It is almost time to say goodbye to 2021. In a couple of days, it will be the end of the year. This year may not have been the best year because the Covid-19 pandemic is still here causing so much disruption to people’s lives and there is so much uncertainty as to what our lives will be like in the New Year. So what can we do to ensure that next year will be better than this year? Here are 5 things you can do to prepare for a successful New Year.
1. Think about everything that has happened in the last 12 months.
Take some time to do a little self-reflection. What were some of the things you were able to achieve this year? What are some things that you wish you could have done differently? What made you happy this year? And what made you angry, sad, or disappointed?
A lot of things happened this year that may have had a significant impact on your life. Working from home, being on furlough, losing a job, shutting down a business, and losing loved ones due to the pandemic are just some of the things that many people experienced this year. Have any of these factors made you rethink your career choice or changed the way you want to live your life?
Think about your personal and professional relationships, your finances, and your health. Are your relationships with your family and friends positive or negative? Who are the people in your life that have encouraged you to develop yourself and who are they that have tried to drag you down? This is the time to reflect on the kind of people you want to spend more time with and who you need to cut from your life.
With regards to your professional relationships, do you enjoy the people you work with? Is your manager supportive? Do you get along well with your colleagues? Do you find your job to be challenging and fulfilling? Is there room for growth? Does the job offer opportunities to increase your skills and your income? If you are not satisfied with your current job, then maybe you need to think about switching jobs, or changing your career.
You should also spend some time reflecting on your finances. How much debt are you in? Were you able to grow your savings or are most of it gone? Is your debt higher than your income? What can you do to reduce your debt and expenses and how can you increase your income?
And what about your health? How has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted your mental and physical health? Has the pandemic caused you to have anxiety about leaving the house? Has working from home caused you to feel isolated and depressed? Are you worried about loved ones who have contracted the virus? Are you experiencing symptoms of Covid-19? What can you do to improve your health and wellbeing?
2. Be grateful for all the good things that happened in the past year.
A lot has happened in 2021, both good things and bad things. Instead of focusing on all the bad things that happened, think about the good and be grateful. Make a list of all the things you are thankful for that happened in the past 12 months.
For example, being thankful for staying healthy, being able to spend the holidays with your family, getting a good job, being able to go back to school to complete your degree, getting out of a bad relationship, or finally getting your finances under control.
3. Think about what you would like to accomplish in the New Year
Now that you have had time to reflect on the year that’s just ending, the next step is to plan what you would like to do in the New Year. As we are approaching 2022, we should now be thinking about our goals. Have you thought about your New Year’s resolutions? What do you want to achieve in the New Year?
You may have set goals at the beginning of 2021, but due to the pandemic and other setbacks, you may not have been able to achieve those goals. So what can you do to ensure that you will accomplish all that you have planned for 2022?
Write down what you would like to accomplish in the New Year. For example, maybe you would like to lose 3 stones (42 pounds) by summer. Or maybe you are determined to become self-employed as a freelance writer. You may have also decided that it is more important for you to spend more quality time with your family. Whatever your goals are for the New Year, it is always good to write them down and read through your list every day to motivate yourself to accomplish those goals.
4. Ask God for wisdom and guidance as you enter the New Year.
As a Christian, I always find it helpful to ask God for wisdom and guidance when setting goals for the New Year. There is a particular verse that comes to mind when I am unsure of the path to take in my career, relationships, and finances: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV). So whatever goals you have set for the New Year, make sure that you share your goals with God and He will help you to choose the right direction and you will be successful.
5. Plan how you intend to achieve your goals.
You can set goals, but you need to have a plan as to how you are going to achieve those goals. For example, you have made a goal to attend university next year in September to get a master’s degree in marketing. How do you plan to pay the tuition? Are you going to apply for a student loan? Will your parents help you? Do you plan to save up money to pay for the first term? It’s great to set goals, but if you don’t have a plan in place, it will be very difficult to execute what you have set out to accomplish.
When you set goals, you should have an idea of how you plan to achieve them. First, write down the goal. Be clear on what you want to achieve in 2022. For example, “I want to get a job as an office administrator and earn £27,000 per annum”. Next, how do you plan to achieve this goal? Write down the steps. It helps to break down a major goal into small achievable steps.
In the example above, to get a job as an office administrator, you will need to search for office administrator jobs on multiple job sites such as Indeed, Reed, CV-Library, and Total Jobs. Once you find your ideal job, you need to tailor your CV and write a cover letter to apply for the job. If you are shortlisted for an interview, you then need to research the company and look up interview questions and how to answer them. Then practice for the job interview. Make sure that you write down the date, time, and address of where the job interview will be taking place. Consider the route you will take to get to your job interview. Each step brings you closer to achieving your goal.
I have heard that a goal without a plan is just a dream. So when you write down your goals, make sure that you also write down the steps you plan to take to accomplish them.
This year, 2021, probably wasn’t our best year. And as we approach 2022, we may be filled with worry and uncertainty as to what our lives will be like in the New Year. Will we have to continue to work from home? Will schools open in January? Will the country be forced into another lockdown? There are so many questions that remain unanswered. But we can’t let the pandemic stop us from achieving our goals. In spite of all the restrictions and lifestyle changes we had to make, we can still prepare ourselves for a successful New Year. So let’s say goodbye to 2021 and look forward to a better, more prosperous 2022.
