New Year’s Resolutions

As we move into 2010 and plan to lose weight, exercise more, read more, declutter, stop smoking and what ever else we’re resolving to do, let’s also make some professional resolutions.

My suggestions?

1. Stop losing sleep and wishing people were not part of our profession. Instead, take the time to recognize that there are sometimes priorities that prevent others from being as up-to-date as we are.
2. When you add a tool or mentor to your life, really think about which old tools or mentors you could let go.  I’m not suggesting a FIFO approach, but pruning deservedly.  For example, if you add LibGuides or PageFlakes, do you need to continue print pathfinders?  If you add a new blog, look through the other blogs you follow and see if any have gone fallow in the past year.
3. Recognize that you can’t do it all.  While it may seem that some people spend 20 hours a day being a librarian, between work and professional activities and playing with new tools and all, that doesn’t have to be your life.  It’s ok to spend time with family, friends, church, choir, girl/boy scouts, volunteering, etc..
4. Resolve to play with at least two new toys outside your usual comfort zone. Try a game, or play with Animoto, or VoiceThread, or something new that appears in 2010.  You don’t have to become an expert, you just have to try.