Make Your Time Work FOR You: Actionable Habits

The siren call of New Year’s resolutions are past. They beckoned us to dream big and transform our lives. But let’s face it—resolutions often fizzle out faster than a cheap sparkler. Research (Google AI) tells us that only about 9% of people achieve their resolutions, 23% quit by the end of the first week and 43% by the end of January. NOW IT'S FEBRUARY!

So why do we keep falling into the same failed trap, year after year? Or worse yet, we don’t even care about resolutions, goals, or habits. The problem isn’t our intentions; it’s our lack of a plan.

This year focus on building habits and scheduling specific tasks that align with your priorities. By taking control of your time, you can close the gap between what you know you need to do and what you actually do.

“The biggest gap in your life is between what you know and what you do.” –Bob Proctor

Resolutions are often too broad and rely heavily on willpower, which is a finite resource. Whether it’s pledging to “exercise more” or “get organized,” these goals lack the structure necessary for success. On top of that, the excitement of January 1 fades quickly when life’s demands reassert themselves and all of a sudden it is spring.

To counteract this, we need a better strategy—one grounded in actionable steps, accountability, and consistent effort.

The Postcard Method: A Simple Start

Start with a small yet powerful tool: a 3x5 index card​. An index card is a paper product (baby boomers love them), but feel free to use an app if you are so inclined. Every night, list the six most important tasks you need to accomplish the next day. Prioritize them and commit to completing them in order. As you cross tasks off your list, you’ll experience a tangible sense of accomplishment.

I’m not a huge fan of To-Do lists. If you use one extremely effectively, then you don’t have to stop. If tasks drag on and on, like on my To-Do list, I delete them after a couple of weeks. Scary, but deleting is so rewarding. Plus, they must not be a priority!

The postcard method forces you to focus on what matters most. This method also helps differentiate between activity and achievement. Activity can keep you busy (ugh), but achievement moves you closer to your goals.

B-U-S-Y is four letter word that gets you nowhere. EVERYBODY is busy. Get over yourself and achieve something. It is THE most overused and untrue word in our vocabulary.

Turn Priorities into Habits

Here’s the key to lasting change: habits. Habits are like compound interest for your time; small, consistent actions add up to big results. To build sustainable habits, follow this six-step process​:

1. Reflect on Your Values: Identify what truly matters to you. Align your habits with your core values and aspirations. Don’t know your core values—reach out to me. These are WHO you are after all.
2. Start Small: Begin with manageable actions. For example, instead of committing to an hour of exercise daily, start with a five-minute walk. You can find five minutes! You probably waste five minutes every hour, much less every day.
3. Consistency is Key: Repeat the action daily to make it automatic. There are all sorts of statistics about how long it takes to create a habit. If it’s a habit, it doesn’t matter how many days it takes.
4. Adjust and Grow: As your initial habits become ingrained, challenge yourself with stretch goals and create new habits. Get out of your comfort zone. You don’t like where you are anyway and neither do most other people.
5. Track Your Progress: Use a journal or app to monitor your streaks and celebrate milestones. It’s fun to look back at a journal after a week, month, or year to see how much growth you’ve achieved in your life. If nothing else, just list three things you are grateful for at the end of the day.
6. Practice Self-Compassion: Slip-ups happen. Learn from them and move forward. If you aren’t failing, you aren’t growing! Stretch that comfort zone!

Schedule Your Success

Many people fail because they don’t schedule their goals. A resolution to “read more books” is meaningless unless you block off time to read. Instead of relying on vague intentions, use your calendar to structure your day around your priorities. Block out 15 minutes on your calendar.

Start with a weekly planning session. Set aside 30 minutes every Friday to review your goals and schedule tasks that advance them. This simple act transforms your aspirations into actionable commitments.

Balance, Not Burnout

As you fill your calendar, remember that balance is essential. Scoring yourself across key areas—e.g., physical health, emotional well-being, financial stability, relationships, and your “why”—can highlight where you need to focus​. Use this self-assessment to ensure you’re making time for what truly matters.

For example, if your emotional well-being score is low, schedule 10 minutes daily for mindfulness or reflection. Struggling with work-life balance? Block out family time on your calendar and treat it as non-negotiable as a business meeting.

Decisions Shape Your Trajectory

Success is determined by the decisions we make each day, not the conditions we face. By prioritizing daily actions over lofty annual goals, you create a trajectory of consistent improvement. This approach is not only more effective but also more sustainable.

A simple mantra to keep in mind: DSA = Decide | Schedule | Act. These three steps can transform how you manage your time and energy.

Celebrate the Wins

At the end of each week, take time to reflect on your accomplishments. Look back at your completed tasks, celebrate your wins, and adjust your plan as needed. This positive reinforcement strengthens your habits and keeps you motivated.

Make 2025 the Year of Doing

If you still want 2025 to be different, you need to do things differently. Resolutions were a great start, but they’re not enough. By focusing on habits, scheduling your priorities, and celebrating your progress, you can turn your dreams into actionable results.

So, here’s to a year of doing—not just dreaming. Let’s leave the empty promises of resolutions behind and embrace the power of intentionality.