CHINESE NEW YEAR 'RESOLUTIONS'

I am never a 'resolution' person but it is important to move forward (as opposed to being stuck in a rut) regardless. Instead of writing up lists of things to do in the new year, how about looking at the things we should stop doing?

For me, here are the things I need to stop doing in order to make my life easier:

• stop consuming too much info i.e. be extra selective about what I read online and off (and spend more time instead on my writing)
• stop going to bed late i.e. 3am but gradually tune my bedtime in half hour doses and ideally make midnight the cut off time   
• stay away from energy vampires and people who don't share my frequency
• stop being obsessed with productivity-this is a hard one for me so I need reminding that we can't possibly be productive all the time 
• stop being a perfectionist and hence a procrastinator

And meanwhile, work on the things that need doing which have the most positive impact in my life.

• be consistent, disciplined
• commit and re-commit
• be willing to experiment-life challenges are opportunities to learn!
• aim at competence in areas which are important to you and accept mediocrity in others (you can't be an expert in everything!)
•  finish off what we start
• set deadlines and put them in your schedule
• do things that take you less than 2 minutes immediately to get them out of the way
• clear your inbox on a daily basis
• be persistent

This is my first blog post of the year 2013. Yes, I skipped 4 weeks and I have no excuse. I just didn't feel like blogging when I was facing so much angst, so much uncertainties and I guess my brain shut down completely in the midst of chaos. Life is not exactly getting better but I feel the need to catch up on my blogs even if no-one is reading. I have to be accountable to myself.

So Happy February! We are approaching the chinese new year of the snake and it's not too late to start / kick that habit of yours. I am constantly feeling overwhelmed by so much information coming in and being busy but unproductive. Maybe this is the underlying reason for my business which seems to never take off the way I wanted.

Instead of wishful thinking, I know there are things I need to do to get to where I want to be. So first off, I am declaring my year with the word PROGRESS. I need to put into action my thoughts and ideas and see tangible results for my seriousness and hard work. I'd need help with technology to get my business off the ground and make myself visible.

Checking my inbox and reading every single email is not work. I am spending far too much time reading others' work when I should be writing my own. I am minimising my subscription of newsletters and only the most relevant ones are allowed in. I have also limited my access to the internet for a couple of hours in the evenings. I'd never check my emails first thing as I am happier to indulge the better part of my day in my little studio corner, creating pretty things and experimenting with new techniques.

When I come across a challenge, instead of finding a quick fix which I usually do in the past, I let it simmer a bit and then dig deeper into my soul for a feasible solution, if that is necessary at all. Sometimes what we think is a challenge is not a challenge at all. They are opportunities in disguise if you take a few deep breaths and wait it out.

Busyness doesn't equate to being productive and / or doing great work. Checking off the to-do lists doesn't make me proud when I am losing my life to doing things which are mindless tasks and distractions which aren't really worth it. While I am changing my lifestyle to one of simplicity and minimalism, the benefits of doing less should not be overlooked. I prefer to focus on meaningful accomplishments to doing errands and whatnot. I will be less overwhelmed as I let go of the distractions and non-essentials. The world is not going to fall apart if you stop checking your inbox...Include only the things and experiences worthy of being in the finite time you have.

Most of the time I hate the end result of my artwork when I have to rush through it. It makes no sense to compete with time for anything worth doing. The same applies to reading, writing, meditating, cooking, and anything to do with creativity. Dedicate time and space and make sure you savor the task at hand.

Of course I am still learning the process of doing less and it takes time to figure out what gives you the most impact on your life, your career, your contribution to the world.

Over-Thinking

I THINK THEREFORE I AM. But anything OVER- does you no good. I get into the 'over-thinking' mode a lot these days when I have all the time in my hands (I am unemployed at the moment) and my cerebral cortex is over-stimulated when I am not working or being productive.

Hence I set myself limits for thinking. For small matters, I give myself 30 seconds to make a decision. For bigger ones I give myself 30 minutes using an egg-timer. More often than not, I get something started on the spot without ruminating on whether I should do it or not; which is a waste of time anyway if whatever that is requires attention sooner or later.

And the culprit lies in the bounty of choices available to us. More and more people are getting analysis paralysis when we either make no choice or take ages to make a decision. We second-guess our decisions, and worry about making the 'wrong' ones. This ultimately leads to wasted time and lots of misery. I find it mentally exhausting and nerve wrecking in making choices modern life presents us on a daily basis. Have you ever wondered why shopping is such a tiresome activity?

With any choice, there will be multiple 'right' choices, depending on the circumstances, your personal requirement and other factors such as your financial situation. We can only make the best decision based on the information we have at the time.

I tend to stick to what I know best instead of trying out another brand or design. I go for chunky heels instead of wedges. I will shop around and talk to trusting salespeople about anything new and technologically advanced. I decided I don't need an i-phone after talking to my service provider. I give myself a deadline and make sure I come up with a decision which is indeed liberating. And I won't look back but live with my final decision, knowing that there is always better options I can't make for whatever reason.

You have a choice to choose!