Goals for the New Year

The Look Back

First and foremost, you have to look back on everything that had happened this previous year. Decide on what things, routines, and people work best for you and what didn't work so well. Jot things down on paper and see what this past year was like. No matter if it was the worst or best year, you need this look back to set a foundation for a better year.

The Brain Dump

This happens to be my favorite part! A brain dump is when you take all the information, thoughts, and memories that are flooding your brain and throwing them onto paper. This gives you a visual idea of things you want to achieve in the new year or routines you need to ditch. This can be a messy process but when you're done and everything is down on paper, the real process begins.

Time to Organize Your Wants and Needs

This is one of the most important steps for getting on track before the next year. With your brain dump sheet, take another piece of paper and start categorizing your thoughts. This meaning put them into categories like health, home, adventure, finances, college/school, and start putting the random information under these titles. Make sure the things you want to accomplish suit you—don't just put something cliché that everyone says they will do and never do it. Once everything is organized, then put a little color on your page and those are your goals for the new year.

Things to Do Before the New Year

What do I honestly have to do before the new year starts? There are actually a lot of things that we don't think about doing when we get to the start of a new year. Yes, we buy new calendars and stuff to get ready for the new year but there are some things we don't always think of. For example, at the beginning of the new year, empty your photos onto a hard drive or your computer. You will always have them but now you have more room on your phone to take pictures this year. Speaking of phones, go through and delete the apps you never use. They just sit there taking up space.

I know December is the month of giving but start your giving process in January. Turn all your hangers backwards and then turn them the right way round when you wear that piece of clothing you get left with a quarter or even half your closet unworn to then give away. This next part doesn't necessarily apply to grade school but college students, you are now getting ready for the spring semester. This is when you make sure your classes are picked and tuition is paid so that when the first day back rolls around you will have no problems. Make sure you wait to get the syllabus to then buy textbooks to make sure you are getting the correct one. Another thing you could do at the start of the new year is find new hobbies and things you enjoy so that when life gets hectic you know what you can do to relax your mind, body, and soul. There are many more things you can do but these were just a few.

Blessings of the New Year

For me, new year means fresh start. When I start out my new year, I have already ditched and broken up with the friends that were bad influences or just not right for me so that I can go into the year feeling happy and refreshed with no negativity in my ears. I feel that using this method I discussed of making goals makes them easier to achieve because in the end, it's like checking them off a bucket list. Once you want to achieve a goal, set little goals to then get you closer to the big goal. In this new year, always remind yourself that only you can make yourself truly happy and try to stay out of drama. Nobody's got time for that! I hope y'all have an amazing and blessed new year!