Whilst we do not need to wait for the new year to bring about change, if change is needed, there is something about the turn of the year that brings with it the promise of a fresh start.
This week’s blog from guest writer and Mindfulness, Yoga and Stress Management Consultant, Bev Alderson, gives you a framework to plan your best year yet.
It’s the time of year when many of us take stock, of ourselves and our lives, and put in place a list of resolutions – in a hope that this will be the year we achieve our dreams and desires.
An admirable endeavour, but how often does our enthusiasm wain and our best laid plans get left behind as the months progress?
If this sounds familiar you are not alone. According to a 2023 YouGov article, only 31% of those who say they made new year resolutions for 2023 say they kept them all. 50% say they managed to stick to some and 16% confessed to failing all of them.
Whilst there is merit, and clearly some success, in setting new year resolutions, they evidently don’t hit the mark the majority of the time for the majority of people.
So, this year I am going to invite you to take a different approach. To put aside traditional new year goal setting and try your hand at, what I believe to be, a simple yet brilliant concept.
What’s wrong with New year resolutions anyway?
Well for starters, as the YouGov research suggests, 70% of us don’t keep them!
New year resolutions can also be a big vague and seldom do they spring us into action, well, not for long anyway.
Have you ever dusted off your list of new year goals, perhaps when you have bit of free time up your sleeve or are feeling a bit flat, and felt stuck or uninspired to act in the moment?
You only have to look at the top 3 new year resolutions, again according to the 2023 YouGov article, to contemplate why:
- Doing more exercise or improving my fitness
- Saving more money
- Losing weight
All admirable goals, but are they really going get you off the couch and going on a cold and rainy winters day?
All three of these goals, and many others like them, lack specificity and a clear plan. They also require a high degree of discipline and motivation.
As the quote by the bestselling author Brad Stulberg goes, “you don’t need to feel good to get going, you need to get going to give yourself a chance of feeling good. People think motivation leads to action, but motivation often follows action.”
So how do we go about setting a course for a fantastic year ahead – filled with things you are genuinely inspired, willing, and able to do?
A new approach
A friend of mine was the first person I knew to embark on a year of doing 50 fabulous things – to mark their corresponding milestone birthday.
I followed suit and, I have to say, it was both a brilliant concept and a brilliant year.
However, before you get too excited, the following year things didn’t go quite to plan. Life took over, I lost momentum and, suffice to say, I had more left on my list than I had achieved.
This is when I came up with the idea of, not only creating a list of 50 fabulous things, but actually scheduling them.
This made the concept revolutionary. I found myself seamlessly progressing through my list and my goals – having and achieving one of my best years ever.
Unsurprisingly, I have been employing this concept ever since.
Of course, in order to plan your best year yet, you are going to need to, well, plan for your best year yet.
It might sound like a bit of a job, but trust me it will be worth it.
Once the leg work is done, I promise you will have a multitude of fun and fulfilling pre-planned activities to enjoy throughout the year. But that is not all.
Here are 5 additional benefits I have personally experienced:
- Clarity around my goals, dreams, and desires.
- Cultivating more work life balance by making the most of free time.
- Having dedicated time to work on personal goals and plans.
- Setting and sticking to a budget. At times saving money by utilising early bird deals, discounts, sales, or requesting items as Birthday and Christmas presents.
- Deriving a huge sense of satisfaction from achieving my goals.
My desire, in sharing this concept and blog, is for you to have one of your best years yet and to enjoy these benefits. To be able to look back at the end of your year and say “wow, look at all that I have accomplished.”
What you will need
Assuming you are with me, and are going to give this concept a go, let’s get started.
First up, you are going to need to put aside some time to create your list and your plan.
I personally like to set aside a couple of half days to do this work, however you can do this in smaller or larger chunks – depending on what fits best with your work and/or life shape.
So, the first task I have for you, is to set aside some time and put it in your diary.
