It's what? Exactly three weeks since the beginning of the year. Have you put steps in achieving those resolutions of yours? Have you started that online course, that class, that self-help book you promised yourself you'd start? Those skills you swore you'd harness?
Well, neither have I, if that helps.
This leads us to the purpose of this article. I'm going to be giving you the same tips you've probably had handed to you for the past three years. The difference? Mine has more flair.
What I've learnt is that you can't really force anyone to do anything. There has to be a conscious decision to do better. In other words, are you ready to do better? If not, I don't think this content might just be what you need.
Let's begin, shall we? Let's title this: "How to do better this year."
- I recently watched a clip of someone's 2024 review, and inspiring is the last word I can use to describe what I watched. It truly felt like every month of the year; she was engaged in this event, that competition, that online seminar, or even just that self-development project. I wasn't too surprised when she highlighted the importance of goal-setting. It's a no-brainer. You can't achieve something you didn't set out to do, you know. That's why a great deal of us just survive through the year, barely experiencing anything. There were no concrete friendships to call for help, no networking, and no events that shifted our mentality. Just vibes and inshallah. Oya na. Mind you, I'm not calling you out. I'm just saying it as is.
- Now, let me tell you a secret for starting those skills you said you'd start. Are you ready? The easiest way is to just start it. Yeah, that's it. But I didn't say that that's all it takes, though. But to actually have that certificate at the end of the year that you said you'd get, you have to first start. Easy right?
- I know some people would be ready to attack and recite off the top of their heads, the projects they started but never finished. Well, that's just the thing. It's your problem. You lacked in the consistency and accountability aspect and it showed when things got too overwhelming to continue. Now, that course taunts you every time you open your browser, and that skill is left to waste. I, too, have felt this way and still feel this way for projects I never finished. But what can I say? Consistency and accountability, once nurtured, act like a cure for the disease of unfinished projects.
- Get rid of distractions, my friend. I know you know what those distractions are. That friend's house where all you do is gossip and sleep. Nothing meaningful ever happens when you converge. It's like a blind dog leading a blind person. Those vices that take root in your resources, I hope you're aware that they're distractions, too. Those unnecessary extracurriculars as well. And the funny thing about it is that even in every angle of your life, in school, at home, at work, you're going to have to avoid distractions before they engulf you and refuse to spit you out.
- Avoid repeating the same mistakes. Don't be the same loser who fails to prioritize his tasks. Don't let frivolities take root in your life that you fail to manage your time effectively. Now, I didn't say you shouldn't have fun. Just know when to and define the fun to suit yourself, not someone else's. A friend of mine cried because of the weight of exams, and now she doesn't need to be told twice to read months beforehand, so she'll have peace of mind. She learnt from her mistakes. We also need to understand that mistakes can be people too. Not everyone is for us and that's totally fine. Bravery is knowing when to let go and letting go of that toxic environment or person.
With all these said, I know a good amount of you won't still learn but I've said what you've been too scared to acknowledge. Good luck with getting the most out of the year.
Happy New Year.
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