Happy New Year! Two filled champagne glases clinking in front of a sparkling background with the text Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2024

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Out with the old, in with the new. May the New Year bring you peace, prosperity, and fortune! New Year is an exciting time to set goals for the future!
Photograph of Belinda D'Alessandro. Belinda is wearing a red jacket over a red dress and a string of pearls. She is standing in front of windows with shutters
Belinda D’Alessandro

Wow, can you believe it’s already the 31 December 2023? In a post ringing in the 2013 New Year, I spoke about the various times of the year when the “new year” is celebrated… such as the Chinese New Year, the Vietnamese New Year, the Jewish New Year, the Islamic New Year…

As the old year in the Gregorian calendar ends and a new one begins, it is a time of reflection, celebration, and anticipation. Time to set goals, embrace new challenges, and make positive changes. So, let’s raise a glass and toast to a bright and prosperous new year ahead!

Setting Goals and Objectives for the New Year

For the 2022 New Year, I wrote about setting goals and resolutions. Setting goals and objectives for the new year can be a way to start the year off on the right foot. By taking the time to reflect on the past year and assess where we are in our personal and professional lives, we can identify areas of improvement and set clear goals for the year ahead. Whether it’s achieving a promotion at work, improving our health and wellness, or deepening our relationships, setting specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals can help us stay focused and motivated throughout the year.

Making a Plan for Achieving Your New Year’s Resolutions

Two filled champagne glasses clinking, with a clock face and fireworks in the backgroundNow that you have set your goals for the new year, it’s time to create a plan for how you will achieve them. Without a clear roadmap, it can be easy to get overwhelmed or lose sight of your objectives.

Start by breaking down each goal into smaller, manageable tasks. This will allow you to focus on one step at a time and make your goals feel more attainable. Set deadlines for each task to create a sense of urgency and keep yourself accountable.

Additionally, it can be helpful to enlist the support of others. Share your goals with friends, family, or colleagues who can provide encouragement and hold you accountable along the way. Consider finding a mentor or joining a support group to connect with like-minded individuals who can offer guidance and motivation.

Remember, achieving your goals takes time and effort. Stay committed, stay positive, and celebrate your progress along the way.

Celebrating Your Wins and Learning from Your Mistakes

As you look at your New Year’s resolutions, it’s important to take time to celebrate your wins along the way. Recognise and acknowledge your progress, to help you focus on the bigger picture. Whether it’s accomplishing a small task or reaching a major milestone, give yourself a pat on the back and celebrate your achievements.

At the same time, you can contemplate setbacks or mistakes. Don’t dwell on them; use them as opportunities for growth. What can you learn? How can you change your approach? forward.

What I said v what I did

My 2022 resolutions were to read more, write more, listen to podcasts, learn a new skill and clear out the clutter in my home. How did I go? Well, let me tell you

Read more

With Twitter (it will always be Twitter to me!) becoming a bit more hateful, I started reading some SubStacks and newsletters for industry news and social news:

Write more

This has been a bit harder with a full-time day job. I’ve written a lot more for the day job than I have fiction, but it helps keep my brain working.

Listen To Podcasts

Three of my grandparents passed away many years ago, and my last grandparent (my maternal grandmother) passed finally in January 2022, at the ripe old age of 99¼. I came across American journalist Anderson Cooper’s podcast All There Is about how he’s been dealing with grief in light dealing with the personal effects of his family and having children. I’ve found it most helpful, and you can find it on your favourite podcasting app.

Learn a new skill

I’ve moved roles in my day job, and am doing more data analytic work. It’s pushed me with my Excel skills, as well as my coding skills, so I’ve started taking some courses on formulas in Excel, coding in Python and R (analytic programming).

Clear out the clutter in my home

Again, this has been a bit hard with a full-time day job. I know where things are and haven’t done any rearranging of my spaces. I have managed to NOT increase the clutter in my home and I’ve decluttered some space from my computer(s)!

Reflecting on your goals at the end of the year!

Reflect on all the awesome things you’ve done! Celebrate yourself and all your hard work. Even if you haven’t ticked off all your goals, accept the progress you’ve made. Did you challenge yourself? Did you step out of your comfort zone? Did you learn something new? Give yourself a big round of applause!

Two filled champagne glasses, standing in front of a champagne bottle laying on its side and streamers, on a black sparkly backgroundDon’t beat yourself up about the goals you didn’t quite accomplish! Life is what happens when you’re making other plans. New Year is a time to evaluate why those goals weren’t met and consider if they are still important to you. If they are, don’t worry! You have a whole new year ahead to tackle them head-on.

As you reflect on your goals, celebrate the unexpected wins and successes that may have come your way. Sometimes, life surprises us with opportunities we never anticipated. Embrace these moments and celebrate your accomplishments.

Finally, as you set new goals for the upcoming year, remember to be kind to yourself. Set realistic goals that challenge you and give yourself room to breathe and enjoy the journey. Remember, it’s not just about the destination but also the journey.

So, raise a glass to all the goals you’ve accomplished this year and to all the exciting adventures that await you in the coming year! Cheers to reflection, growth, and the endless possibilities that lie ahead!

Have my goals changed?

Nope! Not a bit! In 2024, I still want to:

  • Read more
  • Write more
  • Listen To Podcasts
  • Learn a new skill
  • Clear out the clutter in my home

Final thoughts

As we usher in the new year, let’s reflect on the past and try to make the upcoming one even better.

We want to hear from you! So, what are some goals or resolutions you have for 2024? What are some of your favourite ways to stay motivated?

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