Same ‘ol; Same ‘ol

Week one of the new year has been and gone. Was it what you expected it to be and are you happy with the kind of start you have had?

At the start of a new year, it is so easy for the days to start to merge into each other and we can easily find ourselves in the same old patterns. Also for many it is hard to get back to the rhythm of things after the holidays or to feel motivated or re-energised after having days off work and being thrown off their regular routines.

The result of this is a slow start to the new year for many and others might find themselves coasting for many months, so how do we break this cycle and re-energise ourselves in time to make this year different from the previous ones.

I can’t say I have all the answers but I am in the same boat as others so I have had to dig deep to start my year afresh.

So here are some tips I am personally deploying to avoid same ‘ol, same ‘ol:

Reflect on the past year

Take time to reflect on the past year in terms of key goals or dreams that you had. Did you achieve them and if not, what were the reasons? For those you didn’t achieve, what are your plans for them in this new year?

Are they worth refreshing for this new year or were they the wrong ones to set in the first instance? Make needed decisions and write your goals down; break them down to bitesize measurable deliverables.

This reflection should also be a reality check that helps you to understand what is at stake, what needs to get done, by when and what it will take to get it done.

Do a kick start

There are times when a car needs assistance to kick-start it with outside help in the form of another car’s battery and a cable to send power from one car to the other.

What help do you need to kick start the year in the right way? This can be in the form of a mentor, a coaching session with the right coach, an accountability group that you can be part of. Perhaps it is joining a writer’s club if you plan to publish a book.

Break the bad habits

What habits do you need to break to make this year different? Are you prone to distractions and what are they? Do you need an intervention to deal with the habits?

By intervention I don’t mean being sat down and confronted by others; an intervention could be going cold turkey with your distractions, taking time out without your phones and TV to focus on some of your goals. It could be going on a retreat or a place where you can be free to start working on your goals without distractions.

Create a rhythm

Create a rhythm and settle into it until you form the new habits that will help you make this year the one you want it to be. This is the hard part because it takes a minimum of three months or 100 days to form new habits. This is showing up and following through every single day until it becomes effortless.

Do a monthly check in on your progress

This check in is needed on a regular basis as it will allow you to take corrective actions in a timely manner that supports the delivery of your goals.

So set a reasonable timeline for your progress reviews.

Depending on your goals, a weekly check in might be more appropriate. I have a goal to create contents and write a certain number of pages per day so to stay on track, I have to review my progress on a weekly basis. Monthly check ins would mean I might not be able to catch up if I fall behind.

Self development, Fun and Pleasure

Finally find something to do for fun or as a hobby that brings you joy and things that will help you grow. This could tie in with an activity that can improve your health such as a dance class, learning a new skill such as a new language, reading new books, knitting, pottery or archery.

The beauty of the internet is that you can leverage the opportunities to learn something new or allow it be a distraction. The choice remains yours. Here is to refreshing our start to the new year and going forward in a way that is energising, fulfilling and rewarding. Thanks for reading and sharing my post with others.