How is 2022 going for you so far? I know, I know. We’re not that far into the new year, but you never know. You can never put a timeline on crazy life events or predict when those will happen.
Many people said their 2021 was a doozy. I can’t exactly say the same thing. Honestly, 2021 was a pretty good year for me. I was able to move from my old home to my new home, I stayed healthy, no one died in my family. All in all, it was better than 2020, and it was calmer than years past.
A new year makes me think of resolutions first, and the kind of year I’m leaving behind next. I typically look back and think if there was anything that made my year crazy, happy or anything else.
I was perusing through Pinterest lately, and I saw a pin called, “12 Steps to Plan Your Best Year Yet.” And that little pin gave me the inspiration to write this blog, and hopefully help you if you’re still in the process of planning your 2022.
Reflect on the past year.
Like I said before, I reflect on the year I’m leaving behind. Was it good, bad, or something in between? It makes me realize how quickly some things were overcome or worked through, when before I didn’t think I’d see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s usually during reflection that I realize I’ve been out of the tunnel for some time and that I hadn’t realized it.
Let things go.
For some reason, the movie, “Frozen,” came to mind with this thought. But Disney movies aside, this is a great step towards planning a better year. Let things go that you can’t change, or that made you mad. At the end of the day, it’s not worth your peace or your happiness if you can’t let it go.
Define who you are.
Boy this is something, ain’t it? How many of you have defined who you are as a person? Have you just used the broad stroke comment, “This is me. This is who I am.” But is it really? This seems like a daunting task towards planning your 2022. One that requires real introspection and consideration to define to yourself, and others, who you are.
Create a vision board.
This is something I’ve never tried. I’m not an artistically creative person by any means, and I feel like this would need some degree of creativity to envision what someone might want their coming year to look like. But it can be super helpful for others to envision what they want their year to look like, and it may also give them the extra oomph to get it done.
Find your ikigai.
Per the Pinterest pin, ikigai is a Japanese concept that means “a reason for being.” The pin goes on to say, “this balance is found at the center where your passion and talents intersect with the things that the world needs and is willing to pay for.” When you think about it, aren’t we all trying to find this magical intersection? And if you’re able to find it, you are one lucky individual.
Let fear guide you.
Sounds kinda crazy, right? What’s the idea with this one? Fear can make you either too scared to take a risk or push through and do something new that terrifies you. It can be exhilarating! Have you been dreaming of opening your own business? Going after that big promotion at work? Wanting to start a family? Letting your fear take the wheel may lead you to some amazing things.
Set yearly goals.
Talk about plans! Some of us can’t plan for longer than a month or two, or even past a couple of weeks. Planning out goals for an entire year can take some serious dedication and determination. If it’s worth it, then you won’t mind setting those goals and working towards them.
Upgrade your habits.
I think this could be tied in with New Year’s resolutions. Aren’t we all on a journey to upgrade our habits by either breaking them or doing better? I have a terrible habit of eating whatever I want because I have the mentality of “You only live once, so why not enjoy eating?” Talk about a terrible train of thought, which leads to the habit of eating unhealthy food! Regardless of my digression, upgrading habits isn’t a terrible idea for anyone.
Start using a planner.
We’ve all heard the saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” What does this mean? It’s one thing to say you’re going to do better, but you need to actually commit to doing better. Do you have a lot going on in your personal life and need something to help keep it all straight? A planner might help you if you really intend on using it. I personally juggle my life between my cell phone and my Outlook calendar at work.
Break down your goals.
Do you have a ton of goals that you want to accomplish this year, but you’re not sure how to do it? Sometimes the best thing to do is just look at each goal individually and see what plan of attack you need to take on each one. Also, it could give you a realistic time frame on whether you can get them done this year or if they will take longer.
Review your goals.
This goes along with breaking down your goals. In breaking down your goals, you’re also reviewing your aspirations. Do you really want one of your goals? And just like the above point, it will let you see the reality of your goals.
Make a bucket list.
This sounds more morbid than it’s intended to be. This doesn’t have to be a list of things to do before you die. Rather, it can be a list of things to get done by the spring, by the end of the year, etc.
As for me, my personal bucket list for this year consists of a couple small home improvement items and one kind of big home improvement job. I’ll be putting in a few ceiling fans in the house, a couple items in the guest bathroom and then a water treatment system for the entire home. And I’m ready to make those happen!
What are you going to do this year to make sure 2022 is the best? Are you going to add some things to your personal bucket list to accomplish by the end of the year? Did this list of items help you with planning your 2022?
The team with Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling is looking forward to a stellar year. We’re thrilled that we’re increasingly coming out of the pandemic, and to see what this year will bring. We have a feeling this year will be simply amazing, not just for us but for the Albuquerque community as well.