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It’s the end of 2021!
To many it was an amazing year. To some others it was a horrifying year. I am not sure how it went for you. Irrespective, I believe that we all still have an opportunity to make 2022 way better by 2021 ; but then that won’t happen by chance as we have to be very intentional about it.
I am always excited about being intentional about improving myself and making my life situations better. And so in terms of making 2022 way better than 2021, in this article I shared some exercises I gleaned from different sources, implemented and truly truly found very beneficial .
1. Review & Reflect
I believe it was Socrates who once said that an unexamined life isn’t worth living. And so in order to make 2022 better than 2021, it’s very helpful to spend some time to review 2021 to identify : things that worked which we would like to do more of; things that didn’t work, which we would like to eliminate; and things we would like to do differently. This way we’re clear on the exact changes we need to make so that 2022 better. And obviously this will be across the different areas of our lives just to ensure we’re pursuing a balanced life.
If you’re unsure on how to go about with the reflection as you review the past year, here’re some guiding questions I’d pulled from a podcast:
- What made you the most happy?
- What made you the most unhappy?
- What were your greatest lessons?
- What do you wish you did more of?
- What would you like to do less of in the new year?
- What were your greatest successes and what were their starting points?
- What were your worst failures and what can you learn from them?
- What areas would you like to grow/improve on in the new year?
- What’s your favourite ways to refuel/destress ?
To go deeper on those reflection questions, check out this podcast by Jay Shetty.
Taking this exercise was very heartfelt for me; as I browsed through my daily planner/journal , I noticed how I had spent my time, the cool (and uncool) things I’d done and re-lived some sweet memories.
I am hoping you’d spend some time to dig deep into answering those questions. Remember, questions are the answers.
2. Plan & Schedule
After completing #1, you probably have a list of things you’d like to change in the new year. If you agree with me, nothing happens by chance and so if there’s a change we’d like to see in our lives, we definitely need to plan to make it HAPPEN. But of course, the first step is identifying what changes are needed. So I commend you for taking the exercise in #1 (you don’t plan to skip it – do you? 🙂 )
With the new plan of action you’ve drafted for 2022, it’s time to figure out how you want to integrate those changes to your schedule for 2022. As they say, if you don’t schedule it, it doesn’t exist and most likely it won’t happen. Adding those action items to your schedule literally make them real to you. For example, if as part of the exercise in #1, you identified that you’d like to work out more often to lose weigh, then it will be very helpful to block some time slots in your calendar/planner for 2022 for working out. This way you can see it each time you open you calendar and hopefully that’ll remind you of a commitment you need to keep to yourself.
So, schedule time slots in your 2022 calendar for those action items you’re committing to do to make the changes you want to see in 2022.
3. Share & Get accountable
Have you noticed how easy it is to quit on yourself and let yourself off the hook on some commitment? But then you are less likely to do that when you are accountable to a friend or a group – right?
That’s why this step is extremely essential in getting you to not only to make those changes but stick to your commitment. So once you’ve got your plans and have drafted your 2022 schedule, it’s about time to share with someone or some group that will hold you accountable. This can be a group of friends who you can form a Master mind group with or a coach you can hire if you’re able to, or a mentor you can touch base with regularly.
If you’re interested in learning more about Mastermind group, here it’s a video to help.
Trust me, this is a game changer!
With that, I wish and pray that you have a great and powerful year in 2022. And I hope you also remember that whatever you had achieved in 2021 is only a tip of the iceberg compared to what you’re capable of achieving. Go get it in 2022.
I am rooting for you!!
To a powerful and awesome 2022 ahead!