Happy New Year and I really hope that you had a wonderful evening. I am also hoping that you will have the best year so far. Maybe you are reading this blog post because you want to do something completely different in 2024. Maybe you have come to realize at the end of 2023 that you want to change your life. Today I will help you to become the best version of yourself and change your life. Although, you are still the only person who can change your life, by using my tips. This is how to make 2024 your best year.
How to Make 2024 Your Best Year
Set goals
First, you need to know what you want to achieve in every area of your life (Relationships, Work, financial, physical, etc). When you are setting goals for this year, be as specific as possible. If you want to find a new relationship, what kind of person do you want to meet? If you want to find a new job, what kind of job do you want? This is the fun part because you can write down everything you want.
Do more of what makes you feel good
Life is all about having fun and feeling good. A lot of people are stressed 24/7 about the craziest things. Find ways to cope with your stress. What are your hobbies and what makes you feel good? Do you like to have a meaningful conversation with someone, do you like to play sports, do you like to play games or read? Find something that makes you feel good and happy. And make time for it. Don’t say you would like to play a team sport or read more and then watch television instead.
Work on your mindset
We all know that working out is amazing for your body, but the thing we forget is to work on our mindsets, which is maybe even more important. I am telling this from my personal experience because I was in a dark place at a certain point in my life. It was not great. Then I started to work on my mindset (affirmation, more good feeling thoughts and it changed my life. I am not going to say this is going to be very easy. That is why I like to compare it to working out. You have to do it as often as you can. And eventually, you start to notice the changes. I don’t recommend forcing yourself to think happy thoughts like: ‘I am so happy’, ‘I am rich’ and ‘I feel so loved’ when you don’t feel like that at all. Just think about something fun. Maybe you had a great evening with your friends or maybe you had a lot of fun at a concert. Think more about those things. Those thoughts make you happy.
Try new things
One of my goals for 2024 is to try new foods/drinks and other things. Maybe there is something you would like to try. It doesn’t matter what. I remember I wanted to go thrift shopping, but I wasn’t sure if I would like it. Turns out, I love it. You never know whether you will like it or not. Just try new things. Maybe you find a new favorite recipe or maybe you discover a new sport. It can be anything. But trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone is fun.
Establish Healthy Habits:
Everyone has habits but maybe you have come to realize that those habits aren’t good for you. Maybe you are binge-watching a series on Netflix while you want to read more books. Maybe you want to be more active, but instead, you lay on your couch every day after work and on the weekends. Changing your habits is not going to be very easy. You have been doing the same things for a very long time now, that is why they are your habits. But try to stay disciplined for at least two months and it will get easier. Consistency is key. Small, positive habits can lead to significant improvements over time.
Celebrate Successes, Big and Small:
Often when you achieve something, you go on to the next thing immediately. We don’t really celebrate our successes, whether they are small or big. Celebrate when you are making progress with anything. Maybe you are exercising more often, celebrate it, and be proud of yourself. Acknowledging your achievements can also give you extra motivation to continue. You don’t have to throw a big party every single time you achieve something. When you achieve something smaller and maybe a bit more personal, just celebrate it by yourself. Make your favorite meal, order takeout, or buy something nice for yourself.
Prioritize Self-Care:
Self-care is always important and self-care does not always mean you have to take a bath every single time. Self-care is more than just facemasks and getting nails done. Taking five minutes for yourself while enjoying a cup of tea is a form of self-care. Going for a walk while you feel overwhelmed is self-care. Walking away from a negative person is self-care. Prioritize yourself! It is not selfish.
Practice mindfulness
Incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily routine. Whether it’s meditation, deep breathing exercises, or simply being present in the moment, mindfulness can reduce stress, enhance focus, and improve your overall well-being. When you have less stress, you will have more energy for things you want to do, and you feel and be healthier and happier. And it does not have to be an hour of meditation. Even five minutes is good. Take a few deep breaths when you are feeling bad, it will help. When you are overthinking, breathing exercises can be extremely helpful (speaking from my personal experience).
Build meaningful relationships
Foster connections with people who support and inspire you. Surround yourself with a positive and encouraging network. Cultivate both personal and professional relationships, as they can contribute to your personal growth and success. Stay away from people who don’t make you feel good or anything. You deserve friends who support you.
Photo by Sam McNamara on Unsplash