You can’t welcome in the new year if you haven’t released yourself from the past year. It’s important to look back at your 2020 goals and what you’ve achieved this year.
As you reflect upon previous goals and wishes, try to think “what have I done right?” and “what can I do better in the future?”. The word “wrong” shouldn’t be part of your vocabulary during this exercise.
Pat yourself on the back if you’ve achieved even one of your goals or learned something new about yourself or simply survived this year. You got through 2020 and you’re still living through a global pandemic. You’re here and that’s amazing.
As I set my goals for 2021, I’m trying not to spread myself too thin. I don’t know who else needs to hear this, but you don’t have to do everything. I’m notorious for taking on too much and if 2020’s taught me anything it’s that I need to make more time for myself and my priorities. Initially, that meant deciding on what my priorities are. Please take some time to figure out yours if you’re in the same boat.
Next year my focuses are going to be less broad as I return to my studies and as I focus my goals on big things that I want to do amazingly rather than many little things that I’ll end up doing only averagely.
Break down your goals into manageable segments; split them into monthly, into weekly, into daily chunks of action that will move you forward. As you’re doing that, try to reflect on whether this is enough or maybe too much of a stretch. My life coach tells me that 20% out of your comfort zone is a good amount of stretch; less than this and you won’t grow, more than this and you risk burnout.
It’s also beneficial to have fallback plans. What will you say to yourself when you’re feeling unmotivated, when you’re feeling overwhelmed, when you’re losing sight of the goal? It’s important to create affirmations to use for when you’re feeling these things. If you create your fallback affirmations while you’re feeling strong and in charge of your destiny, they will be more effective and powerful when you need them.
Affirmations are not just for when you’re feeling down, they can be used every day. Print them out, stick them somewhere you can see them each morning. Words are more powerful than most people give them credit for, especially the words we speak to ourselves.
When I think of the upcoming year, I take time to visualise the best possible outcome. I see myself achieving my goals and I open myself to the numerous possibilities of how they may be achieved. I connect to the emotion that these achievements will bring me. We are emotional beings; using your heart to motivate your head is a great way to unite your whole body on this mission.
I wish you a prosperous and healthy New Year!
