With the year drawing to a close, it’s high time to review the year and to plan for the next. Feeling like you’ve never really kept to your new year resolutions? Don’t worry, the coming year could be different with some of our tips below:
1. Don’t leave planning
It’s never a good idea to leave things to the last minute. In fact, it’s a great idea to start planning ahead now, with more than a week to go. You don’t want to make hasty plans solely based on what’s going through your mind on 31st December. Instead, give yourself some time to think about what will be most important to achieve in the new year and continue to refine the list until the year really ends.
2. Set milestones to review your progress
Consider scheduling quarterly check-ins with yourself to stay accountable. Just as how projects are run at work, consider this, too, a personal project. Having regular milestones check also gives you the opportunity to reflect what can be done better or if there are any adjustments to be made!
3. Set realistic goals and leave room for flexibility
We know that some of us can be too ambitious at the start. It’s not easy to go from not exercising at all, to exercising every alternate day. Sure, we may be able to hang on for a month, but burnout is also possible, as is changes to circumstances. Trying to keep the routine while suddenly being dumped a new responsibility at work will not be easy. The last thing we want is to set a goal that’s too difficult to sustain, and then eventually give up on it!
4. Plan to be rewarded
It’s a known fact that positive reinforcements can go a long way to build habits. It can be as simple as rewarding yourself with a bubble tea after every online class you attend in your attempt to upskill. Making plans to reward yourself with a long-haul overseas trip if you achieve all your goals can serve as great motivation as well!
