🎉6 Lessons from 2023 🎉
2024 is around the corner, and I’m sure many of us have already made a list of new year’s resolutions. I have some unfulfilled goals from last year and some new ones I want to accomplish.
It’s that of the year where I strive to reflect on what I’ve learned, what to leave behind in 2023, and what to continue.
Here are 6 key lessons I would like to take into 2024:
👩⚕️Put myself out there and challenge myself:
Putting myself out there has been one of the challenges I faced a few years ago. You never know until you try. The worst I could get is a ‘No’. Whether it is that job application, joining a new society, starting a new project, or anything that I am passionate about; my aim is to put myself out there and tackle those challenges.
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” — Wayne Gretzky
⏰Trust the process:
A brain dump refers to writing down anything on my mind in order to gather my thoughts and it helps reduce some of the inner anxiety. Journaling is another useful tool and I have been using the 5-minute journal app. When looking too long into the future, one can easily get distracted by what is going to happen next. This exercise helps to ease the process. Furthermore, by trusting the process, I can accept that the outcome is out of my hands for, as long as I have put in the effort.
The key to success is to trust the process, stay focused, and never lose sight of your goals — Les Brown
🌅️Take time to rest, socialise and exercise:
Whether it is a few hours a week or a few days, strive to take time to rest, restore clarity of mind, which will bring inner peace. This year I was not able to meet my fitness goals, however, my aim is to implement exercise into my routine. One of the strategies I have been using is the 2-minute rule.
“If an action will take less than two minutes, it should be done at the moment it’s defined.”
New habits become easier when you scale it down to 2 minutes. For example, anyone can meditate for one minute and read one page. And, this is a powerful strategy because once you’ve started doing the right thing, it is much easier to continue with it.
🌊Expand my horizons:
When I step out of my little bubble, it may feel awkward at first but that feeling is temporary. When I put myself out in uncomfortable situations that’s where growth happens. For example, I am aiming to join an Arabic calligraphy (something I used to do a few year ago) course and have joined the “Green Society” at my university, educating younger students on how to be more environmentally conscious.
🎯Keep track of my progress:
There have been days when I have felt frustrated when things have gone differently. It is easy to lose focus of my progress in those times. So, the aim is to be patient with my growth by tracking my progress. First to write my personal goals down on a paper or a tracker and then divide the goals into smaller steps. Every time I achieve a small task, confirm by ticking the box. This allows me to have a visual reminder of how far I have come.
Harkin and his colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of 138 study participants that looked at the effectiveness of an intervention or treatment to prompt participants to monitor their progress. The study’s focus was primarily on personal health goals such as healthy diet and monitoring blood pressure.
They found that encouraging participants to monitor their behaviours, increased their chance of completing tasks.
This also applies to money. By keeping a budget, building an emergency fund and creating a plan (eg: saving for retirement), I can ensure that I have a secure financial future.
🏅 Don’t forget consistency:
Consistency sometimes beats talent. This can be achieved by putting in the effort and showing up every day, it is one of the secrets to achieving success. Consistency helps us build momentum, develop good habits, and stay focused.
In conclusion, forever grateful to God, family, friends, and mentors for their guidance and support throughout the year.
As 2023 comes to an end, thank you for the highs, lows, and most importantly lessons I will carry with me for a lifetime ❣️☺️
