Work in progress

You'll hear a lot of different opinions on the means and ends of New Year's resolutions. For me, it’s a chance to recenter and to reflect on how I can improve upon this work in progress called "life". My 2018 resolutions, or "tests" as I like to call them, related to three main categories -- time management, mindfulness, and health. I've outlined the results from these tests below with recommendations in case you were interested in trying some of them for yourself...

Time Management

• Productivity tools - There are hundreds of different productivity tools. After trying over a dozen of them, I came to realize that it does’t really matter which tool you use so much as the habits that these tools help train. I found one task management service (e.g. Trello, Basecamp, or Asana), one screen time measurement service (e.g. Moment or RescueTime), and one service to help me focus (Forest or Flipd) was an effective combination. They provided me with a framework to be more intentional and efficient throughout the day.

Recommendation: ?? Everyone should use some sort of tool to help them prioritize. Find the right combination of apps, notes, checklists, or schedules etc. to help you allocate your time between the things you need to do, should do, and want to do. For best results, make sure that you are updating the tools routinely or they will quickly lose their effectiveness.

• Greyscale phone - One day I noticed that a friend's phone was completely without color. They shared some research showing how doing so made the phone less “interesting” and therefore reduced the amount of time they spent using it. So I gave it a shot. While I found that it did alter my behavior, it also spurred a lot of questions from friends and proved quite frustrating at times (i.e. not being able to review graphs, designs, or photos).

Recommendation: ?? It was effective, but I wouldn’t recommend this for everyone given the drawbacks. I am confident there are better ways to change digital habits. (See "2019 Tests" below)

• Virtual assistant: Someone suggested trying to find a "virtual assistant" when I mentioned my struggles in balancing family, friends, work and sleep. Virtual assistants are typically freelancers that will work remotely for several people for a designated number of hours per week/month. I found numerous services that offered to connect me with qualified assistants across the globe and even asked a few friends if they knew someone who might be interested. It took several months of outlining different tasks, providing feedback, and navigating time zone differences before I got into a good working relationship with one assistant whom I am still working with to this day.

Recommendation: ??/ ?? I would recommend it if you have a good deal of basic research, travel, or planning that is keeping you from completing more critical and/or higher leverage tasks. But keep in mind that it is going to take a few months for you to see the benefits. Not to mention that hiring an assistant, even outsourced, is a meaningful expense. You get what you put in here, like all of these.

Mindfulness

• Listening to books - I was at one point an active reader but over the last few years attempts to indulge mostly got interrupted by work or pure exhaustion. After debating the merits of listening to books, I gave it a try. Generally, I would still prefer reading as it requires that I truly process the content; however, my bookshelf is littered with great books that I never got around to. Meanwhile, I've been able to listen to over 20 incredible pieces of literature in the last 6 months alone!

Recommendation: ?? I would recommend listening to books if you can't find the time to read them, or even to supplement your existing reading. It's something that you can do while you are performing routine tasks - cleaning, eating, commuting, exercising, etc. And I don't think that I need to talk about the importance of reading - especially non-fiction.

• Meditation retreat - I spent the first week of 2018 in a buddhist monastery called Plum Village. Just going offline for 7 days was meditative in itself. I was inspired to reflect on some of the more difficult questions that I tended to otherwise avoid, including identifying insecurities, challenging long held beliefs, and reprioritizing whats important. It turned out to be the best gift I have ever given myself.

Recommendation: ?? Retreats are available for all different levels of experience. And if you aren't comfortable committing to a retreat just yet, there are tons of services (Headspace, Calm, 10% Happier, etc.) that can help you develop your practice at home. When you are ready to take your practice to another level, a meditation retreat is time very well spent.

1. Journaling - In full transparency, this is something that I just began a few weeks ago with the 5 Minute Journal book and app. Writing entries in the book is ideal, but the app is a great alternative, especially when traveling. So far I have found it to be very powerful, particularly when paired with meditation. What I write in the morning serves as an anchor if the day starts to veer off course. And I am now always able to end the day on a positive note with my evening entry before bed. 

