The year 2023 is still young. Today is the 12th of January, which means we are well into the second week of the year. It also means that we have fifty weeks left before the year ends. It is typical for us to have goals and aspirations at the start of every year. In this post, I share six actionable strategies to deploy right now to ensure that at the end of the year, you can confidently say, “this has been my best year yet!”
Clearly define 12 goals you will work towards this year: You may have a tall list of things you’d like to achieve before the year of the year, but how about you focus on just 12 things? The most important 12 things on your list. Look at it this way; you are directing your energies toward achieving one major goal for each month of the year. Also, it is not enough to have a mental list: write it down somewhere – your notepad or note-taking app. Forget the failures of the years gone by and try this approach.
Break these goals into smaller, bite-size steps: Now that you have a list of twelve, break each into four smaller steps. That’s like taking one step a week. For instance, if your goal is to get your dream job, the smaller deliverables could be updating your resume, researching the companies you’re interested in, networking with people already in the company and conducting informational interviews to gain insights into the organizational structure and inner workings of your dream role.
Imagine you have only 12 weeks in a year and get to work on your goals: We often tend to procrastinate because we think that a 52-week year is a very long time. Imagine there were only 12 weeks in the year, and you had to accomplish everything on your list within that time. This paradigm shift would spur you to get working, and you would be amazed at how much you can accomplish within that time. If things do not work out as intended, you would, at the very least still have 40 more weeks to make things right. Then, you can task yourself to work towards another 12-week-year sprint. Rinse and repeat this until the year actually ends 😅😅
Set your timer for 5 minutes and take the first step: The first step is often the most defining because it is the rate-limiting step – you cannot achieve anything you don’t start. Don’t overthink it. Set your timer for 5 minutes and take that first step. If you plan to write a book, for example, that would be opening a blank document and writing something – even if it is just one word.
Devote time every day to do at least one thing that would take you closer to the goal: Now that you have your goals clearly articulated and you have taken the first step, determine to spend some time daily doing something (anything) that would bring you closer to achieving those goals. I’d have to tell you that this part is the most challenging. That’s why it is crucial to be intentional about it. If you miss one day, that’s fine; just bounce back the next day. Try not to make one day become two days and, eventually, the rest of the year.
Review and pray over your goals every day: It is vital to put your goals before you constantly every day. As it is popularly said, “out of sight is out of mind.” We are faced with thousands of thoughts daily. If care is not taken, we can forget those things we are working towards, and each day is spent ‘chasing after the shadows.’ When you remind yourself of your goals every morning, you will quickly realize that it keeps evolving – and that’s a good thing. It shows you are growing. Another thing I would encourage you to do is commit your ways (goals) to the Lord in the place of prayer. We might not know tomorrow, but we know ‘the one’ who holds tomorrow – that’s all we need to know. We can be confident that when we do our part, He will crown our little efforts with great success.
Bonus point: I learnt this tip from a friend several years ago but only implemented it this year. Start to plan your year in October of the preceding year. Doing this sets you up for success. While others are scrambling to plan their year in January, you are already executing yours. For instance, one of my goals this year is to read more. By November 2022, I had curated a list of books I’d be reading this year, and as of today, I’m on my third book 😊
I hope these tips help you make the most of this year. I’m looking forward to a phenomenal year, and I want the same for you 😍 Let’s smash those goals, shall we?
Which of these steps do you implement already? Which would you include in your new year routine? Which will you do today??
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