I say that these three words are the formula of happiness.
January arrives and our plans to start the year come like an avalanche to our minds. The bad thing about this is that there are so many ideas in our heads that we end up overwhelmed ourselves and staying paralyzed without knowing where to start.
Let's visualize the month of January as: “the meeting with ourselves to see what's up”.
Everything starts from there.
If you give it a go and start planning this month (and half of February) everything will flow favorably for you.
Start by answering this question:
How do I see myself at the end of the year?
The first thing you have to do is dedicate to it a free afternoon. Take a sheet (don't write it down on your smartphone), go to a place where no one will interrupt you, and take your time to think about what you want. Try to be as insightful as possible.
How do I see myself at the end of the year?
Step #1 Put your ideas in order
No matter the order. Write down everything you want to achieve this year.
Be sure to write about these items:
- Health
- Family
- Professional
- Love
- Others
Once you've made the list (not necessarily in order), divide your goals by category, place each one depending on the section to which they belong (health, family, professional, love, and others).
Be concrete.
For example, if in the first list you wrote: “I want to change jobs”.
You will have to specify the list of companies in which you want to work and when you will start sending your CV to apply for that position you want.
If you wrote “travel”.
You will have to write where you will go, when you plan to leave and how many days you will take for your vacation.
If you wrote “exercise more”.
You can start looking for the list of the next athletic races that you plan to enter.
If “you want to move out of your parents' house”.
Start researching which areas are cheap and which are close to your work.
Compare prices, take your time and set a date for the move.
And so on in each of your projects.
Step #2 Materialize your goals
Since your ideas are now clear, you'll have to create an action plan to achieve it.
Example: If you want to go on a trip to Mexico City
1- Start quoting flights
2- How much money will you be saving in each payroll for the flight
3- Check the cost of the visa and passport. Set a deadline to process and pay for these documents.
4- Calculate how much money you're going to spend during the trip (especially on lodging, meals).
5- Set a specific quota. Take extra money, but set a limit and promise to spend only the amount you had contemplated from the beginning.
You'll have to create an action plan to achieve it.
Step #3 Buy an agenda
There is a technique that'll help you meet your goals like a pro.
In any given week, you must do three things that'll bring you closer to your goal.
Example:
Monday: Gather the documents to schedule an appointment at the US Embassy
Tuesday: Schedule an appointment to process visa
Thursday: Save $500 for your trip
Arrange the plans your way and meet your goals per week. Write everything down in your agenda
In any given week you must do three things that'll bring you closer to your goal.
Step #4 The power of visualization
It is important to have a vision board.
Considering all of your plans, cut-and-paste everything that has to do with your plans.
And keep it throughout the year in a visible place, so you don't forget your goals.
Remember that the best thing you can do now is plan your 2022-2023. From now on, January is the right month to plan your next trips, take your future projects more seriously, be disciplined and (above all) save money.