Recommendation: ?? It takes such a small amount of time in the morning and the evening (3-5 minutes each) and you will enjoy the benefits almost immediately. I'm sure there are other great alternatives to the 5 Minute Journal, but I haven't had the opportunity, or need, to try any others so far.

Health

1. Pescatarian - I decided to give this a try after reading a bunch of research on meat production. Cliff notes: it's downright evil and the environmental impact will be felt by generations to come. To be honest, I'm not sure that becoming pescatarian had an impact on my health; but fortunately, refraining from eating red or white meat wasn't much of a challenge unless I was traveling, wherein it required a little more self-discipline.

Recommendation: ?? I think you'll find this easier than you imagined, especially if you are living in a major city. But until alternatives to meat are as cheap, accessible, and tasty as vegetarian options, I can appreciate that it's going to be hard for many people to change their diets. 

1. Eliminate coffee / alcohol - I wanted to see if I could completely ween myself off of coffee and alcohol, mostly for health reasons. While I was able to do so for extended periods, there were times were I needed a coffee or just wanted to enjoy a drink with friends. In either case, I was able to reduce my consumption considerably in the process.

Recommendation: ?? It sounds great in theory, but frankly moderation is the key.

1. Run a marathon - I am not a big runner, but I took an opportunity to raise awareness for a very important cause by running in the NYC Marathon. And I was very happy that I did, as it had some unexpected benefits. First, when you are doing 20 mile training runs, you are forced to explore new parts of your city. Second, it helped to reinforce other habits like listening to books and reducing consumption of alcohol. Not to mention the incredible feeling of having thousands of your neighbors come out to support you and the other runners. All of this while helping to raise money for charity.

Recommendation: ?? Especially if you have a cause that you are interested in supporting by running. Just know it is going to consume most of your leisure time, force a lot of changes to your dietary habits, and can lead to injury if you haven't run much. I should also mention that it can get pretty expensive (training programs, gear, massages, physical therapy, etc.). 

2019 "Tests"

I’m still fine-tuning those from 2018, but in the spirit of the New Year I wanted to share a few tests that I'm planning in 2019 in case you may have any recommendations on how I can achieve the best results with them....

Time Management

1. Reduce time online - it’s just too easy for me to access Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, ESPN, and even Yahoo (yes, I oddly still go there for news). While I need some access to some of these sites, I’m interested in finding ways to further limit my usage.
2. “Family” dinners - I really tried to prioritize friendships last year but sill failed to find ways to connect with a lot of people whom I care deeply about. Someone shared the concept of hosting dinners on a designated schedule (e.g. the first Sunday of every month) and making it an open invitation. It feels like this could be a great solution.

Health

1. Sleep - I've had a difficult relationship with sleep for the last decade. Sleep is intertwined with so many important things, including health, functionality, and happiness. Not just the amount, but the quality of sleep as well. This is the year that I finally want to make amends. 
2. Fasting - Some of the smartest people I know are trying this so it seems like something that I should at the very least look into. Consider me interested in the concept but I have yet to do the research on the benefits or the best approach.
3. No fish - while fish are far less taxing on the environment than other meat consumption, it if far from sustainable. I’m just not sure if I can commit to a life without sushi :( 

Mindfulness 

1. Openminded.org - more on this in the coming weeks, but I’m in the process of launching an organization to support mental health researchers, social workers, entrepreneurs, and other activists. It's an important cause that I am dedicated to advancing.

If you are thinking about trying any of your own tests in 2019, make sure to keep in mind that they will require a good deal of time and discipline before they really take root. Find ways to hold yourself accountable; for me, that was part of the reason for memorizing them publicly here. I'd recommend checking out Atomic Habits and this article for tips on how you can increase the probability of success. And don't be afraid to quit, pause, or modify them if they aren't providing the desired benefits. After all, the work in progress should continue for a lifetime.