How to Make the Most of the New Year

Happy New Year. For the past two years, I’ve greeted January 1 with an eagerness that’s hard to contain. Why? Because the past couple years have been some of the best in my life. And not for the reasons you’re probably thinking.

Photo credit: Bethan (Creative Commons)

Not because I made resolutions or created new life goals. Heck, I didn’t even have a plan! I continue to have the best year of my life each and every year, because I’ve learned to change my habits.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are lots of challenges in life I’ve yet to overcome. And every day ain’t no cake walk. But by practicing a few simple habits, I’m able to tackle those challenges more easily.

Here’s what I do:

Say “yes” more. The experts who tell you to say “no” more don’t know what they’re talking about. Sure, that works if you’re already busy and in-demand. But what if you aren’t there yet? The best way to create new opportunities is to start saying “yes” — not to everything, just to more stuff than you’d normally commit to.
Make quicker decisions. You know what phrase I never hear? “I sure learned a lot from that decision I never made.” People who don’t decide, don’t do much. Here’s a secret: Most choices can be reversed. And those that can’t usually have a lesson to teach us. So trust your instincts and start being bolder with the decisions you make. This will cause you to feel confident and more in control.
Pick something. We live in a world full of distractions — that’s nothing new. So how do we do something meaningful in the world? Simple. But most will overlook this. Take that list of goals you’ve set for the new year. Then pick one thing and circle it (maybe it’s to write a book or lose 20 pounds). Just one thing now. And then — are you ready for this? — do it. That’s it. Then move on to the next thing and repeat the process until you become the world’s most productive person.

Changing your life is not complicated, but it’s not easy, either. If you are going to make this year count, you’ll need to focus. And a great place to start is by making more room in your life for things to happen, by becoming a more decisive person (and thus a person of action), and by drilling down to one thing at a time and doing it.

Not very complex, but few will have the discipline to do it. They’ll spread themselves too thin, walk away from opportunities out of fear, and suffer from indecision. And in another 360 days, they’ll be writing down their goals again. Maybe you’ll be different. 

I sure hope so.

If you need some help kicking of this new year and beginning some new habits, check out Kickstart the Year (affiliate link).

How do you plan on making the most of the New Year? Share in the comments.