I know many people roll their eyes at the concept of new year’s resolutions. They’re seen as wishes that are simply not going to happen. That’s totally valid, but it doesn’t have to be the reality. At the beginning of 2022, I told myself that the year was about me levelling up, and it was! Here are 5 things I learned over the past year that I hope will inspire and be useful to you.
Be Intentional
Probably the most integral component of having a successful year is to be intentional about what you want to achieve, and actively take steps to make that a reality. I strongly encourage you to write down your goals, whether it’s with a pen and paper or digitally. I find that writing something down clears my head and helps me articulate what I’m feeling. Through doing this exercise, you should already feel a lot more in control of your destiny. It can be as long or short as you’d like, but be clear about areas of your life you want to change, steps you’ll take to bring about that change, and have a rough timeline of when you’d like to be levelled up. What’s important to know upfront is what success looks like. By knowing this, you should have clear direction and can start monitoring how you track in achieving what you set out to conquer.
Reflect, Regularly
While having the right intentions is a necessary step, it’s nothing without action. We must hold ourselves accountable and be realistic about how we’re tracking. Are you making progress on your goals? Are you edging closer to the version of yourself you aspire to be? If you’ve gone off track, what caused it and how are you getting back on a productive path? Regular reflection is imperative if you want to ensure that you don’t lose sight of your end goals.
I started using an app called Day One. Essentially, it’s a daily journalling app that prompts you to reflect at certain times of the day. I’ve particularly found value in my morning prompt and the evening one. Each day starts with a very intentional look at what I want to achieve that day and ends with reflecting on the day. This positions me well to tackle the next day with gusto.
If daily reflection is too daunting for you, then I recommend, at least, a quarterly reflection. You don’t need any app to do it either. It can be alone, with a significant other or even a group of friends, but don’t miss the opportunity to review your progress and to course-correct where needed.
We Need People
Throughout the pandemic, I worked completely remotely. This came with pros and cons. Of course, being an introvert, I focused on the pros of this way of working. I loved being able to isolate myself and felt I was doing an adequate job at keeping in touch. After starting a new in-office job, I realised that I’d closed myself off to people and that connecting virtually just isn’t the same. This applied to my professional and personal life.
I’m grateful for the changed working conditions as they forced me to see what I’d been missing and to appreciate every interaction you have. Introverted or not, we all need people in our lives to stimulate our minds, to learn from, and to bond with. It may require some effort, but it’ll be well worth it in the end.
No One Has It Figured Out
I used to dismiss this saying but I’ve now come to comprehend it. With age comes wisdom and I’m glad that this was one of life’s lessons I finally understand. Probably the most eye-opening experience for me, that helped the message land, was going to a conference a few months ago. The conference was a gathering of people in leadership positions, across various companies in my industry. It was a time filled with inspiring activities and opportunities to connect with each other. Delegates ranged from managers to CEOs of companies. It was an incredible experience and I learned a lot, but one of my key takeaways was that no one knows exactly what they’re doing; everyone is simply trying to do their best from moment to moment. This is a reassuring thought.
I believe that comparison is necessary as a benchmark for improving oneself, but there’s certainly a line. No two paths are exactly the same. Be realistic about where you are on your journey and how that compares to others. Consider the things that may have influenced where they are now and how you can use your experiences and perspective to succeed. Just do your genuine best and that’s all anyone, including yourself, can ask for.
Stop Making Excuses
I believe that the people who succeed are those who simply stopped accepting and making excuses. Life’s not easy and doing what you feel you must to get through difficult periods is reasonable. That said, your goals can’t consistently be on pause otherwise nothing would get done. We must be honest with ourselves. Rest and compromise when you need to catch your breath, but don’t get comfortable finding reasons why you can’t progress.
I’m blessed to have had the year I did and am proud of the accomplishments I’ve achieved. Am I perfect and the ideal version of myself I want to be? – of course not, but I’m much closer and I look forward to working on myself in the coming year to get even closer than before!
Was this helpful? Do you have any advice to share? Let me know on Twitter – @fantomdan.
