Seems it was only yesterday when the midnight clock announced a new year. wWhole new opportunities! yay! I whispered in boredom while chewing on a cold chicken thigh in my room. Hours later, I wake up with my messy morning hair feeling itchy on my face.
Shit! is it the new year right now?!
What the hell am I supposed to do?!
Well, I have more than 364 days. that’s a lazy wake-up time answer I gave to myself. today, less than 30 days left of 2022 and I’m thinking about how I can make 2023 a better, more productive, and prosperous year, not just for myself, but for everyone!
I’m grateful for 2022. I’ve turned 30 this year, and a whole new chapter in my life opened. I moved houses 2 times till I found the place I feel home, I fixed a lot of relationship issues, and I quit my job once due to too much pressure. I didn’t get covid, and lots of other blessings.
A few days ago, a friend of mine said that he was excited about the coming year. He was wondering what could guarantee that 2023 will be a better year for him.
Why don’t you plan it the way you want to? I answered. he began to ponder quietly. We didn’t talk much about it that day, but I’m sure he has written his favorite achievements to be for the next year.
And it’s your turn now to do the same!
If you want to start a smooth year ahead, you need to be prepared now! and nothing prepares you more than a thorough plan.
I know! thinking about the future makes you nervous. it’s completely normal. You’re focusing on something unknown. Your brain is the master of attacking everything unknown (for the sake of your immunity). Also, your stress now is way less than the stress you’ll have at the end of the next year if none of your plans is accomplished.
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Let’s plan 2023 like a pro!
Your plan starts with a really calm mood in a quiet place. No need to plan too big or too small. it’s you who has to do it, not aliens. be realistic.
Your goal can be very simple like a prank on your friend or as professional as a career promotion.
So let’s begin!
First, write down whatever you aim for. Then, highlight those you can achieve within a year. after that, prioritize based on the importance of those tasks. You can put them in a lettered list, like the example below:
A. change the old pipes
B. make more time for friends
C. learn a foreign language
D. donate to charity
Some of your goals may be intertwined. You also need to prioritize them by sequence. for example, if you want to get your driving license and also get a car. These two are related but getting a license comes first. You can sort these goals in a numbered list.
Next, describe what it takes for every single task to be done. this stage will save you a lot of time later. For example, if your goal is to paint your house, your tasks are:
- pick the hue you want
- estimate the amount of paint you need
- purchase the paint and required accessories
- move or cover the furniture
- patch the cracks and holes
- wait for the walls to dry
- start painting
You can see that I put every detail in the tasks list. If one of them is missed, the goal won’t be achieved properly. keep that in mind.
The last stage of your planning can be setting a time for every goal. this way you know when to prepare yourself. for example, if you don’t like cold weather and your goal is to visit Canada, you need to pick a time in the summer.
It may sound unnecessary as we’re distant from the date, but you will thank yourself a lot for setting a time when you can adjust family time and work and other responsibilities accordingly.
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I’d love to receive your feedback if you have followed my planning recommendations. I owe lots of them to trial and error in my management experience.
I hope to hear about great improvements in your life soon!
May The Coming Year Be Full Of Surprises!
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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You may also like these posts on The Good Men Project:
White Fragility: Talking to White People About Racism | Escape the “Act Like a Man” Box | The Lack of Gentle Platonic Touch in Men’s Lives is a Killer | What We Talk About When We Talk About Men |
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