Preparation is key to starting the new year off right.
The start of the new year is always so exciting and full of promise. Maybe you have some new goals that you’d like to chase. Or maybe you’re looking for a fresh start.
And if you want to start the new year off right, you need to start laying down the groundwork for the year ahead. Preparing in advance will ensure that your year is purposeful and aligned with your personal and professional interests. And if you’re feeling uncertain about what you’d like to do in the new year, doing some brainstorming beforehand will give you a clearer picture of how you’d like the new year to go.
Starting the new year off right includes:
- Getting into the right mindset for the new year.
- Reflecting on the past year to help you reset for the new one.
- Brainstorming ideas for how you’d like the new year to unfold.
- Turning your ideas into reality.
Below, we’ll walk you through these steps so that you can start the new year on a confident note.
Getting into the right mindset for the new year
If you want to start the year off right, it’s important to get into the right mindset for success.
Your mindset is basically your outlook, or perspective. If you’re currently thinking things like “nothing ever goes my way” or “Why should I bother trying?” then it’s possible that your mindset is discouraging you from enthusiastically going for your goals or realizing your true potential.
It’s necessary to examine these negative thought patterns and figure out where they’re coming from. Otherwise, you could find yourself sabotaging your own goals or plans.
Try to hone in on what’s making you feel negative or cynical or stuck. You’ll often find that negative thought patterns are not truly indicative of reality, but, rather, an indication of our deeper fears. If you’re always saying “nothing ever goes my way” you might want to give yourself a reality check. Sure, maybe my goals didn’t work out last year, but I can count a number of times when things DID go my way.
Do some journaling to explore these thoughts and try to find ways to reframe them into something more constructive. Instead of saying, “It’s not going to work out” try coming at it from “I’ll try my best and learn from my experience” or “there’s no harm in trying.”
By reframing your mindset, you’ll be able to tackle the new year from a confident and compassionate place.
Looking back on the past year
An essential step in the planning process is to look back on the past year. Reflection lets you see what worked and what didn’t. It’s only through in-depth reflection that you can reset and refocus for the new year. Otherwise, it’s easy to repeat the same unhelpful habits or patterns of behavior.
For this exercise, use your calendar or planner to help you jog your memory.
Think about the people, events, activities that were challenging or draining. What aspects were challenging? What valuable lessons did you learn? And how can you apply these lessons moving forward?
Then, think about the people, events, activities that lit you up and made you feel energized or inspired. What did you like about these experiences or relationships? How can you add more of these positive elements to your life?
Brainstorming what you’d like to do in the new year
When starting the new year off right, it’s helpful to make a list and brainstorm the small and big goals you’d like to pursue. If you’re not really sure what you’d like to be doing, think about your year in terms of the 5 Ws: Who, What, When, Where, Why.
Who do you want to connect with? Who do you want to deepen your relationships with? These can be professional acquaintances or friends you’d like to get to know better. Or loved ones you’d like to spend more time with.
What do you want to do in the new year, both in your personal and professional life? What hobbies do you want to try? What habits do you want to add or drop? What dream projects do you want to pursue?
When would you generally start doing these things? When do you need to accomplish them by? Timelines help you put goals into action.
Where would you like to end up by the end of the year? This can be interpreted literally or figuratively. By the end of the year do you want to end up at a better job? A new apartment? Or do you want to end up feeling more empowered?
Why do you want to pursue these goals? Figuring out the “why” will help you stick to your goals even in the face of adversity.
So if you’re having trouble defining your new year’s goals, the 5 W's exercise is a simple way to start brainstorming some ideas.
Turn your ideas into reality for the new year
So now you have a better sense of how you’d like your year to shape up. The next step is to start scheduling things by adding them to your planner.
The physical act of transferring your loose ideas and goals into a physical outlet like a planner ensures that you’ll actually see them through. If you don’t, it’s so easy to ignore your goals and keep putting them off. But writing down your goals on paper makes them feel more real and tangible.
Want to exercise more? Then schedule your runs and yoga classes in your planner.
Want to network more? Then schedule the networking events in your planner.
Want to deepen relationships with friends and loved ones? Then add their birthdays to your calendar and set a reminder to mail out a card.
At the end of the month, you can flip through your planner pages and see for yourself if you honored your commitments or not.
With planning and preparation up top, you’ll start the new year off on the right foot.
Written by JiJi Lee
