How has this year been going for you? Has it been a good year overall? Has it been mediocre? Or has it been a train wreck?
If you picked the last two, my questions for you are –
How are you going to make sure this year is better than last year? Not to mention, how are you going to ensure next year isn’t just more of the same?
How are you going to make it a stand-out year (for all the right reasons)?
The great news is that how next year turns out is largely within your control, so you get to determine what it looks and feels like.
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Here are my thoughts on 10 ways to make this year better than last year.
Set goals
I know you saw that one coming, didn’t you?
The beginning of the year is ripe with dozens of Internet articles on goal setting. With that in mind, I won’t walk through the whole goal-setting process; I’m sure you know it already. Just make sure you don’t have a totally unrealistic long list of goals and keep them SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound).
Make sure you write your goals down!
Pick at least one ballsy goal! Make it something that will really enhance your life. They call them stretch goals for a reason!
Sure, you can set a goal to lose weight, but also make one that is going to set your soul on fire!
If the last twelve months have been hard for you, my recent post, 20 Questions to Ask Yourself If You Had a Tough Year, can help.
Have a fun plan
Okay, so you have your goals sorted. Excellent!
But what about fun? What’s your fun plan for the year?
Recently, a friend and I checked out a new gallery exhibition and headed out after for dinner and drinks. My friend told me she had made up a list of all the fun things she wanted to do during the year. The list was full of stuff like going to the gallery to see an exhibition (tick), hosting a dinner party at home every month, and going surfing every two weeks.
Make up a fun list of stuff you would love to do this year and start ticking that baby off every chance you get!
Related post – How to Lighten Up – 25 Tips for More Fun, Play and Relaxation
Do something different
We can’t expect things to be different if we don’t do anything different, so it’s time to shake things up a bit.
Do you go to the same spot for holidays every year? Time to head somewhere new and exciting. Do you always see the same people and hang out at the same places? Time to meet some new people and try some different restaurants, bars, cafes, or places to hang out.
Head interstate, go overseas, head for the mountains instead of the beach, or vice versa.
Related post – 25 Ways To Be More Courageous in Life
Go big
Is this the year you start your own business, take that course you’ve always wanted to do, or head off on a long-term overseas adventure?
Stop playing small.
You know those big dreams that you’ve had rolling around in your head for a while? Well, it’s time to take them out for a spin. Don’t panic; you don’t have to necessarily give up your day job if that’s not what you want; big dreams can happen outside of office/work hours.
You just have to create some space, time, and energy for those big dreams to blossom and show their true glory. Go big!
For a book on building a life you love, you might enjoy Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans.
Dial things up/dial things down
Was last year just one big long party? Was it an endless parade of drinking, eating, and going over the top?
Maybe this year might be the time for less partying hard and a lot more reflecting, chilling, and just dialling things down a notch.
I’m definitely not trying to kill anyone’s good time, but if your good times are affecting either your health, family, relationship, or career, it’s time to find more balance in your life.
Of course, it could be the complete opposite – maybe it’s time to stop hiding out at home and get yourself out among the people. Maybe you are long overdue for some kicking up of the heels!
Get your creative on
Don’t even think about telling me you are not creative. I don’t believe that for a second.
We are all creative in our own way. We might not all be painters or writers, but we certainly tell our own story. Problem-solving is being creative; finding solutions is creative. You don’t have to have a brush or a keyboard at hand to create.
Get your creative self on this year; you never know where it might lead.
Related post – How To Be More Creative
Travel by yourself
Everyone should travel alone at least once in their lives.
You learn so much about yourself – it’s mind-blowing! Don’t be scared of feeling lonely – you might be pleasantly surprised by just how much you enjoy your own company. While you’re exploring a new city or a new country, you might just find a part of yourself you’ve forgotten.
Related post – 8 Glorious Reasons You Should Travel By Yourself
Help others
This isn’t just about helping the people closest to you (though of course, that’s always a good place to start). This year, aim to help other people as well. Donate to charity, give your time freely, and give stuff to a charity organization to sell.
This isn’t just about helping people, either; there are the animals and the environment to consider as well. This might be the year to go vegetarian, pescatarian, or vegan.
One action you can do every day to make a huge difference: be kind to people.
Related post – 10 Ways to Cultivate Kindness in Your Life and Other People’s
Move that booty
If, like me, you sat too much last year, this year it’s time to get that booty off the couch (or in my case, office chair) and get moving.
It doesn’t really matter how you start moving; just move. Start small if you need to – just start. You can always build up slowly from there.
Stop thinking of exercise as a boring chore; come to think of it, stop thinking of it as exercise at all.
Find something that you enjoy that involves movement, getting that heart pumping, and go for it.
Don’t join a gym if you don’t like going to the gym (I’m guilty as charged on that one). Moving your body doesn’t have to translate into a gym membership; there are plenty of other ways to get your groove on.
Believe in yourself
This one doesn’t require money, time, or energy; it just requires you. You, your amazing soul, and a kick-ass belief in yourself.
If you really want this year to be better, now is the time to truly believe in yourself. Know what incredible things you are capable of and how amazing you truly are.
Respect and love yourself unconditionally by knowing your own worth. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Related post – 65 Affirmations for Confidence and Believing in Yourself
Make this year better than last year. Make this year extraordinary!
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Read Next – The Importance of Self-Reflection