A new year is about to start, and with it, we renew our hopes, dreams, purposes, and intentions. Nothing says reinvention like the New Year, and of course, writing down our resolutions.
But let me ask you something… How many of the resolutions you had for this year were accomplished? What happened with the big changes you wanted to make? Or the project you wanted to develop? Most likely, none of those lasted long enough to breathe the summer air.
But why? Why do we always get so inspired by the promise of a new chapter to end up struggling to fill the pages? And there’s not a unique answer to this.
But for most of us, a big part of the problem is that we want to write on a page that’s already full. It’s like when you try to place a book on a shelf that’s already too crowded. It doesn’t matter how hard you try, if there’s no room, nothing will fit.
It’s the perfect time to re-evaluate
We know that the inspiration strikes with ideas of what we could do. But before setting new goals, it is best to check on what we already have on our plates. Don’t be shy, question everything. Take a look at the projects you have, the ones you paused and said you’d finish.
How are they going? Which ones are blossoming? Which ones are not? Try to be realistic, are they still in alignment with who you are today? Will they take you where you now want to go? When it comes to re-evaluating, no detail can be left out. Whether it is your job, hobby, or routine, the most important thing is to be honest with yourself.
And there is no better way to start something new than putting your priorities in order. After you have done so, everything will be easier, since you now know what matters the most and what is not important anymore.
Make room for the new to come
After a long, deep, and honest evaluation, it is time to make some choices. It is never easy, but to be able to really accomplish new things, we have to make room for them. Start by cutting out what is no longer serving you.
Even if that means changing your gym subscription to a walk around the park twice a week, as long as it feels like you are creating the space for new things to grow, it will be fine.
But, what if the things you need to cut off is a work project you were assigned to? Well, if you’ve checked your reasons carefully and you feel like there’s someone else who might be better for the project for whatever reason, try speaking to your manager and telling them, they might appreciate your honesty and take it into consideration.
Don’t be afraid to innovate
Reinvention is important, it drives us forward. To reinvent the simplest little details into efficient ways of life can be a game-changer. If you want to be healthier and you haven’t had the chance to sign up for a yoga class or something like that, don’t let that stop you.
Be creative, you can always find new ways to do things. Innovating in our routines, like taking a cooking class so you can prepare meals for the week, therefore saving time and eating healthier, is a great investment. If you always take the bus and you feel like buying a bicycle is an option that you want to take, do it.
The key here is to keep in mind your priorities. Then you can think of what you want to do with them, and which is the best way to do that.
Be mindful of what you add to your plate
So, now that we have evaluated our current activities, made some space for new things, and innovated with our way of life to align it with our new priorities, it is time to make new plans.
But after making all of that effort, we can’t just be careless of what we add to our plates. A great thing you can do is to be strategic and realistic. Think about what you want and how this new plan can fulfill that purpose.
Are you sure it is a smart goal? Or will it end up at the bottom of the drawer? Make plans that motivate you when you think of them, and break them into small achievable steps so you can accomplish them. Add new projects that will take you where you want to go.
It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of a New Year’s resolution, but we shouldn’t bite more than we could chew. We change every day, and so do our feelings, beliefs, and priorities. So it is very important to stay in tune with ourselves at all times. And even more, before taking new and bigger steps. So, what are you waiting for to clear your priorities? The clock is ticking.