The second task I have for you, is to consider and assemble the following items: –
- A computer or smartphone – for research.
- A computer – for creating your plan. Or you can use a large notepad and recycled post-it notes, if you prefer.
- A small notebook to carry around with you or you can use a smartphone for this – to capture any ideas and inspiration along the way.
- A calculator or spreadsheet – to tot up the cost of items.
You might also like to consider whether you will do this solo or if you would prefer to enlist the support of friends and/or family members. Either in coming up with a shared list and plan, or in working together whilst developing your own.
Either way, you are setting yourself up for a fantastic year ahead – this should be fun!
Creating your list of 50ish things
So, you have a date in your diary, to create your list of 50ish fabulous things.
I guess the obvious questions are how do you go about creating your list, and what do you put on it?
Before we dive in, you may have noticed that I keep saying 50 ‘ish’ things?
This is because 50 is just a number, based on aiming to do one thing per week. With a couple of weeks off – because we all need a holiday right.
However, it doesn’t matter if you would rather pick a different number or are unable to come up with 50. I recommend you go for it and create your list and see what number you naturally arrive at. You can always add more or take a few things off at the end.
Another consideration is budget and it is worth noting that your list does not need to cost much, if anything at all. Whilst it might be tempting, as we work through this section, to list a holiday destination or several, major events, costly courses, michelin star restaurants, and other expensive endeavours …. cost is an individual consideration.
In terms of what to put on your list, I have included below some ideas, considerations, and excavating questions, – all aimed at getting your creative juices flowing and to support you in coming up with your list.
I suggest you have a read through all of these first and then spend time with the ones that appeal to you.
So, grab your computer or notebook, ready to capture your list, and here goes…
- Start with the end in mind
Looking to the future can be a great way of understanding what you would like to have in the present.
Imagine yourself at the end of the year – what would you like to have experienced and achieved this year?
Ponder this question and see what ideas it helps to conjure up.
2. Determine what’s important to you
Take a look at the list below and put this in the order of what is most important to you and/or what you would like to have or do more:
- Being involved in charity and/or community
- Developing friendships new and old
- Spending quality time with family
- Prioritising your personal relationship or finding love
- Enhancing your health and wellbeing
- Having lots of fun and adventure
- Learning new things
- Enhancing your home environment
- Personal development
- Increasing wealth
You can of course add to the list, if there are other aspects of life that are high up on your personal agenda, or ignore any that are not.
Clarifying your priorities will enable you to research activities that are aligned to what is important and meaningful to you.
3. Make your list all about you
On a similar vein, considering your personality type, where you live and what you do, can help to source activities that best align to you.
Perhaps you are a homebody who likes to spend time alone, or in a small circle of close friends and family. Or maybe you are an adventurous social butterfly who loves to see and experience new things. Or anything in-between. Think about what hobbies or interests are best suited to the type of person you are?
Also, consider what activities align to where you have chosen to live – whether it be in the heart of a city or in the seclusion of the countryside. Or again anything in between.
It is also worth factoring in our glorious UK climate too, assuming you are based in the UK. Think about activities that align to the seasons for where you live.
4. Do some research
Perhaps the most obvious way to get some ideas and inspiration is online. Google, and the likes of, will provide endless ideas on the x number of things to do this year or in this lifetime.
You might like to ask friends, family, and colleagues what some of their favourite high, low, and no budget experiences have been.
Check out local events or those further afield, that you might like to attend. Look to the year that has been for annual events and the months they are held.
Seldom do we explore our own back yards and there are probably untapped local places of interest for you to discover.
You may well already have activities planned that you can add straight on to your list – so don’t forget to add these in too. Think holidays, weekends away, courses, special events such as theatre, concerts, festivals, and sporting events. Or special family gatherings and occasions such as milestone birthday and anniversary celebrations.
5. Low or no cost ideas
As I mentioned earlier, your personal budget should be a consideration to ensure what you put on your list is financially achievable for you.
