As first published in: Whisperings of Anna ~ Issue No. 21, November/December 2022, pp. 16-20.It’s around this time of year we reflect on the year past and start soul-searching and preparing for the one ahead, setting goals we’d like to accomplish in the upcoming 12 months.
While some manifest this in the form of fixed resolutions that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound (or SMART for short), others find a vision board for the year of vague, aesthetic-driven ideas more accomplishable.
Either way, neglecting to prepare is a surefire way to lose sight of your ambitions and makes achieving your dreams far less manageable.
It’s worth noting that traditions can be upheld at any time! You don’t have to wait for an official date to begin and if anything, waiting for New Year’s often puts pressure on yourself, leading you to dismiss your initial causes.
Here are my tips for preparing for the New Year:
Set realistic goals: You may not be able to overhaul your entire life overnight or even over the span of a year. But what you can do is start laying the groundwork and chipping away at a goal little by little, by instead planning to achieve more manageable chunks of a larger ambition.
Declutter: Your mind, your room, your wardrobe. Whatever is stressing you out. Remember your physical space is a reflection of your headspace. But also declutter in a sense of simplifying, if you have many goals for the year, is there an overarching theme that applies to all of them, whereby achieving one would inadvertently help achieve all of them? For example, goals such as ‘consistently getting A*s in your schoolwork’ and ‘getting into your dream university’ might be broken down to simply “Free more time for studying” or goals such as ‘stop biting your nails’ and ‘have clear skin’ could be compiled as “Maintain a skincare routine”. Having one or two vaguer dreams is easier to stick with, but by all means, if you have an exact goal in mind, I have absolute faith in you to achieve it, providing you have the willpower and determination to see it through.
Start a journal or tracker for every time you add to/work towards your goal: This could take the form of a bullet journal if you’re not the “Dear Diary” type or more collage-style notebooks that expand on how you’ve been working towards your goal, with lots of pictures, fabrics, doodles and notes. This is a great way to see how habitual working towards your goal has become over time, if your goals/ ideals have changed or progressed and how you feel about it all as time goes on. This way, your goals remain flexible and adaptable, no matter where the year ahead takes you. Some journaling prompts may include (depending on your goal):
“What would you do with your life if you had no fear/a guarantee of success/money wasn’t an issue?” - Establish what your priorities are
“People tell me I’m good at...” - This may help if lost as to how to progress in your career or education
“What makes me happiest in life?” - Again, this may help you set goals if unsure
“Things that motivate me” - Knowing how you can encourage yourself to achieve even at your lowest point is important to progress. To illustrate, are you motivated by achievement, fulfilment, accomplishment, self-determination, recognition, excitement or purpose?
“I am. I can. I’ve done. I will.” - A great way to evaluate your past, present and future
“What currently inspires me” - These can be anything from fictional characters to abstract concepts or feelings like making your loved ones proud
“The people I most admire” - Remember: a lady takes inspiration, but never copies
“Currently I’m...” - How are you working towards your goals?
“Whose life do you envy the most and why?” - This will give you insight into what you actually want from life and how you can go about achieving it
“What have you done recently that you never got to brag about?” - Remember: show, don’t tell your accomplishments to others, but do pat yourself on the back in the privacy of your own home
“Monthly reviews” - Revise your goals, things to improve next month, successes, new finds/updates
I have found setting very ambiguous internal goals particularly helpful.
Lastly, I’ll leave you with some New Year’s resolutions to consider:
For the ambitious career-woman: Study those who hold positions you’d like to attain, how did they get there? What can you be doing to help yourself ascend to those roles?
For the worrisome ladies: Practice self-care, consider going to therapy or obtaining a life coach. See what you can put in place to help manage your goals without feeling smothered or lost as to where to begin. Consider journaling to get out all your worries into one location before analysing to find the root or overarching issue that needs to be tackled.
For the aesthetically-driven: Look inwards and if there’s anything you’re unhappy with, ask what can be done? If nothing, there is no need to concern yourself with it. If something can be done easily, go do it! Or make a start towards it. For example, if unhappy with your current style and your budget accounts for it, consider indulging every once in a while to build your dream wardrobe. If your budget does not account for it, consider what can be done in its place and how you can save up towards your goal. For instance, if you cannot afford to have your nails done at certain intervals, consider growing out your natural nails and giving yourself a manicure at home (this is also an excellent excuse to surround yourself with friends and have a girls’ night in!).
For the procrastinator: Consider starting new hobbies that have to be done at certain times so that you have to get your other tasks done in a timely fashion. This could include language or sports classes, societies, clubs or extra-credit courses held at your institution. Or simpler still, arrange to meet your friends at certain locations at set times each week to ensure activity. Meeting at the library or gym routinely (this could even mean meeting for coffee if you’re worried you’re not getting out of the house enough). Have people hold you accountable, especially if you’re concerned you may not meet your goal alone.
Better yet, I have found setting very ambiguous internal goals particularly helpful. For example, one of my biggest goals for the upcoming year is to be more spontaneous, make memories and enjoy my twenties. But how many memories? How in advance is too far in advance to be counted as spontaneous? More problematic and philosophical still, what is enjoyment? This is obviously only something I can define due to its subjectivity. Nonetheless, it has given me the confidence to say yes to opportunities I wouldn’t have prior and thus my life feels more full and enriched, which to me, at least, is all that matters. And in essence, this is all that should matter to you. Your sense of personal accomplishment this year, and every other. I wish you all the best in your goal-setting and in 2023. Happy New Year!
...This is all that should matter to you. Your sense of personal accomplishment this year, and every other.
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