10 TIPS ON HOW TO PLAN FOR THE NEW YEAR 2017.

While some people would wait till the end of the year, others are already in the business of how to plan for the new year 2017 with full speed, taking into consideration for mistakes made, challenges encountered and drawing a plan to go about succeeding in the coming year. As the year 2016 is about folding up in a matter weeks and never to return, it is proper that everyone who desires success starts planning for the New Year 2017 which is by the corner and waiting to be ushered in.

Earlier in February 2016, my very close friend who was so ashamed of himself for not being able to drive a car, on countless number of times had assured me he would learn to drive before the second half of the year. I could feel the enthusiasm in him when he kept insisting on it, but sadly to say and with just few weeks to the end of the year 2016, he hasn’t kept to his plan.

In our jovial friendly manner, I will definitely tease him for not being a man of his words. Yes, I will. My point here is that, when you give yourself a target or goal to accomplish at a certain period, it’s only proper you make sure you meet it up

We are fast approaching that time or period of the year when we would feel it’s time to turn a new leaf and make new New Year resolutions with the aim of being better than who we were in the previous years. That time of the year we task ourselves about what to achieve, friends to walk with, improve our social life, cut down unnecessary spending or even thinking of reading more books to add to your wealth of knowledge., etc.

Yes, it’s that time of the year we have so much energy in motivating ourselves or thinking it’s the right and perfect time to reinvent ourselves and set our priorities right- a New Year!

In the words of Mark Twain, “plan for the future because that’s where you are going to spend the rest of your life.” Most times at the beginning of every year, you hear one or two people making New Year resolutions and by the second month of the year, it’s broken.

So if you are one of those who make New Year resolutions and break it soon afterwards, you should know you aren’t alone because millions of people globally make such resolutions but fail to keep them year after year. Sometimes it doesn’t even get to the second month before these resolutions are broken.

As I wrote in this post on weight loss, failure to plan will result in poor result and regrets for any one. No one hates to fail, everyone loves success, be it a student, an athlete, a business man/woman, politician, entrepreneur etc., but as we all know, success doesn’t come by just a snap of the fingers or wishful thinking or thinking about something in the comfort of your home.

Rather it comes with you stating or setting your goals and backing them up with a road-map/plan on how to go achieving these goals. It’s not magical, but it only comes with dedication, discipline, commitment and handwork.

So, how can an individual plan for the New Year and achieve whatever goals he/she desires?

While thinking of turning a new leaf for the New Year, its pertinent to ask yourself the following questions-

• Do you want or wish to make the New Year 2017 the best and most successful year of your life?
• Am I really keen to rediscover or reinvent myself in the coming year?

If these questions need answers then try following these tips to aid you achieve your new year resolutions and objectives.

Related post- How to lose weight eating fruits mainly in 2017

Your 1o Tips on How to Plan For the New Year 2017.

• DON’T WAIT TILL NEW YEAR’S EVE TO DRAW YOUR GOALS

Drawing your plan on eve of the new year is like planning on January 1st which is already the first day of the new year. Do not wait till the year ends before you plan. You can’t start planning for 2017 on December 31st 2016.

New Year’s resolutions no matter how little or simple they may be should not be made on December 31st. A serious mind would have meditated on what he/she really wants before new year’s eve.

• DO NOT MAKE ANY MAJOR CHANGE IN A FESTIVE MOOD.

As we all know, it’s a common knowledge that New Year’s Day has always been the ideal time people kick start new phases in their lives, but what most people do not know or take into consideration is that, it is NOT the right day or time to make any resolution or take a major decision because you are right in a festive mood, partying and not settled where you could think critically.

Anyone who wishes to plan for something should be in a quiet and solemn mood or environment where the noise is less and your thinking faculty is at peak.

You can’t achieve that during the holidays where there is so much jubilation in the air and plenty activities to take part in. it’s simply the worst time to make any resolution to change a habit.

If you go ahead to plan for the year in that state, you are already setting yourself up for failure.

• DON’T TRY TO CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE AT ONCE

Pick one thing after the other and not a total overhauling of your entire being or character. As the year progresses, you add another after achieving the first or the second and in that manner and order. If you try to change everything at once, it won’t work and you could end up as ‘’jack of all trade but master of none’’.

You need total concentration on what you have at hand and you mustn’t divide your attention to others. So, pick one area of your life to change to begin with before moving unto the next.

• START WITH THOSE LITTLE GOALS.

