The long awaited year of 2023 has finally arrived, leaving many of us with heavy mixed feelings of both relief and excitement. 

   With each new year comes a chance for a fresh start. It’s typical for us to start thinking about what we want our goals and resolutions to be by the time December rolls around, but creating a solid game plan for yourself can be tricky if you’re unsure of where to begin. 

   Not to fret, preparation takes time, and as long as you’ve got a good strategy to go about it, then anything is possible! 

   With a few simple tips, you’ll be a step closer to making 2023 your year.

   Before you can start planning for your future, however, it is extremely important for you to first look back on what you’ve done in the past. Reflecting on the year prior will not only create a solid base for your resolutions, but it will also amp up the motivation you have to do better in the following year. 

   For instance, if you find yourself remembering times in which you felt upset about how things were going, then your goals may involve ways to tackle those emotions for you to have a happier future. Failure and struggle are the parts of life that help you learn and grow, and looking back will “help us appreciate the highs and triumphs even more.” (Horn, 2021) 

    When creating a goal for the new year, ask yourself some questions along these lines: What  have you accomplished so far? What is there left to be done? What worked last year, and how can I apply that to the new year? What didn’t work, and how can I avoid that in the future? 

   Now that you’ve got yourself a steady foundation, the next big step is deciding what changes you’d like to make in the coming year. These changes can be as simple as cleaning out your room, or they can involve something more long term, such as dieting or exercising. Regardless, it’s important for one to keep these thoughts organized, or else they’ll have a lower chance of getting accomplished in the long run. 

   When considering your resolutions, jot them down somewhere. Whether it’s a planner, a calendar, or in a notebook, writing your thoughts down will increase both your focus and organization, as well as your likelihood to recall and achieve these goals as the year progresses forward. 

    If it’s a long term goal you’re after, don’t overcomplicate things for yourself! Break it up into smaller, manageable chunks, and focus on each part one at a time. Thinking of it in terms of different sections will overwhelm you significantly less, and you’ll feel more obligated to put in the effort needed to complete it.  

   When it comes to thinking about specific ideas for your resolutions, they should all be ideas that work towards improving yourself; but it doesn’t always have to be turning the bad into the good. Resolutions can be dreams, or things you’ve been wanting to do but just haven’t gotten the chance to yet. Maybe there’s a place you’ve always wanted to go or a neat hobby you’ve been meaning to get into. When creating your planner or schedule, allow yourself some time for such activities. Create a list of things you’d like to do, then narrow it down to just a couple, so that you’ll have plenty of time throughout the year to do them. 

Overall, preparation for 2023 may require lots of effort, but don’t give up! In the end, it’ll all be worth it once you start tackling those goals and begin to notice those positive changes. With dedication and a little faith, you can make 2023 the year that you’ve been waiting for.