With only a few days until 2018 begins, I’d say it’s high time to get prepared for it.
If you’re a procrastinator like me, that is.
Some of my best ideas come in the heat of the moment – when I’m rushing around to finish the task before me. But that’s not an excuse to wait until the last minute. Instead, it’s inspiration to create that mindset when I’m not actually on the brink of the deadline.
If I wait until I’m panicked about finishing, I’m stuck feeling shaky – like that one time I chugged a Red Bull the night before a college paper was due. Not recommended.
One of the ways I’ve been avoiding that feeling this December is by preparing my 2018 bullet journal before I start using it. And so we come to the first item on the list:
1. Bullet journal. You might recognize this as last year’s first recommendation, as well. It’s not just because it’s a beautiful way to spend some time on Pinterest; it’s also the perfect analog tool for our digital world. I can carry my bujo with me wherever I go, using it as a semi-organized catchall for the clutter in my mind. Literally putting pen to paper helps solidify a to-do list or a creative outburst for me, so bullet journaling has proven to be far more effective than simply using the notes app on my iPhone. Whether I’m feeling a bit minimalist or like splashing the page with color, it’s a great way to stay organized on my own terms.
2. Create more. We are often too busy consuming what others have created for us to create something of our own. Keep that input-output ratio in check! Of course you should read that new book, or keep up with your favorite tech blog. But if you’re only consuming, you’re only living the life that others have created. What about what you want? The world is lessened without what you have to offer. So try out that new cookie recipe or gluten-free meal!
3. Keep to last year’s resolution. A friend shared her thoughts on this recently – that consistency is an important part of growth. Things have changed since last year, but putting in the leg work is the only thing that will help you achieve your goals. Not to mention that most goals that masquerade as resolutions do not have a finite end date. It’s a marathon, not a sprint! Keep going. Keep pushing forward.
4. Invest. I’m no financial advisor, but I do know that investments of time (and money) create opportunities. If you want to follow your passion, you have to throw some weight behind it. So, invest in it. Give it the attention it deserves.
5. Don’t just survive. Okay, so you’re alive. Great! That’s step one. Are you following your dreams? Outputting new and unique ideas into the world? If you want to look back on 2018 – nay, your life! – and be proud of what you accomplished, you’ll have to have done more than just gotten up in the morning. And you can! Even inching forward towards your goal is progress.
6. Get organized. You might be the most passionate entrepreneur at the summit, but if you can’t find the paper you wrote your ideas down on, you won’t get far. Just saying.
7. Don’t wait until Spring to do a little cleaning. Winter doesn’t have to be a bleak time. Renewal happens when you decide it can. Clean. Refresh. Dust off that bookshelf. Reorganize that closet. Put shelving in the garage
8. Explore. Taking a vacation doesn’t have to mean you’re traveling abroad or across the country. Be a tourist in your hometown! Look at your surroundings in a new light, and you’ll feel your horizons expanding.
9. Shop local! Support what your city brings to the table. Enjoy a farmer’s market or visit the new little shop on Main Street.
10. Volunteer. Whether you feel called to cuddle kitties or feed the homeless, you’ll feel good while doing good.
11. Visit a bookstore. They’re a dying breed, but as I sit in the cafe of one writing this post, I sense the vibrancy of the brick and mortar. I’m surrounded by creativity, history, and warm-blooded passion.
12. Invite family and friends over. Play some board games. Cook dinner. Enjoy the little moments together.
13. Take a little time for yourself. Enjoy a chocolate bar. Take a bubble bath. Make like Sohrab and settle in for a Destiny raid.
14. Get physical! It’s proven that increasing your heart rate on the regular is a healthy way to jumpstart inspiration. Ride your bike. Pump it up in the gym. Look for an archery class near you. You never know what you’ll latch on to!
15. Wash your favorite pair of shoes. Make something old new again. Don’t move on to an entirely new thing just because your “old” one is scuffed up. It’s not ruined! It just needs a little bit of buffing. Plus, wearing fresh kicks is, well, fresh.
16. Reassess your digital life. Update your social media with new photos and descriptions. Give some love to your online portfolio. Putting your best foot forward can help you have a great year.
17. Write someone a letter. Take the time to nurture a relationship. It’s more personal than a text or an email. After all, who doesn’t love getting snail mail that doesn’t immediately get chucked in the recycling bin?
18. Try sea urchin. Okay, not literally! Unless that’s what you’ve been thinking of trying, but have been letting fear get in the way. If you’re unwilling to push your boundaries, you won’t grow. You won’t change, and neither will your circumstances. You can’t wish your way out of something. Get out there and do it.