Your list does not need to be expensive for you to have a year enriched with wonderful experiences.
Here is a list of ideas that are low or no cost:
- Start a savings plan – perhaps practising or tailoring the 1p challenge
- Learn a YouTube dance routine
- Do a volunteer day for a cause you care about
- Do an open university free course
- Visit local places of interest
- Give blood
- Plant a tree
- Learn a party trick – think tongue twister, hola hooping, juggling or a magic trick
- Watch the sunrise and/or sunset
- Go foraging and make something from what you collect
- Deliver a speech
- Dress up and take a photo with family and/or friends
- Take part in a community clean-up day
- Sing karaoke
- Learn a new language using a free app such as Duolingo
- Have a giving week – donate unwanted items to charity and/or proactively give compliments and praise
- Take part in a sponsored event
- Learn new or master family recipes
- Attend a wellbeing retreat or have a day relaxing at home – perhaps incorporating a walk, yoga, meditation, nutritional food, reading, and some pampering
- Host a family games night
- Create a gratitude jar
- Watch or take part in a local carnival
- Learn the names of something – e.g. countries, trees, birds, flags etc
- Foster a rescue animal or volunteer at an animal shelter for the day
- Kick off a monthly catch up with friends – taking in turns to organise the what and where
- Do a movie marathon – either at your local cinema or at home
- Join a quiz team
- Create a time capsule
- Take a tour of your home town
- Go cold water swimming
- Complete a puzzle
- Host a dinner party, BBQ, or picnic – asking everyone to contribute
- Do a nutritional detox
- Upcycle a piece of furniture in your home
- Take a holiday or staycation
- Test drive your favourite vehicle
- Stargaze and see which constellations you can spot Have a zero spend month
- Write your memoirs
- Carve a pumpkin
- Do the couch to 5k
- Spend a day or more at the beach or in the countryside
- Listen to an inspiring podcast or series of podcasts
- Try a new hobby
- Do a geocache treasure hunt
- Declutter and/or enhance an area of your home
- What books will you read this year?
- Research your family tree
- Implement a wellbeing practice (such as yoga and meditation) and practice every day for a pre-determined period
- Have a digital detox
6. Review your list
Once you have your list in a reasonable shape, I recommend you give it a once over – to ensure that it reflects who you are and how you want to spend your time this year. That it is achievable within your budget and your responsibilities and commitments.
If you are already spinning lots of plates, avoid having too many big-ticket items, those with multiples or that span a lengthy period of time. Otherwise, these are likely to stack up and overwhelm you as the year progresses.
You can of course reflect this in the number of items you elect to have on your list too.
For example, let’s say you plan to sign up for a 12-week programme to kick off learning a new language. Unless you are a whiz at languages or have a lot of free time, you are unlikely to be able fit in too much else that requires your energy or brain power. You might want to consider this sort of activity as 12 items.
Another example would be selecting 6 hefty books to read throughout the year. This could be a challenge for some and easy to fit in for others. Again, you might want to have these down as separate items.
The goal is to plan for your best year yet – not one that burns you out!
Create your plan and schedule
Once you have your list of 50ish things, and have refined it, it’s time to schedule your year.
I often joke that you can take the girl out of corporate but you can’t take the corporate out of the girl – suffice to say I do love a plan.
Whilst I do appreciate that not everyone shares my views, I do urge you not to skip this step.
It really isn’t as daunting as it might seem, and it is where your plan and your year will start to take shape.
Have a stretch, grab yourself a cuppa, respond to any calls of nature, and do your best to switch off from distractions.
- Create a table
I like to use a Microsoft Word table – as I find this the easiest tool for being able to add items and move items around. Additionally, the end result is that you also have a nice visual you can print or save as a background or screensaver.
However, you can create your plan and schedule using a notebook and recycled post-it notes, if you would prefer. And create a visual once you have completed this step.
