It doesn’t have to be a blurred no mans land of scoffing mince pies and knowing the time of day only by the reality tv schedule. What happens if you don’t make it to the new year? What have you been doing with these awesome 2 weeks?
Not to put too fine a point on it but…If this were the last 12 days of your life, how would you spend them? If it were the last 12 minutes of a sports match, surely this would be the time when you throw yourself into that final sprint, fully commit yourself and try and score as many points as possible? Why are you already overlooking 2018 when it’s not even over yet. It’s not finished with you. You’ll carry the effects of these final days into the new year so don’t disregard the significance of them and get excited to see what you can do with yours. If you’re at a loss how to wisely (or not so wisely but at least entertainingly) use these final days; I’ve come up with some ideas to inspire you to at least make some worthwhile gains, risks and mistakes and who knows, you might even go into next year even more prepared to make it the best year of your life yet. Speaking of which. Just before I get started. They say that failing is good for you; it encourages personal growth such as resilience, wisdom in the form of experience and it is undeniable that there is no great innovation or celebrated figure in history that is without a plethora of failures, scowls of disapproval and hard knocks behind them. As Thomas Edison said ‘I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work’. What better time of the year to go for it. Take that risk and see what happens. If failure is really something you’re struggling to get your head around; this is the time to experiment and get comfortable with it. You ask that girl out, it goes wrong, doesn’t matter; in a few days that will have been last year and you’ll be too busy thinking about the sexy new shiny year to worry about Kathleen from accounts and how she mercilessly broke your heart. Take your risks, throw as many punches at the close of this round with 2018 and you might be surprised by how much you learn, how much fun you have and how much more you like yourself by the start of the year we won’t mention. Because this article, unlike the rest on the internet, is not about that next year which is a whole 288 hours away. How to make your 12 days count and still fall in love with 2018: 1. Learn to do double unders/a skill you’ve always wanted to do. According to Forbes & author Josh Kaufman, it takes 20hrs to go from beginner to ‘being pretty good’ at something. You have 336. No excuses. 2. Go from couch to 5k. Don’t be put off by national guidelines. You don’t have to be able to run the whole way in two weeks but you could easily cover that distance within 2 weeks. If you’d like a plan, get in touch with us and we’ll write one, personalised for you. 3. Actually do the DIY you’ve been meaning to get round to completing since 2017. 4. Instil a better nighttime routine and change your life! Do not underestimate this! Tech off at least an hour before bed, journal and unwind. 5. Give up snoozing. Ensure you have unbroken, good quality sleep. Set yourself up for success from the minute you wake up. 6. Buy a meal for someone that’s homeless. Something hot from Gregg’s is a win if you can beat the uni students to your local. 7. Be spontaneous! You don’t have to wait until xmas day to bring home your partner in crime their favourite festive coffee or fill their car up with petrol. Chase that warm gooey lovely yucky feeling and feel great about it all day. 8. Learn to cook a dish you’ve always wanted to try. It’s cheaper than going out, you’ll learn a new skill and this one combines learning with eating. Win win. 9. Ask the guy/girl out 10. Read a bookss 11. Join a gym or start a new fitness routine. Get over the nerves, get settled and feel prepared to reach your goals next year. Starting now will also clarify those goals and you can have a time frame in mind. 12. Get in touch with that long lost family member or friend. Now’s the time to reach out; this time of year encourages reflection, forgiveness and a softening of hearts. Life is short; eradicate a potential regret. 13. Experience ‘A First’ My personal favourite. Swim in the sea for the first time, go skinny dipping, eat a mince pie... 14. Send a job application. Imagine a job where you’re not clock watching and take a step toward living a life that you adore and inspire others. Request feedback from your application. Worth it. 15. Hand your notice in. Wait! Think this one through...However, as with any of these ideas, if there's something you want to change in your life... Ask yourself; ‘if not now, when?’ (Arnold Schwarzenegger) - Alexandra Williams |
