noise, the phone calls, and the emails. Spend intentional blocks of time learning, reading, quietly listening, praying. It does wonders for the mind and soul. The time away need not be a vacation on the beach, but could be at a library, a park or a different space in my house. Eliminating distractions from the day-to-day is key.
Ponder the 'why's' at least once per year. Remember the big picture of what I am trying to accomplish through my work and with my life. Identify where I am on target and other areas where perhaps I am missing the mark. If you haven't identified why you do what you do, what your overall goal is in life and work, then that's a good place to start.
Identify specifically what might need to change to get me back on course in some areas. What needs to be added, subtracted, or modified to better move me toward my goals. Write them down and make plans and steps to implement the changes. One of our CDP mantras is, "If it's not in writing, it doesn't exist. If it IS in writing, we have to do it." So as I ponder what needs to change in my own walk, I'll write them down and move toward making some really impactful changes in my life and work.
How about you?
-Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP
