I’ve got a bone to pick with the internet. With New Year celebrations approaching, I’ve seen a lot of memes and tweets and posts about how 2016 “just needs to end already.” I get it, we lost a lot of people this year, a lot of tragedies occurred and there was a lot of heartbreak. But every year around this time there’s an increase in complaints about the year not meeting expectations, and I felt like maybe I could help out. The thing is, 2017 isn’t going to meet your expectations either at this rate.
Nothing will change if you don’t get up and make it happen.
So buckle up, because we’re about to work our asses off starting now. This is a time for reflection of the past and renewal in the future. But for some reason, the honeymoon phase of new beginnings dies out a few months in. Here’s my guide to making the new year better than the last.
- Reflect on what made you thrive. Whether it’s meeting new people, exploring a new found creativity or exercise, if it made you feel good, do more of it. The more you do what you love and what rewards you, the more positive the new year will be.
- Reflect on the negativity. People, environments, and lifestyles all have the ability to make your life more negative than it has to be. If there are people in your life who don’t support you, focus on negativity or don’t give back to you what you give to them, it’s time to cut them off. Both of you will be better off without each other– free to move in the directions you want to in 2017. If you don’t mesh with or thrive in your environment or job, it’s time to take responsibility for your future happiness and look beyond where you are. You can’t expect the new year to be better than the last if you just sit tight and expect change.
- Set goals. It sounds cliche, but you won’t move forward without motivation. Set aside time alone to think about everything you didn’t achieve in the last year but will work towards in 2017. Be realistic, and don’t feel like you have to complete everything. Don’t write a goal down unless you know you can and will achieve it.
- Invest your time in something new. Find something you’ve always wanted to try, or something you never considered doing before. Learn about something that interests you that you never got around to looking into. Take up a new hobby, whether it’s sport, meditation, or writing for Affinity (hint hint). Just by trying something out, you’re making an effort to change the course of the year.
- Start new year resolutions now. Waiting around until midnight to decide you’re going to take up aerobics, study harder or get a boyfriend is only setting you up for failure. Buying into the tradition of new year’s resolutions from January 1 is also buying into the tradition of giving it up by March. Start making time in your schedule to do extra reading or go for a gym session, make more plans with friends or get a part-time job. If you’re ready and willing to drop a habit or start something new for the better, by the time the ball drops in Times Square you should already be able to say you’ve achieved something.
Take time out to get yourself ready for 2017 so you can hit the ground running. Of course, not everything that happens is in our control, but you can’t complain about 2017 screwing you over if you were the one who let it.
Lastly, and most importantly, bring on 2017.
