Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

Abstract

— preferably screen facing down, is the least you can do when with someone.</p><h2 id="b1d6">#2 — Ask people how they are, and mean it</h2><p id="15cd">Whether it is a personal conversation or professional, make sure you learn to check in on people. We are often so focused on the purpose of our discussion that we want to jump straight to it.</p><p id="3a94">But it is important to remember we’re all humans — and we need each other, more today than at any time before.</p><p id="3d72">Remember to ask how the other person is, how they’re feeling — and be prepared to be an attentive listener if they decide to confide in you more than a mere “I’m fine, thank you.” Because most often than not, our “how are you” is a courtesy question we don’t care to know the answer to. Change that — start to care and mean it when you ask it.</p><h2 id="42f1">#3— Start saying thank you for big things and small</h2><p id="6ad9">This one is especially true when you’re dealing with people who are in some form junior to you — in age, perceived social status, hierarchy, or any other form — whether it is to your kid at home, to your direct report at work, to a janitor, to a waiter at the restaurant.</p><p id="1866">The effort that a genuine thank you with a smile takes is minimal, but the impact it has on the other person is immense. It can often make someone’s day when they’re having an otherwise rather bad one.</p><h2 id="3ba4">#4 — Wear masks for the most part — for others as much as yourself</h2><p id="44ca">I’m starting to hear instances of gatherings with no masks from friends and family in different countries — including the US and India — two countries that are definitely not out of the weeds yet.</p><p id="ee24">When you don’t wear a mask, it isn’t just you that is taking a risk, but more importantly you’re putting others at risk too. Until the world or the place where you live is fully vaccinated and safe, don’t attempt to be cool and a daredevil by putting others’ lives at risk.</p><p id="36d2">In general, a better personal hygiene regime for all of us will do a world of good to everyone.</p><h2 id="7cd3">#5 —Stop using paper cups, plastic bottles, single-use cutlery</h2><p id="1721">Not all of us can be full-fledged environmental activists and change the world on that front, but we can all surely do our tiny bits in our everyday lives.</p><p id="0321">Carry your own cup to work and don’t use a paper cup every time you drink that coffee or water. Carry a cup to Starbucks too — and guess what, <a hre

Options

f="https://www.starbucks.com.hk/promo/reimagineandreuse">they’ll even offer you a discount</a>.</p><p id="7b76">Stop the use of plastic bags, plastic bottles, and spend a little on more environmentally friendly alternatives. Something as simple as carrying your own reusable cloth bag next time you go buying groceries can have a positive impact every time you go out shopping.</p><p id="58c9">Each of your small steps will combine to have a big impact — don’t forget the power of compounding when it comes to good deeds as well.</p><h2 id="527d">#6 — Be consciously inclusive and diverse in everyday life</h2><p id="57b9">All of us subconsciously and rather unintentionally exhibit discriminatory behavior in our daily actions and language.</p><p id="f580">Next time, think before you say something, and if you realize something in hindsight, apologize for it. Don’t make a “guy” joke when you’re in the presence of female friends/colleagues. Don’t use “he” for a generic person who might very well be a female. Think before you make that racist joke about the Indian accent or the Chinese food.</p><p id="0e67">Think about the vegetarian friend in your circle, or the teetotaler, before you plan the next dinner outing to a steakhouse known for its steak and beer!</p><h2 id="3c10">#7 —Every time you are about to say something potentially rude — swap places with the recipient</h2><p id="1367">We often say things to others without fully understanding their perspective. Learn to empathize — and often when you put yourself in their position, you see what you missed before.</p><p id="4679">Before you blast that other person for not watching their step because they accidentally bumped into you — consider that they may have had some major personal issue that has them a bit absent-minded.</p><p id="3330">Before you call out a colleague for an error in a presentation, think how it could easily have been you, and possibly give them a heads-up on the side, rather than point it out in front of other colleagues.</p><p id="fc7b">Put yourself in the other person’s shoes — think how you’d want to be communicated with, and try and do the same.</p><p id="5921">I hope some of these aren’t hard to adopt as slight changes to your behavior for the new year and can act as a good substitute for your typical new year resolutions. I promise that if you’re able to implement any of these — you’re more than likely to not just feel proud about it yourself, but also make others around you very happy, indeed!</p></article></body>

List of New Year Resolutions the World Will Thank You For

It’s that time of the year again, and I am here to help

For the past 3–5 years, I’ve made a new year’s resolution every year, and have had a 100% rate with them. Not a 100% success rate — but a 100% failure rate.

