Welcome back from the holiday’s! I’m sure everyone (myself included) is settling back in for work or school or what not after the holiday season, and here are 10 tips to think about for the new year.
1. Be Selfish
The only way for you to become more giving, to help others, and become a better person is to first be happy with youself. So prioritize, be selfish and make sure that you’re happy because that’s the only way you’ll be able to share that happiness with others.
2. Travel
The best experiences you’ll have and always remember are from the times you go abroad. You’ll learn so much from being in a new environment, understanding a foreign culture, and meeting people. If you get an opportunity to travel, take it.
3. Be Mindful
The world is moving 1,000 miles a minute nowadays and we often don’t have time to just be. Its important to give yourself some time, preferrably on a daily basis, to just sit in silence, reflect, and take in what’s happening in your life. You’ll be surprised how much you can get from such a simple exercise.
4. Always Carry a Notebook
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a notebook, it can be your smart phone, your laptop, really anything where you can note things down and keep with you. You never know when inspiration will strike, when ideas will arise, or when things will need to be remembered, so try and pick up this habit.
5. Stay in Touch
We often fall out of touch with our friends and family once they are no longer part of our everyday lives. When we go to college, when we graduate, when we travel, when we get a new job, all of it often changes our relationships. Try to make more of an effort to keep in touch with your good friends and family on a regular basis, even if its just an email or Facebook message.
6. Declutter
Your environment can really affect how you work and function so it’s important that it is just as focused and supportive of what you need to accomplish. This being the case, declutter your space, organize things, setup the ideal work area, and put yourself in the best position to achieve your tasks.
7. Dream
If you haven’t yet, think about your future, what are your goals, what do you want to accomplish, where do you see yourself in five years?Although this will most likely not be where you end up, it’s a great exercise to better understand what your ambitions are and uncover what you’re really all about.
8. Read More
There is so much to learn out there and the best way to educate yourself is through reading. Books, blogs, newspapers, and magazines, all of them are great sources for your own education that you should try and utilize. If you’re having trouble getting started, try setting yourself a quota for reading in a month, so you have a goal to strive for.
9. Leave Your Comfort Zone
As much as you may not want to, this is one of the best ways to grow as a person. Don’t completely shift focus away from what you’re good at, because those are where you have the best value, but building your skills, especially your weakest, can only be beneficial. Don’t miss opportunities to grow.
10. Pursue Your Passion
Finally, its important to pursue your passions because this is they key to loving your life. If you’re not sure what your passion is then start exploring and try to discover it. Either way, you need to be in pursuit of your passion, as it can completely change your perspective on life and how you live it.
Hope those were helpful and I wish everyone a great 2011!