Too often, we end up doing before thinking. Invite yourself to make a plan before you execute.
Regular check-ins eliminate hours of idle busyness without being productive.
Rather than being busy, focus on being productive (or doing nothing!).
Here is an example check-in:
Set intention for your year.
Creation date: 3. February 2023 22:05
(updated at: 13. January 2024 16:52)
When: 2023
What will you have achieved?
I will have taken steps toward moving to Morocco. My French will be conversational (at least B1)
and I will have started to learn Arabic. To get there, I will have taken an intense Arabic class
(at least 3 hours per day for 1 month) and
will have spoken with a native French speaker for 1 hour at least once a month.
How did it go?
After a 20 minute phone call with ChatGPT, the AI rated my French as 85 out of 100, which I take
as at least B1. My Arabic didn't progress as well even though I took an intense Arabic class
(4 hours per day 3 times a week for 2 months) and visited Morocco for 3 weeks.
But aside from that I didn't do much to improve my Arabic. My Arabic is probably still in-between
the A1 and A2 level. A more effective approach would have been to move to Morocco for 3 months and
take an intense language class there - which I intend to do soon.
Publish your check-ins.
Even in groups we tend to work in silos. Some try to increase transparency by creating all kinds of check-in meetings.
Instead, simply publish your check-ins. Invite others to look at your plans, critique them and align themselves with you.