Several days after the New Year and you may already feel like you haven’t started well. For many people, when the fireworks go out, they will still have to wake up to the same life, with the same work and aspirations. What should be different?

Your approach to the new year is what should be different. Instead of filling a notebook with resolutions that make you feel half-baked, why not try something different?

Here are five tips on how you can start your year on the right track. If you are determined to grow yourself personally and professionally this year, these tips are for you.

1. Reflect on the previous year

The first step towards a better future is to take stock of what happened in the past. To say that 2020 was a difficult year is an understatement. Like everyone else, you had to deal with a situation that you could never have dreamed of, and that certainly had a lasting effect on you.

Start with what you liked about the previous year. This can be difficult, considering the year in question, but if you look back with an objective lens and a clearer view, you may notice some blessings that you hadn’t considered before. After all, hindsight is 20/20, right? (Pun intended)

As you ponder, here are some questions to consider:

What worked for you professionally?

What worked in your personal life?

What had you imagined for the year compared to where you are now?

Did you manage to pivot in order to reach your goal?

What would change about the way you handled the situation (think global, professional and personal situations)?

While this exercise requires you to be self-critical, be careful not to put yourself down. If there were situations you could have handled better, acknowledge it with respect and objectivity, not with malice and self-hatred.

The right amount of self-criticism will wake you up and drive you to be better. If you begin to feel discouraged at any point during your reflection, remember that you are still on your feet and actively working to improve. That is the formation of a strong individual.

2. Set your goals

Now that you have a clear understanding of what went well and what went sideways in the past year, you can move on to your present and your future. Set your goals for the year and plan how you will achieve them.

After the reflection exercise, you may notice that you still have some outstanding goals from last year. Before you set them as your goals for this year, think carefully about why they are still outstanding and if they still align with your beliefs or something you really want. What you wanted in the old one could have changed for many reasons.

One thing that I find that people are afraid to do is let go. Sometimes your beliefs and aspirations change, especially when you have a life-changing experience. Letting go of your previous perspective can be scary, especially since it means embracing the unknown most of the time. However, maintaining goals that no longer align with your true essence will only waste time and energy, both of which are vital resources that you must diligently protect and spend wisely.

That said, you can pass on any goal that still aligns with your purpose and is outstanding from last year. Also, set any new goals you may have for this specific year.

There are a wealth of resources online on how to set SMART goals, or you can attend my Goal Setting Bootcamp which provides detailed guidance on how to set powerful goals. Decide what you decide, do your research, and take plenty of time to work on each one. It is important to keep up; the only race you’re in is with yourself.

3. Cultivate your support system

This step is really important and is one that is most often overlooked. If you look at your list of goals, you may feel like you can accomplish them all on your own. The idea of ​​being “made by ourselves” has been pushed down our throats for years, and asking for help is seen as a weakness.

Could not be farther from the truth!

No human being is an island. Unless you are a monk seeking enlightenment through solitude, isolating yourself for extended periods of time is a bad idea. Studies have shown that prolonged isolation can lead to cognitive decline.

Michael Siffre, a French scientist and adventurer, locked himself in a cave for six months as part of an experiment. At the end of the second month, he reported that he was “barely able to chain thoughts.” And he still had four months left!

Isolation is not just social. You could be surrounded by people and still feel a sense of isolation. It’s harder to detect, but that’s why this isolation is so insidious.

In a culture that increasingly seeks to isolate people, go against the grain and nurture the relationships that are most important to you. Identify the people who have been fundamental in your life and dedicate time to them. Allow them to support you and, in turn, support them.

Now, I understand that not everyone has someone to count on. That is why I am here to help you and guide you towards your success. Send me a message describing your tutoring needs and I can help you get started with what you have.

4. Set a schedule

Here’s a public secret: nothing is done for which you do not set a time. You know how people say they are busy all the time? Well, the truth is, whatever you put off with those two words “I’m busy” is really not a priority in your life. What you prioritize, you take time.

Which brings us to this fourth tip. Create a schedule. And stick to it.

I know a lot of people hate schedules, prefer to go with the flow, and believe that a free-range approach is effective. However, in my experience the free range approach rarely works, and when it does, it is only for small or intermediate targets. If your goals are big to the point of frightening you, then a schedule is your best friend.

First of all, your schedule tells you what is most important in the current season of your life. It also shows you exactly how long you could be stealing from your top priority through procrastination and other bad habits.

A schedule also helps you cultivate the necessary discipline that every successful person has. Once you set your schedule and stick with it, you will gain a new respect for your time and energy, as well as other people’s time and energy.

Note: When setting your schedule, the goal is not to fill it with tons of things every day. It is to create the kind of day that you would find most meaningful and fulfilling. That includes talking to friends, going out when possible, and spending time with family.

5. Detox from social media

Finally, it is important that you start the year away from social networks. The fear of missing something (FOMO) keeps us glued to our screens, moving mindlessly through the timelines of social networks and consuming all kinds of content. The result? Information overload.

We live in the information age and immense good has been done as a result of technological advances made over the years. However, information overload has started to pose serious problems in society. Information overload reportedly has dire effects on the human brain, including decreased information retention and feelings of exhaustion (even when you haven’t been as productive).

A healthy way to start the year would be to get off the grid for a while, a weekend, a week, or, if you’re really committed, a month. Take this time to reconnect with yourself, choose a new hobby that does not require any device, such as painting, reading or walking.

Some of the benefits of a social media detox include improved mood, increased self-esteem, and being more present as you connect more with the real world.

I hope this article has been useful to you. For help getting started on your goals for the year, visit us at http://www.tawawn.com and take advantage of a free consultation, and let me help you start your journey to success.