Resolution 1: cut back, do less, better

‘Tis the season for new years resolution posts. I’ve decided not to do any on the main blog this year (in previous years I’ve produced complex new year videos).

There are plenty of others out there, most of them telling you do more or have more. 

But very few get down to what needs to be done before any of the exciting new stuff: cutting back. You won’t achieve exciting new resolutions like learning to code, or starting a new business, if you’re still wasting hours a day on Twitter.

Here are my new years resolutions for you. Best of all, you can tick them all off in 45 minutes.

• Cut back your Google Reader list to just 20 blogs - the ones you get most value from.
• Trim your Twitter list: get rid of anyone who you’re not interested in (you’ll be amazed how many there are - it’s like someone else did the following for you); anyone who fills your stream with pointless dribble that isn’t of interest to your big plans.
• Do the same with your Facebook friends. Get rid of anyone you have no intention of seeing ever again. I actually quit Facebook entirely this year, but you don’t have to go that far.
• Change all your passwords.
• Back up your hard drive.
• Have a clear out of your stuff: clothes, books, CDs and games: if you haven’t worn, read or used them in the last six months, donate them. 
• Stop watching television, unless it’s the news, BBC Four, Charlie Brooker, a decent drama series, PBS or HBO.

Doing these will free up about 10 hours a week, plenty of shelf space, and best of all, attention space.

Use it to create, lead and learn - the three things that actually matter in 2012.