How To Make Your Year Amazing

Don’t look now but the year is half over. Say what????? How in the world did that happen? Didn’t you just get used to writing the year 2019 on your checks? I’m probably one of the few people that still use checks but you get my point. Anyway, the 4th of July holiday is upon us which is awesome. It also brings the sobering realization that 2019 is half over. Which is fine if you’ve had a great year so far, you are probably looking forward to the 2nd half. If you haven’t had the year you’ve wanted, this article is for you. Here’s a few ideas for how to make your year amazing.

My Structure

Over the last 3-4 years I’ve begun developing yearly goals. The last couple of weeks of each year I review my goals from the previous year and see how I did. I also refer to these from time to time throughout the year. They include the area’s of my life that I’ve decided are important to me. As I reflect on what I’ve accomplished I also decide how I want to change it for next year. Do I want to keep the same goals? Do I want to add or subtract some, etc., and adjust accordingly. I’ve also started doing a mid-year review to see how I am tracking on my goals for the year. I do this around the 4th of July holiday since it’s the middle of the year. So here we go, it’s that time of the year. I’ll look at how I’ve done and figure out what I need to adjust to keep shooting for the moon.

How To Make Your Year Amazing

So let’s say your year hasn’t been what you’ve wanted. We all have crappy weeks, sometimes months, and it certainly seems like years sometimes. If you want to change this years trajectory and make your year more amazing than it’s been, here’s a few suggestions.

Pick 1 or 2 Main Goals

My advice is to pick one or two main goals to focus on for the next 6 months. My problem is I always pick too many things I want to go after and it gets overwhelming. If you pick too many things you wind up getting overwhelmed and quitting or stopping working on things because you’re trying to do too much. If you focus on one or two things and put your energy into those you’ll accomplish a lot in those areas.

Work To Improve 1 or 2 Current Situations

Pick one or two things that are current in your life and put a little extra effort into making them better. Want more recognition at your job and a bigger raise next year? Since you gotta be there anyway see what you can do to get yourself noticed more. Want to improve your relationship with your kids? Start scheduling some one and one time with them. Make it more of priority that it has before. I’m talking about things already in your life you want to make better, simply add a little more effort and focus.

Adopt Positivity

There’s a lot of negativity in the world. Don’t allow yourself to fall into the trap of adopting a negative mindset along with all the naysayers. Working towards adopting a positive mindset towards life in general. When a challenge arises or something bad happens think about how you can turn it into a positive. It’s the whole fail forward mentality. Remember that anything worth achieving doesn’t happen quickly. It takes time, effort, and a lot of failing before you achieve what you’re working towards. Work towards your goals with a smile on your face.

Try Something New

To really learn and grow it’s important to step out of our comfort zones. Another way of how to make your year amazing is to try something new. Go salsa dancing with your partner for the first time ever. Attend a self improvement event to get yourself inspired if you’ve never done that before. Take up cooking. Wear shorts for the rest of the year. Get certified in something that will help you earn more money. Take up bike riding. Whatever, put yourself out there a little bit. You know you always feel better about yourself after you do.

Skip A Few Meals

Have you tried skipping a meal here or there to fast for a short period of time? If you haven’t you should give it a shot. I try to skip breakfast once or twice a week these days. It helps your body to skip a few calories here and there and after you get over the initial hunger it makes your body feel lighter. The other cool effect (at least for me anyway) is that I feel mentally really sharp. Like I am the top of my game. A really good feeling. I suggest you give it a try.

Make One Hour Yours

I’ll credit David Deida on this one. It’s from his 1997 book The Way of The Superior Man. It’s about getting lost in tasks and duties. How it’s so easy to have each day become filled with things we all have to do. You know exactly what I am talking about. To combat this commit to spending one hour a day working on something YOU WANT TO. Maybe that’s learning how to play the guitar. Or start a side business. Or learn a new skill. Whatever you want to. Commit to giving yourself one hour a day (and it doesn’t have to be every day) to do something that you truly want to do.

Give Yourself a Break

I used to feel bad every time I made a mistake. At some point I decided that everyone makes mistakes all the time. The important thing is to learn from making mistakes and change whatever is needed so you don’t make the same mistake again. And for goodness sake, stop beating yourself up over making mistakes! This is the biggest part. We all make mistakes all the time. Don’t beat yourself up when you make a mistake. Guilt can be such a wasted emotion. Make a mistake, correct it, and move on.

Start a Journal

I started a journal when I was going through a hard time a number of years ago. To this day I continue to write in my journal once or twice a week. It’s a good way to remind yourself of what’s important in your life. It can also be a good venting outlet if you need it. It’s a place you can write down private thoughts without having to censor yourself. You can express your frustrations and share the things you perhaps don’t share out loud. The cool thing is you can put whatever the heck you want to in the journal, it’s for you!

Volunteer at Least a Little

I don’t know about you but I always feel good when I volunteer. It’s something I need to work into my schedule more often but I always love it when I do. My oldest daughter and I used to volunteer at an animal shelter for years. Besides doing something good it was a wonderful way for her and I to spend time together. Many companies have volunteer events. Check to see if yours does, it’s an easy way to get involved. If not then just do a quick search online for volunteer options in your area, there’s never a shortage.

Organize Your Paperwork

Years ago I bought file cabinet to organize the paperwork for my house. Loved it. A few years ago I purchased a bigger, badder file cabinet and expanded it. In there I’ve got my taxes, any work/receipts with our house, the cars, my daughters college stuff, side projects, major purchases, insurance, medical stuff, etc. You get the idea. The point is it feels great to have things organized. I know where to find it when I need it. To help get your life on track and organized I suggest organizing your paperwork.

And there is 10 tips for how to make your year amazing! What are you going to do to make the second half of your year amazing?

Resources

The Way Of The Superior Man – by David Deida

Z Designs 2 Drawer Washed Oak File Cabinet – by Z Designs

Thick Classic Notebook – by Lemone

Conclusion

Hopefully I’ve provided a few ideas for how to make your year amazing. Time is slippery and seems to move too fast. Just like how this year is already half over. Allow yourself a few hours to reflect on how this year has gone so far. If you want to make some adjustments to finish the year on a high note now’s the time.

Go make your year amazing.

Mat A.