If your 2020 has gone the same way that the majority of people’s has, i.e. not to plan at all, you may be thinking about how to start off next year in a slightly better way.
Of course, no one quite knows what next year will bring about, but if 2020 has taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected!
In this post, we are going to look at some of the things that you can do to kick off 2021 in the best possible way and make it a year to remember – for all of the right reasons!
Make a list of what you want to achieve
A habit that almost all successful people have is that they plan what they want to get out of their time. Before we get to the end of this year – which for many, can’t come soon enough – sit down with a notebook and a pen and make a list of what you would like to achieve next year. Be as vague or as specific as you need to be – just get those thoughts down, and some brief thoughts to what you need to do as a first step.
It may include things such as:
- Get a new job – update CV and create a LinkedIn profile
- Overhaul appearance – book hair cut and research veneers cost
- Learn a new craft – look at local craft groups
Simply putting those ideas down onto paper makes them more real and makes you feel much more accountable. It encourages your reticular activating system to kick in and find ways to achieve your goals.
Surround yourself with positive people
In life, there are generally two types of people: radiators and drains.
Radiators radiate warmth and energy. They are the people that you want to surround yourself with. They will give more to you than they take, will push you to do your very best and support you in your quest to better yourself.
Drains are the opposite. They drain all of the energy and warmth out of the relationship, usually taking a lot more from you than they give. These people are usually negative and pessimistic, pouring scorn on your hopes and dreams and doing nothing to support you. These are the people you may want to think about limiting your exposure and contact with.
It is not just your friends and family you need to think about. Look at the media content that you consume. Many of us read blogs, follow people on Instagram and Twitter and other social media platforms. What do they bring to the table? Whether you realize it or not, these people are infiltrating your mind every day, so make sure that they are a positive influence on you. Also, remember that what you see on social media is very often carefully curated and not always representative of the truth.
Again, something that 2020 has taught us is the need to take care of oneself. If you are trying to do it all – work, childcare or other family caring responsibilities, housework, social life and so on – and are not taking the time to look after yourself both mentally and physically, you are going to end up with serious burnout, and that is never a good thing. Make sure you give time to basic needs – eating properly, staying hydrated, getting enough exercise and sleep.
Mental self care is also important. Whether that is taking the time to have a long soak in the bath with a book or a ramble through the woods with your dog as a companion, doing the things that you enjoy and need to do in order to center yourself are often just as essential as basic care.
Prioritize
To be productive and achieve everything that you want to achieve without burning yourself out, you have to learn to prioritize. Stop doing pointless tasks and activities that bring no benefit to your life and look back at the list of goals that you made. Aim to do things that will move the needle in those areas.
Look after your environment
If you are trying to work and live in a busy, cluttered and chaotic environment, there is a very good chance that this is how you will feel. Spend some time making your living, social and work environments a clean and pleasant place to spend time – get rid of anything not needed, give it a new lease of life and make it a space that you want to achieve things in.
