It's the start of a brand-new year and it's the perfect time to take a bit of a pause and reflect on what to do for the rest of the year. Now is the best time to do this while you're feeling all fresh and optimistic, ready to conquer all obstacles that come your way. You've got big dreams, grand plans, and maybe even a few resolutions floating around. But here's the thing: without a plan, those dreams are just going to be blurry, unfocused images in your mind. Think of it like trying to build a house without a proper construction plan – you might end up with something suitable for basic shelter, but it won't be the grand masterpiece you envisioned. Planning is like giving your dreams a solid foundation. Plus, you get the added benefit of having something on paper to share with family or friends so that they can also provide insights and give their two cents.
Now, I know, I know, planning can feel like a chore, and you might think why bother. But trust me, it's way more efficient than trying to figure out your life on the fly. Imagine you're a chef preparing a delicious meal. You wouldn't just throw random ingredients together, would you? No! You'd carefully choose your ingredients, plan your steps, and maybe even jot down a recipe. That's what planning your year is like – it's about making sure you have all the right tools and ingredients to achieve your goals.
So, ditch the "winging it" attitude and grab your planner, desk calendar, notepad, phone/tablet/laptop, or whatever tool you are most comfortable writing with or brainstorming in. It's time to map out your year, one step at a time. You'll be surprised how much more focused and energized you'll feel knowing you have a plan. Plus, you'll have a much better chance of actually achieving those dreams you've been holding onto. And who knows, if you are like me, you might even have some fun along the way (for a bit of context, I take enormous pleasure in making lists)!
Your plans and ideas don't have to be fully fleshed out. Just start jotting down what you want to accomplish, and you can fill up the details later.
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| A boy writing down his New Year's resolution. (Generated using Microsoft Copilot) |
My personal goals for the new year:
- Do more creative stuff (pursue more artistic hobbies). Take more photos. Start learning how to sketch.
- Start blogging again! I plan to commit to writing and publishing at least three articles for my blogs per week.
- Do more self-improvement and online courses. List down topics of interest and look at available online resources/courses.
- Consistently record more songs (It's a hobby and frankly what kept me sane during the global pandemic).
- Establish a routine/schedule for tasks that are recurring weekly/monthly, so they won't be overlooked (bill payment, grocery, laundry, doctor's appointment, etc.)
- Do more gardening and clean up the garden (it is starting to look like a jungle out there)
- Scan all of the old photos in our old family photo albums. Set aside time per week dedicated to the activity.
- Take better care of my health (both physical and mental health). Schedule doctor's appointments, and laboratory tests for the next few months. Plan for an out-of-town trip.
- Minimize eating out and plan to cook my meals to save money and have more control of my nutrition. (this ties up with having a grocery routine schedule)
- Manage my finances better. Track expenses in GnuCash and set up budgets as part of financial planning.
- Deal with various repairs around the house (screen replacement for all of the windows, have all the doors fixed)
- Rewire all of the CCTV connections in the house and troubleshoot faulty cameras. Finally make use of the network tester I purchased a couple of months back.
- Fix all the water leaks in the house. Contact a plumbing contractor and get a quote.
- Cleaning out the house of any junk that needs to be discarded.
- Transform the storage room into a functioning office (after discarding all the aforementioned junk).
- Have all of my cats spayed/neutered this year. Take better care of the cats.
- Maximize the use of underutilized properties and other assets. Something income-generating will be ideal.
- And lastly, do all of the things that I have been putting off since last year! Make a prioritization list.
Note that these are just broad categories at this point (as a result of initial brainstorming) and need to be transformed into actionable points with a definite frequency or timetable.
How do you plan for the year? Feel free to share in the comments. :)
Oh, and have a happy new year!
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