I love a new year. There is something so liberating about stepping in to new opportunities and leaving the old year behind.
I want to make 2017 incredible, and I want to see you do the same. Here are my 3 tips to make this year yours:
1. Take time to set goals.
Some people call them resolutions, but there seems to be something temporary about that phrase. Goals however, are those all consuming milestones we strive towards daily. Don’t confuse a goal with a dream. A dream is something you would love to happen one day – a goal is something you work towards daily with dedication, focus and persistence.
At the start of each year I write down 2 goals for each of my three core areas of growth: health, mind and career. I only write down 2, because any more and it becomes difficult to monitor.
These goals need to be trackable. You need to be able to say at the end of each week if you succeeded or failed. So for example, under health, one of my goals is to get to the gym at least 4 times per week. That is a far more effective goal than just ‘lose 10kgs’ – this way I will know at the end of each week if I have achieved my goal or not. Overtime, those small wins will result in a larger win of losing that weight – but this way I have a benchmark to hold myself to.
My 2 mind goals are to join a band and learn Japanese. Mind goals are those personal goals that will make you feel more fulfilled each day. It might be to meet with a mentor every week or read 52 books this year.
Action for you: Write down 2 health goals, 2 mind goals, 2 career/school goals. Make them actionable. For example, you may want to come first in English this year – rather than making that your goal, make it your goal to write a practice essay every week. You might want to get a job this year – but make your goal to hand out 2 resumes each week. Actionable goals result in far greater success than just listing achievements!
2. Make adventures happen
Every day I try to do something that scares me. Something that puts me outside of my comfort zone. It’s not always enjoyable, but I always feel more alive afterwards.
Adventures don’t have to happen in far away lands – they can happen in your neighbourhood – in your home, when you are willing to step out in to the unknown.
The best part is that with repeated effort, what once scared you will no longer do so.
Action for you: Every day, start a conversation with someone you have never met before. It can be a daunting task – especially in the world of SMS and online anonymity. But by putting yourself out there, you’ll gain confidence and it will propel you on to conquer whatever other fears you may have.
3. Take time out to refresh
In the busy world we live in, finding time to refresh can be so hard to find. I mean time away from phones, TVs and computers. Time to think and dream.
These moments are crucial to sustaining us through the year. Without them, it is very likely you’ll get burnt out and things will become much harder.
Action for you: Take 15 minutes out every day to just rest. Close your eyes and breathe deeply, thinking about your goals and what you need to achieve. If you do this in the morning, you’ll find your day running with much more clarity and focus.
These are just 3 simple tips to help you own 2017. With sustained effort and discipline, you’ll be able to get to the end of the year and look back on the goals you conquered and the adventures you had as your best year ever!
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