Don’t wait for 2022…

At this time of the year, almost every year, I start thinking about all the changes I want to make in the next. You know the usual: stay fit, walk closer with God, develop myself, blah blah blah. Some days I’m a bit more specific: Read 10 books, take a vacation, save $5,000. No matter how specific I am, those dreams don’t come to pass and I come back here in December, writing new goals…again. It became tiring. I stopped planning for the new year. I’d just go with the flow you know? Take the opportunities as they come.

This year was different. Rather than shoving my dreams and fantasies under the carpet and pretending like I could live without them I’ve decided not to wait for 2022. It could come or maybe we could all get raptured on 31st. Who knows?🤷🏽‍♀️ (half kidding) I decided to try something new. Let’s make those 2022 plans. And then let’s start now. Maybe do a test run.

I know I want to spend more time writing. Instead of waiting to start writing in 2022, I will start today. Write each day starting now. By the end of the year I would have written at least 15 articles.

I want to read and learn more next year. So instead of waiting to start reading and learning next year, I will go ahead and pick out some books and courses today. If I start this year, I should have covered some ground even before 2022 begins.

Looking to expand my network. This is actually the best time of the year to go out to mixers and networking events. I don’t have to wait till January to find out which events I can attend. I’ll start joining Facebook groups and LinkedIn groups with the kinds of people I’m looking to network with now. Not in 2022.

By now you get the drift. To be able to efficiently pull off all your 2022 goals, start test running them now. Look at it as an MVP (minimum viable product). Start doing the minimum; one little thing that is super close to the actual goal. If the goal is to read 100pages a day in 2022, start reading 20 a day and build up from there. If the goal is to get 30 minutes of exercise in every morning, start doing at least 10 minutes today. Don’t put it off till 2022.

Don’t wait. Sit behind your desk and start now

There’s three things starting now will do for you:

You get motivated

When you see yourself consistently working towards that goal now, it increases your desire to go after it hard in 2022. You get motivated to continue and work harder at it in the next year. You see it’s possible, so you go for it.

You learn the discipline

My friend sent me a video today with the title “Winners Need Discipline, Not Motivation” and it struck a nerve! To win, you have to consistently learn and do that thing you want to win at. No amount of motivation will make you win; only discipline will. Starting now will help you form that habit. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. Guess how many days you have till the year ends? 🤷🏽‍♀️ Start now, be disciplined this month; form that habit and watch yourself soar in 2022.

You become a pro

Imagine writing everyday till the year ends. Practice makes perfect. The more you write, the more you learn. Being intentional and taking time out to research, think and put these in your own words; you just set yourself on a path to finding your voice, your own unique style. It’s the same with learning to code or learning to play the sax. Start now, and before you know it, you’re the best at what you do. No need to wait till the new year comes.

I’m throwing out the challenge: Start working towards whatever it is you have planned for the next year. Don’t wait for 2022. Start now with the barest minimum and build up the momentum for the next year. Let’s end this year well 💪🏽