As 2024 is coming to an end, people are beginning to have mixed feelings about the upcoming new year. Some are apprehensive about getting a year older and some are upset that they did not keep to their new year resolutions. On the other hand, some people are excited about what the next year will bring while getting ready to start the new year strong. Regardless, many people hope that next year is better than the current one. In this article, I am going to provide you with five ways to prepare for 2025.
The first thing you should do is reflect on the current year. Take some time to consider everything that happened, whether it was a good or bad experience. As much as it is important to plan the next year, it is also important to assess the current year’s state. This will help us form an overview of the large and small life events that altered our mindsets. Every experience comes with a lesson and, depending on how we regard it, can lead to personal growth. After you have reflected, use your discoveries as a foundation to establish what you want for the next year.
Next, start to think about what you want to keep and what you want to improve. A lot of the time, we want certain personality traits simply because society has made us believe that they are valuable. Pursuing something that we do not truly desire can lead to failure due to lack of motivation. For instance, someone who prioritizes a work-life balance and fun life experiences will struggle to achieve a 4.0 GPA if they want it merely because it is something that society values and believes determines their worth. In this process, keeping your focus on school, work, social relationships, finance, health and personal growth while being honest with ourselves is key to success even if the process makes us uncomfortable.
Once we establish a clear vision of the person that we want to become, the next step is to make plans for self improvement and evaluate where to get the needed resources using the SMART template (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-based). For example, after evaluating my habits and attitude in the workplace and school, I have decided that I want to be a person that people want to be around. I have come to realize that I have bad habits that deter some people from me, such as not knowing how to set boundaries, behaving immaturely and appearing disinterested in my surroundings. Along with this, I have decided to improve my verbal habits by not oversharing, putting in a more conscious effort to speak eloquently and refraining from appearing condescending. Additionally, I would like to work on speaking up and trying to understand those around me without being too sensitive. Also, make the goals specific and measurable. Instead of saying something like “I will escape alcohol addiction by fighting the urge to drink,” say “I will reduce alcohol consumption to this amount with the help of a professional’s guidance.” Something serious like alcoholism cannot be recovered from in a short period of time and may require the support of others.
The fourth step is to be true to yourself. Ignore those that discourage or make fun of you for the plans that you set, and stay focused on yourself. All of your goals have been made with intention, and now you know how you can get there and why you have to get there. Instead of focusing on the things that are going on around us, such as drama, we should focus on preparing to transition to the next year strong and smoothly.
Some might believe that there is nothing special about New Year’s Day since it is like any other day with 24 hours. Whether there is a change, though, depends on you. 2025 can be exactly the same with the exact same problems, or it can be better than any other year in our lives.