Why is that the case? Because I’ve never really set goals that I truly want to / need to accomplish — it is usually an exercise in futility, either because I did it for the sake of it, or because someone at work or in my family asked me the million-dollar question.

And, I always had the most common and boring ideas for a resolution—

I’ll work out more often
I’ll create a better work-life balance for myself
I’ll take more vacation
I’ll spend more time with family

…and the usual conventional sort of list.

Yet, for 2021, I’ve decided to give it some thought and realized, that resolutions don’t need to be something big — they can be small and easy to do, and yet have a positive impact on your life, and equally importantly, the lives of those around you.

So, with a little over two weeks to go before 2021 dawns upon us, I’ll share the fruits of my hard work with you so you can steal some of these too — and give me a few brownie points in return.

#1 — Don’t use your phone when in conversation with someone

I can’t begin to tell you how incredibly annoying it is when you’re trying to have a face-to-face discussion with someone, but they are constantly scrolling away on their phone or responding to texts. There is basic courtesy in making eye-contact and listening to someone when they’re speaking so you can be engaged (or at least pretend to) in the conversation.

There are enough appeals out there for people to do some social media detox — but while that can be hard, putting your phone aside — preferably screen facing down, is the least you can do when with someone.

#2 — Ask people how they are, and mean it

Whether it is a personal conversation or professional, make sure you learn to check in on people. We are often so focused on the purpose of our discussion that we want to jump straight to it.

But it is important to remember we’re all humans — and we need each other, more today than at any time before.

Remember to ask how the other person is, how they’re feeling — and be prepared to be an attentive listener if they decide to confide in you more than a mere “I’m fine, thank you.” Because most often than not, our “how are you” is a courtesy question we don’t care to know the answer to. Change that — start to care and mean it when you ask it.

#3— Start saying thank you for big things and small

This one is especially true when you’re dealing with people who are in some form junior to you — in age, perceived social status, hierarchy, or any other form — whether it is to your kid at home, to your direct report at work, to a janitor, to a waiter at the restaurant.

The effort that a genuine thank you with a smile takes is minimal, but the impact it has on the other person is immense. It can often make someone’s day when they’re having an otherwise rather bad one.

#4 — Wear masks for the most part — for others as much as yourself

I’m starting to hear instances of gatherings with no masks from friends and family in different countries — including the US and India — two countries that are definitely not out of the weeds yet.

When you don’t wear a mask, it isn’t just you that is taking a risk, but more importantly you’re putting others at risk too. Until the world or the place where you live is fully vaccinated and safe, don’t attempt to be cool and a daredevil by putting others’ lives at risk.

In general, a better personal hygiene regime for all of us will do a world of good to everyone.

#5 —Stop using paper cups, plastic bottles, single-use cutlery

Not all of us can be full-fledged environmental activists and change the world on that front, but we can all surely do our tiny bits in our everyday lives.

Carry your own cup to work and don’t use a paper cup every time you drink that coffee or water. Carry a cup to Starbucks too — and guess what, they’ll even offer you a discount.

Stop the use of plastic bags, plastic bottles, and spend a little on more environmentally friendly alternatives. Something as simple as carrying your own reusable cloth bag next time you go buying groceries can have a positive impact every time you go out shopping.

Each of your small steps will combine to have a big impact — don’t forget the power of compounding when it comes to good deeds as well.

#6 — Be consciously inclusive and diverse in everyday life

All of us subconsciously and rather unintentionally exhibit discriminatory behavior in our daily actions and language.

Next time, think before you say something, and if you realize something in hindsight, apologize for it. Don’t make a “guy” joke when you’re in the presence of female friends/colleagues. Don’t use “he” for a generic person who might very well be a female. Think before you make that racist joke about the Indian accent or the Chinese food.

Think about the vegetarian friend in your circle, or the teetotaler, before you plan the next dinner outing to a steakhouse known for its steak and beer!

#7 —Every time you are about to say something potentially rude — swap places with the recipient

We often say things to others without fully understanding their perspective. Learn to empathize — and often when you put yourself in their position, you see what you missed before.

Before you blast that other person for not watching their step because they accidentally bumped into you — consider that they may have had some major personal issue that has them a bit absent-minded.

Before you call out a colleague for an error in a presentation, think how it could easily have been you, and possibly give them a heads-up on the side, rather than point it out in front of other colleagues.

Put yourself in the other person’s shoes — think how you’d want to be communicated with, and try and do the same.

I hope some of these aren’t hard to adopt as slight changes to your behavior for the new year and can act as a good substitute for your typical new year resolutions. I promise that if you’re able to implement any of these — you’re more than likely to not just feel proud about it yourself, but also make others around you very happy, indeed!