Make 2018 your year

CAIRO – 20 December 2017: As the year ends, we are all reflecting on what we have accomplished and improved in our lives and what we still need to work on in the coming year. The start of the New Year is an opportunity to start fresh as traditionally represented by New Year’s resolutions. But what we would suggest is to view your goals for the year as conscious long-term lifestyle changes rather than New Year’s resolutions. It will put you in the mindset of permanent change rather than the temporary fulfillment of a yearly gimmick.

We have some advice for four distinct aspects of your life: work, relationships, health and emotional wellbeing.

Work


A man works at the offices of Argentine mobile banking startup Uala in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 13, 2017 – REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

• Be deliberate with your time. Be very conscious of how you use your time during working hours, because it is quite easy to get swept away by the events of the day. Make sure to deliberately plan out your days and the goals you want to achieve within each chunk of time, so you have a game plan to reference when you feel yourself getting off track.

• Do not forget to work hard. Even if you are smart. Sometimes we become complacent in our jobs, we have gotten used to the work and we do it well so we stop pushing ourselves. It is important to always give your all, and if your job requires less than that then ask your boss for more responsibility or a promotion. Never get too comfortable. If you are not moving forward, then you are moving backwards.

• Give credit where credit is due. Always acknowledge other people’s hard work, because it will come back around. Making people feel that their work is appreciated is important for the team morale and makes them more ambitious in the job they are doing. They will also respect you and likewise give you credit when it is due to you.

Emotional Wellbeing


Take time to cater to your emotional wellbeing – CC/Pexels

• Consciously plan something joyful each day. Do not depend your happiness on the events of the day. Make sure you have at least one moment of joy planned into everyday life for that daily boost of serotonin.

• It is very easy to get home after work and laze about the house because you are tired. But that is a good few hours every day that you could spend learning something new, or spending time with loved ones, or exploring your local area. Make use of those after-work hours.

• End the day with three good moments and space for growth. At the end of each day, acknowledge three happy, good, fulfilling moments that happened during the day and also acknowledge a moment where you could have reacted better, or been a better person. Be thankful for the good moments and strive to improve upon the bad.

Relationships


Friends and family – CC/Pixabay

• Stop the comparison game. You can never know the internal workings of a relationship from an outside perspective. Each relationship is unique and has its own problems and conflicts, so do not compare your own to others. Work on improving yourself and your communication with your partner.

• You and your partner are a team Remember that you and your partner are not opponents when it comes to conflicts. It is you and them vs. the problem. Work together to find a solution not against each other and do not be too stubborn to see their side of the issue.

• Make time for friends. Your friends will always be some of the most important people in your life. Make sure to actively make time for them and not to let a good solid relationships slip away.

Health


A Tabura group fitness class at Crunch Fitness in New York, August 2012 – REUTERS/Crunch Fitness

• Sleep at least seven hours a night. The ideal amount would be to sleep at least eight hours a night, but we are being realistic. Sleep is necessary for an innumerable number of aspects of your health, and getting enough sleep is setting yourself up for a good day. Make yourself a priority instead of late night TV show binges.

• Get active. Try to aim for at least 2.5 hours of moderately intense activity in a week. It will improve your long term health, reduce your risk of chronic diseases and increase your fitness levels while decreasing your lethargy. There are no downsides to getting more active.

• Boost your intake of pro-biotics and anti-oxidants.Improve your gut health, reduce signs of aging, get better skin. Pro-biotics and anti-oxidants are the unsung heroes of good health. Make sure to take care of your body and it’ll repay you in kind.