A lot of the things I want to do are hampered by the hoops I jump through to get started on a task. This year my personal theme is Minimize Friction, set things up a head of time so when I want to post an article or edit a video, it doesn’t take me very many steps to get started. Here are a few strategies I plan to implement to achieve this:

1. Organize Digital Tools: Consolidate and streamline my digital workspace. For example, create a streaming set up where I just have to hit Start Streaming.

2. Automate Routine Tasks: Identify repetitive tasks that can be automated. One example is using the WordPress Social plugin that will send my posts automatically out to the social services I use.

3. Create Dedicated Spaces: Establish specific areas for different activities to reduce the time spent setting up. For now this will be two spaces, a digital creation space in my basement office and a writing space in the “studio” (the dining room that has never been used for dining).

Staying motivated

Getting through January will be easy enough, the newness of the year and of the tasks will be enough motivation. It’s whether I’m still able to do it in August is where the real challenge lies. To maintain momentum throughout the year, I plan to:

1. Regularly Review and Adjust: Schedule monthly check-ins to assess my progress in minimizing friction.

2. Embrace Minimalism: Declutter both physical and digital spaces regularly to remove distractions and keep only the essentials. This is really tough for me because I’m such a back rat, but I did sign up for self-storage to help.

3. Establish Routines: Develop consistent daily routines that incorporate essential tasks. By adding repeating tasks to my TickTick to do list I’ll be able to stay on top of what needs to be done.

4. Leverage Technology: Use apps and tools that enhance productivity. This is the easiest for me, as long as I don’t confuse setting things up with the act of actually getting things done.