The New Year is here again with another one gone so quickly. It’s time once again to do some introspection so as to fully appreciate how far you’ve come and where you hope to see yourself in the near future. As for me, it’s a ritual that I don’t miss, I take out the time each year to reflect on my past goals, accomplishments, missed opportunities etc. as well as set new goals for myself to get me another step closer to my dreams and aspirations in life.
Looking back, I would say that there were events in the past year that were quite enlightening to me. Due to the personal projects I embarked on which kind of stretched me beyond my usual limits, I would say that I learnt a few more things about myself and life generally that would be pivotal to how I live my life going forward.
In this article, I’m going to share with you some of the few things I learned in 2021 that has shaped my life and also briefly discuss some of the goals I have for 2022. I hope you find it an interesting read.
Lessons from 2021
1. Personal Learning
I’ve always known that I’m not very good with change since the thought scares me. Not that I dread the results that I can obtain from seeing the change through, but it’s just the process of having to make uncomfortable adjustments and the idea of having to let go completely; that scares me. However in 2021, I’ve learnt that if only I can get used to going out of my comfort zone every now and then (even when not required), I would be more inclined to accept and see it through with the process of change.
2. Not to take my health for granted
In 2021, I learnt how to slow down and pay attention to what’s really important; MY HEALTH, notwithstanding the pressures and challenges that I was going through with work, the book launch and other personal obligations. I went in for a checkup with my doctor even though pressure from work almost didn’t let me. I had several tests done on me and it was discovered that my health was deteriorating but thankfully I wasn’t too late.
I’m glad I made that decision to check in on my doctor when I did because it was probably a stitch in time and I’m also glad that the worst did not happen because I remember through that period, I prayed my heart out and thank God the final results were not damning. At this point I’d like to say that if you’re one of those enjoying sound health, then you shouldn’t take it for granted. You should take good care of your health and pay regular visits to the doctor just to make sure nothing strange is creeping up in your body. Prayers, good vibes, and positive energy are also some of the conditions that can help you stay in top shape or help you get better if you’re down.
3. To take the space and time to clear my mind/calendar from the grip of hustle culture.
In October last year, I had to take a break from working on my first eBook project; “How to start from zero”. This was against conventional wisdom as I still had several calls from several quarters on the need to wrap up the project quickly so as not to miss the deadline for the e-book launch. Even though I had previously set my business and life up to allow for this time off, I felt really guilty for not pumping out regular daily tasks, emails, and social media posts or for not queuing them all up in advance.
I felt this guilt heavily on the first day of my trip. I kept asking if it was okay for me to take this time out but afterwards I discovered that the trip could also serve its own purpose to help accomplish the same goals and BINGO!, that was it! Just like a flash of lightning I started getting all the right ideas on how to overcome the obstacles we were facing and conclude the project in due time. So taking time out to clear your head works, even when it feels like you’re not supposed to.
4. To embrace routine
In 2021, I also learnt how to embrace routine and ritual and how critical they are for my daily living since I’ve always wondered if I could be a lot more spontaneous than I already was. However, I have now realized that routines and rituals are what keeps me going. It’s how I wake up in the morning and how I get to accomplish my tasks for the day. From work, training, reading, practice, and other daily chores, routine helps me do the things I do every day and also helps me stay consistent at it.
I suddenly realized that routine was part of my life, it’s one of the pillars that help me achieve everything I do daily. From taking meetings, to cooking meals to workouts, naps, rest time etc. It’s how I plan my life. Every morning, I wake up to the schedule of reading my bible first thing, then I work out, then I make some calls with my team members and the rest follows. I even schedule my protein shakes every day.
Also I’ve learnt that it is in repetition that mastery is gained. Personally, I have to do something consistently for a long time before I can begin to realize the full potential within that thing. When I started out on my eBook project 2 years ago, it could only have been possible to accomplish it because of two main principles; “Discipline” and “Consistency”, that’s how 2 years of hard work was able to pay off. Even though I may have sought to pursue a different set of goals, I believe it would have still required those two principles, “Discipline” and “Consistency” if I am to accomplish something meaningful in life.
There were times when I was tempted to skip workouts, cheat on my diet or default in some way on my routine but I hesitated and stuck to the plan. The key is to make sure that you plan your routines based on what’s most important to you and your future aspirations, this way you have better control of your time and you’re able to say no to whatever does not align with those goals.
I guess I’ll leave it here for now; with the power of routine and rituals.
Remember; efforts multiply by consistency
It takes consistent practice before you can realize the full potential in any endeavor you set your heart to.
My goals for 2022
- Get my trainer certification
- The second one is a bit tricky because I wouldn’t want to let it out now since it’s something I preach on my social media account. But just to give you some heads up; it is something that relates to food.
With Love and gratitude as always, Xo!
Looking to get more ideas and useful tips on how to set goals and accomplish them as planned? Then you should get a copy of my recently released eBook. “How to Start from Zero” and discover so many other ideas you can adapt depending on your temperament and taste.
There are a lot of other secrets and ideas amongst other health tips I shared in the eBook and very practical, relatable, and realistic terms. “How to Start from Zero” will show you how to adopt healthy lifestyle habits and get rid of the bad ones faster and with greater ease than you’d expect.
Disclaimer: Please note that I am not your doctor while I am a health coach by profession. This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice nor does it establish any kind of medical relationship between you and me. I will not be held liable for any damage resulting from or related to your use of this information.