So here we are in 2022. It seems a good time to talk about how to build yourself good habits at the start of a New Year.

With 2021 passing in what seems like the blink of an eye, it might be the case that you were only able to complete a few of your goals for last year. Don’t worry – this is exactly what new years are for.

Just before the new year we wrote about ways that you can set yourself up for success in 2022, but today we are going to focus on three tips that will help you to build good habits that will hopefully pay dividends in the year to come.

Here they are:

Step 1 – Declutter

A fresh year deserves a fresh page to start from – and the first thing you’ll need to do to make that successful is to strip out everything that is causing clutter.

Clutter can come in many forms, physical, digital, mental – but the one thing those forms have in common is their ability to derail you from the task at hand. If you’re able to cut out more clutter from your life, you’ll be able to stay more focused and get more done.

Your office may be filled up with old computer hardware, keyboards, long defunct screens and wires that have lost the machine that they powered – its time to get rid of them (but do be responsible – usually you’ll need to take things like this to your local tip for disposal).

If you’ve been able to avoid having buckets of old office equipment, make sure you take a look at your current computer desktop. Many people are guilty of having millions of icons and files saved there – this is no good, and can actually be problematic if you have an IT failure as it is unlikely that you’ll be able to recover them.

File those documents away in the place they need to be. If there isn’t an established system for filing documents on your computer or at your workplace – creating one would be a very worthwhile exercise to invest in.

Step 2 – Get yourself a good notes app… and use it

Getting into the habit of taking regular notes will be a massive help to you as you embark on 2022.

It’s great to have a notes app so that you can start doing some of the following whenever thoughts spring into your head:

• Write to do lists, so that the thing you’ve been meaning to take care of doesn’t accidentally slip off your plate.
• Set goals, so that you know what you’re working towards and are reminded of it.
• Write a bucket list… which is very similar to setting goals, but on a much bigger scale.
• Journaling, which will help you to get thoughts out of your head and onto paper (think of it as a bit of a mental declutter).

The power of a very good and very well used notes app is underestimated. There are plenty of them about on the market and it’s worth having a go with a couple to find out what sort appeals to you.

Step 3 – Plan, plan and plan some more

One thing that can be tempting to do at this time of the year is to rush headlong into a new project or goal.

That ambition and enthusiasm is great, however, sometimes just taking a small step back, taking a deep breath and pulling together a plan before you rush in can make you a bunch more successful in the long run. In all aspects of life, we’re big advocates for planning.

These three tips might appear basic on the surface, but you would be surprised by how many people don’t do these things. If you’re ready to set yourself up for any type of success in 2022 – focus on these habits.

And remember – if one of your goals is to get your business IT under control, contact us today.