I've seen a lot of people on social media say that they're planning to make 2020 their best year ever. And I really, really hope they do. But I wonder how many of them actually will? We all seem to have loads of motivation every new year, which usually flounders or is even gone by February. Real life gets in the way and our dreams can fall by the wayside.
Whether you're planning to start a blog, take your blog to the next level, write a book, bag your dream job/promotion or start your own business, you're going to need a plan of attack. You won't get anywhere just by wishing. Here's what I suggest doing if you want to make 2020 your most successful year yet...
Start by reviewing the past year. Grab a pen and paper, look back over 2019 and write down your answers to the following questions:
1. What have I achieved this year? Which new skills did I learn? What am I most proud of?
It's important to celebrate all your wins, however big or small. Looking back over the things you've already accomplished will prove that you can do anything you set your mind to, and will give you more confidence to pursue your dreams in the coming year.
Keep this list to look back on when you're feeling overwhelmed or not so confident in your abilities at any point during the next 12 months.
2. What do I wish I could have done better? Where is there room for improvement?
As well as congratulating yourself on your achievements, you need to take a look at the things that didn't go as well as you hoped. This will help when it comes to planning your 2020 goals. You might need to change up your strategy to meet these goals, or you might decide to drop them altogether in favour of something else.
3. What do I want to leave behind in 2019?
There are going to be things that didn't quite go to plan this year, or you've lost interest in them now. It's okay to scrap these ideas if they're no longer something you want, or you feel like they're realistically never going to happen.
Other things I think you (and I) should leave behind in 2019: limiting beliefs, negative self-talk and bad habits. These aren't going to help us achieve our goals any time soon.
Once you have all your answers to these questions, you'll be well equipped to start making plans for next year. So now look ahead to 2020 and answer these questions:
1. What am I good at?
Write a list of all your strengths. Are you a great writer, good with your hands, skilled in public speaking? Jot them all down, however insignificant you think they might be. This list will help you decide which direction you want to be heading in the coming year.
2. What are my goals?
What are you hoping to achieve? Make two lists for this question: one for your long-term goals and one for the things you want to make happen within the next year. The 'long-term goals' list could be a three-year plan, a five-year plan or even a ten-year plan but you'll need to write this one first, so you know what you're going to have to do this year to set the wheels in motion.
Make your goals challenging but achievable - you'll be less likely to give up if they don't seem completely out of reach, and less likely to get bored if they offer a bit of a challenge.
3. How am I going to achieve my goals?
You can't just write down everything you want to achieve and then promptly forget about it all for the next 12 months until December rolls around again and you realise you haven't accomplished anything on your list. You need to make a plan of action.
How exactly do you plan to make your dreams a reality? Break them down into individual steps. Not only will this make them seem less daunting than attempting to tackle them as a whole, but you'll have more wins to celebrate along the way, which will keep the momentum going and encourage you to keep at it.
Now you have your plan for 2020, there's only one thing left to do: take action. Go make your dreams a reality - I believe in you!
How are you planning to make 2020 your most successful year yet? Let us know in the comments so we can all cheer each other on.
Related post: How to ACTUALLY Keep Your New Year's Resolutions (for Once)
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