Don’t just draw up a plan with bogus new year’s resolutions, objectives and goals that may be difficult to achieve. It is ideal you start with the little ones or the least you know wont be pose as tasking for you. From there you can easily build yourself to attempt greater tasks. This is a major point on how to make new year resolutions work.

Also, always celebrate your little victories because it paves way for bigger ones.

• MEDITATE EACH DAY ON WHAT YOU ARE TO ACHIEVE

Before you jump up from the bed, take your time each day to carefully draw out what you are to achieve each day. You can do this by writing out your daily activities and set out objectives. You can also break your goals into tiny series of steps, focusing on creating sub-goals that are concrete, measurable and time-based.

Get a small jotter and each night write what you hope to accomplish the next day. Writing it down helps you work realistically on how to achieve them.

• INVOLVED YOUR LOVED ONES ABOUT YOUR PLANS.

When you involve your loved ones and family members about what you are out to achieve, there is the likelihood and probability that some form of support and encouragement would be gotten from them and this can serve as motivation to get those objectives achieved easily.

I mean the ones with like minds, the serious type who give you constructive and logical steps to achieving your plans.

• BE PREPARED TO LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES.

In the quest for perfection and achieving goals, mistakes will be part of your routine and in one way or the other some will pop up almost frustrating your effort. At such times, one needs to be curious in learning and very open to new things.

• TAKE NOTE OF THOSE OBSTACLES

Surely, there would be one or two obstacles that will definitely poise as problems and probably your own very weakness. You must note them down and draft a way of overcoming them.

A young man once wrote about his addiction to smoking cigarettes which everyone in his family didn’t know how he came about with such habit. He could smoke up to ten sticks a day and sometimes wanted more. While trying to conquer the habit, his very first obstacle he noted down was to avoid his friends who were into such habits and stopped visiting any social gatherings where smoking was allowed.

Point I am trying to note here is that, he knew cutting off those friends was a major hurdle he must scale through because he suddenly realized that not being in their midst will definitely limit his smoking.

• YOUR PLAN MUST BE FEASIBLE AND ATTAINABLE.

Unrealistic goals will never be achieved, therefore you must make sure your plan is achievable and very much feasible. Don’t pick a New Year’s resolution that’s bound to fail right from the onset.

Feasible in the sense that, following your laid down procedures and without turning away, you will achieve your goal. For example, in a weight program where you have been advised not to eat certain foods except the types given you by your instructor, abiding with them will only see you shedding off the amount of weight you’d wished to.

Planning for the New Year comes with effort, discipline and determined spirit.

• WHO IS WATCHING YOU WHEN YOU DEFAULT?

Who is the referee or umpire to chastise you when or if you go against your plan? There must be someone to hold accountable or you report to. You can’t report to yourself or else your plan will be a kangaroo plan where you make the decision and you are the judge.

Since you can’t punish yourself when you default, then there is definitely the need to have someone who can access your progress and grade you.

The person may be able to help you and encourage you when things get tough. Also, the person may know someone who may be able to give you guidance when you do not know how to achieve your goals.

It may also be beneficial to find someone who has a similar goal and work towards it together or forming an AA group to help each other. For example a lady who is trying to heal after an abusive relationship could find other people having same challenges and pair with them to work out together so that you can hold each other accountable especially when there is a default or one party fails to carry out what is expected of him or her.

Benefits of Planning ahead for the New Year 2017

• One good thing about planning is that, even if when those plans get thwarted along the line by some forces which are beyond your control, the fact remains that there was an intention by you to achieve something or do something.
• When you plan, you bring your tomorrow closer and it gives you the power to work on your future today.
• Risks are assessed and worked upon.
• You also identify whatever may pose as problems tomorrow and get them addressed with an action response plan.
• Scheduling and Planning ahead also creates room for you to consider wider options and prepare for the unexpected that may likely pop its head.
• When you plan, you assume the position of the controller.

Some few other points to note on planning for the new year.

• A New Year is always a time many people all over the world view as the right or appropriate time to actually get rid of some bad habits or pick up some new ones. So, it’s proper you start at such times.
• Making your resolutions effective, achievable or realizable depends on you alone.
• You should also know that your planning skill must be top notch, ready to be aided by if you actually want to achieve your stated goals.

So, as you read this, have it in mind that it is always good and never too early to start planning for the year 2017 while still in 2016. Now is a good time to reflect upon things past (especially the mistakes one must have made) and make plans for the future. Remember the Chinese saying- the best time to plan a tree was 20 years ago and the next best time is now.

Planning always keeps one a step ahead of others and closer to success. 

Thank you.

Any experience or addition? Kindly air your thoughts in the comment section.

 

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Brenda.