HitaTalk is turning 1 year old! THANK YOU to all who have supported, read and shared my HitaTalk
posts in 2014. December 27 marks HitaTalk’s one-year anniversary, and I look
forward to bringing you more fun and engaging content in 2015!
As we approach the end of the year, I usually like to take a few moments
to reflect back on the accomplishments and also the obstacles I have overcome
in the past 12 months.
Around the holidays, once the lights and tree are up in my apartment, I sit
down with a cup of coffee (or glass of wine), lay out my current yearly
calendar and open my New Year calendar to record important deadlines,
birthdays, events, and big goals I want to achieve in the coming year. Then, I
make a note at the top of each page of the main 2-3 tasks for the
month: car tabs due, re-new contract, book vacation, etc. There are occasions that
have come up where I forgot or missed my own deadlines, but I always find a way
to make it work…and reward myself in the end. No matter what 2014 has brought
you, great moments or challenges, I wish 2015 to be a successful and productive for
you.
Here
are my Top 10 Tips for making the best of the New Year:
1.
Do it for you. Make
a list of goals for the year based on elements in your life that make you happy. DO focus on
areas that will enhance your well-being, health, finances, and lower stress
levels. Don't do things based on what other people tell you to do. Stay true to
yourself.
2.
Keep it simple. Take on a reasonable number of projects and tasks
that will not overwhelm you or cause you unnecessary stress. Try to calculate how
much time to dedicate to each commitment, so that you can plan accordingly. No need
to say yes to everything that comes your way. Chances are that it won’t be the
last opportunity.
3.
Be clear. Communicate
well with others by listing your exact objectives, goals, deadlines, and
mention preferred methods of communication ahead of time. Ex: Let’s meet next
week. How does Tuesday at 7pm or Thurs 7pm look
for you? I will send an email with details, and you can let me know which works
best. Rather than: Let's touch base soon - This will lead to extra back and forth.
4.
Budget and Save. Making
a budget seems daunting for most people. Plan to spend the necessary amount on your expenses, and set aside a small portion for entertainment and leisure activities. Check out this link for how to manage your budget.
If you plan to brew your own
morning coffee at home, you can save approx. $25/week. Create a simple weekly
or monthly budget to monitor your spending, and try to cut back on little
splurges. Take the $25 you saved on Starbucks this week, and deposit it into
your savings account. It adds up quickly.
Save- save yourself time and money by being
proactive. Think ahead. "What do I need for groceries this week, events, upcoming celebrations? Ex: Shopping. Make a list and check it twice. I suggest you not to
walk into a Target store and roam the aisles until your cart is full, and $150
later you’re leaving with more than the toothpaste and shampoo you originally planned to buy. Jot down a few
necessities on your mobile To Do list or note pad, and stick to what’s on that
list. It will save you time at the store…and money! Then, if you need to make
another run a few days later to pick up something you forgot, make another list. Ex: wrapping paper, juice, detergent, dad’s birthday card, and Dove chocolate
for Hita.
5.
Make a plan. A wise friend of mine once said, "plan your work, so you can work your plan." No
need to overwhelm yourself with big “Action Steps.” Instead, write down (and
literally write it or type it out- it is proven to resonate better when mental
thoughts are put on paper/mobile note pads) a few long-term goals and a few short-term
goals.
Long-term goals:
tasks and projects that you’d like to work on-going or that you’d like to
accomplish within the next 6 -12 months. Ex: Save $2,000, Run a marathon
Short-term goals:
tasks that can be completed within 1-4 weeks. Ex: save $200 each paycheck, run
3 miles Mon/Wed/Fri this week
Your short-term
goals can be mile-markers on your way to achieving your long-term goals.
6.
Be adaptable to change. One
of the leading causes of failing to meet a commitment or goal is due to people
not willing to change their bad habits or lose motivation. Finding a routine
that works for you is important because it helps structure a schedule and
priorities. However, things can come up that might detour your progress or pose
a challenge, and you have to be positive and willing to adjust to the minor
change. Remember, we won’t grow by doing the same thing all the time. Step out of your comfort zone frequently. It doesn’t
have to be every day or every week, but at least once a month try to do
something that is out of the norm for you. It will force you to change your
mindset, conquer a fear, or may show you a better way of doing something.
7.
Keep your list of goals handy. Write down your
goal for the week or month at the top of your calendar, post it on the side of
your computer monitor, or keep it on the fridge so that it’s visible to the
eye. Constantly
seeing your list of priorities and goals will stay in your subconscious, and
keep you on track.
8.
Be accountable: We all need a little help in this area from time to
time. It’s up to you to set a goal and to accomplish it. However, we can’t
always do things on our own. Don’t be afraid to ask others for help, or for
their insight. Tell a buddy! Having someone hold you accountable can
be effective and motivating. Share your ideas and goals with a friend, and ask
for their support to check-in on your progress.
9.
Go easy on yourself. No
one is perfect. We all make mistakes, lots of them. If you get derailed or lose
track of your time and goals, just take a moment to re-evaluate the great things
you have already accomplished. We will all fall down at times, but it’s
important to get back up and not be so hard on yourself. We can only handle one
task at a time, so pace yourself, don’t take on too much, and be sure to toot
your own horn from time to time.
10. Have fun. Seriously, life is way too short to
be stressed out. You have to enjoy what you do. If you’re in a miserable
situation (trust me I’ve been there), do what you can to make the best of it
until you are able to manage an alternate situation. Don’t let others put you
down or “rain on your parade.” Love what you do, enjoy the people you interact
with, and keep a positive attitude. Define what happiness means to you, and
focus on those elements.
Wishing you a very
happy New Year!
- Hita
Even though I was able to push myself to say or do something that was not the norm for me, I felt that I grew a little bit more which was a huge accomplishment. There have been times of back-to-back "learning lessons" or uncomfortable situations, and there will be many more. This can certainly be draining and discouraging at times, but each experience is a learning tool. I always want to keep growing, but not always at my own expense. How does that make sense? Is that possible? 
My advice for others that are afraid to step out of their "safe" zone or those that are going though challenges is to push yourself a little bit further and allow yourself to feel uncomfortable. It is not always easy, but it is necessary in order to develop. No matter what you do and say, just be true to who you are....and remember to be brave, be patient, and be optimistic. 