Whichever method you choose, I recommend you create three columns and a line for each month of the year along with a section for notes at the bottom. Something like the example below: –
| PLAN FOR MY BEST YEAR YET | |
| MONTH | MY LIST |
| January
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| February
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| March
|
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| April
|
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| May
|
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| June
|
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| July
|
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| August
|
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| September
|
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| October
|
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| November
|
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| December
|
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| Notes:
|
|
2. Populate your table
Next you are going to transfer each item from your 50ish list into a corresponding month in the table.
Again, this is not as daunting as it may seem!
Here’s how I approach this task:
- Start by adding the items you know the dates for, perhaps including the actual date in brackets next to the item.
- Then add the items that take place the same month each year.
- Next add the items that best fit in with specific seasons and times of the year.
- If you picked items that you are going to do a few times throughout the year, pop those in next. For example, if you did choose to read 6 books this year you might add one in every other month.
- And finally add the remaining items to each of the months. Sharing them out evenly throughout the year or in line with other commitments. No point filling a month with things to do if you know that you will be chained to your desk or chasing after the children or grandchildren.
If there are a few remaining items that you don’t know where to put yet, add these to the notes section at the bottom of the table. For example, if you did want to sign up for that 12-week programme to learn a new language and you have no idea when it will start.
You might like to also use the notes section to capture any actions for yourself. For example, order the books you have chosen when the sales are on or source them from your local library. Or book in for that language course during the early bird period.
If items need to be booked then, where possible, take time to book these in.
Voila – you have your plan!
Well almost …
3. Love it or lose it
Before you get too excited, I would recommend giving it a final once over.
This time look at it from the lens of you actually completing the plan.
Imagine yourself at the start of each month, doing each of the items you have listed.
Does it fill you with joy or dread?
If some items are more in the camp of the later, this is your opportunity to cull them.
This is your year and your plan… make it a good one.
Best laid plans
I am fairly confident that everyone reading this has been on the planet long enough to know what can happen to the best laid plans.
If life throws you a curve ball next year or you simply lose momentum, then please don’t beat yourself up. If this happens, and you are able to, jump back on board whenever you can.
Remember that action creates motivation – not the other way around.
The concept of creating and scheduling 50ish things is in many ways just a tool that will see you including and recognising all the good stuff you do this year.
If you only get to do a handful of things, then recognise you will have done a handful of goodness for yourself … whatever your number.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Congratulations on completing your list of 50ish things along with your plan and schedule.
The theory is that you now have a few fantastic things to do each month that you are genuinely inspired, willing, and able to do. That you can now sit back and enjoy the ride.
You can of course add and edit your list and plan, if and when things come up during the year.
You might like to record how it goes by journalling or photographing each of your 50 ish things – perhaps creating a scrapbook. Alternatively you might like to use that gratitude jar.
Either way, I truly hope that you will be able look back on your year and say “wow, look at all that I have accomplished.”
That just leaves me to wish you a Happy New Year … may it be your best one yet.
Bev Alderson
Bev Alderson is a Mindfulness, Yoga and Stress Management Consultant who works with individuals, groups and workplaces.
Having spent 18+ years in management in the IT industry, in both the UK and Australia, Bev learnt first-hand the impacts of a high-pressure environment and lifestyle and how, left unchecked, this can negatively impact performance and health.
Today, through her business Practically Balanced, Bev brings authenticity to the work she does, drawing upon her personal experiences, management capabilities and expertise in mindfulness, stress resilience, yoga and more.
Bev completed a Diploma in Yoga with the highly respected Qi Yoga School in Sydney in 2012 and with Sivananda in India in 2015. She also completed a Certificate in Stress Management with the London Centre for Coaching and Counselling in 2014, an ILM with the Stress Management Society in 2014 and a Diploma in Meditation with the British School of Meditation in 2016.
With many thanks to Bev for this blog. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
nutrition@cytoplan.co.uk
01684 31009
Last updated on 24th December 2024 by cytoffice
