How to Make 2018 Your Best Year Ever

So this is it, my last blog post of 2017. It’s been a crazy year all in all, and I’ve learnt so much in just 12 short months.

Although I don’t “do” New Year’s Resolutions per se, I thought I’d list a few realistic resolutions – or should I say goals – that could make 2018 your (and my) best year ever. It’s all a case of learning from your mistakes and successes, and oh BOY did I make some mistakes this year! My biggest mistake was taking on far too much work – much more than one person could possibly handle – so that’s my number one priority this year.

I have to learn to say no more often, especially when it comes to job offers. Being freelance gives you that sense of worry, the constant Where is my next pay cheque going to come from feeling. It’s a feeling that’s hard to shake off when you’ve been in a situation where several people have disappeared off the face of the earth with your hard-earned money. I’m so glad I managed to turn things around in just over a year without having to give up the blog (but it came close!) – in the next year I need to organise my time much better and get my work-life balance right.

These goals can apply to anyone and everyone – I’ve used examples from my own life but I’m sure most people can recognise how these goals apply to them.

Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

1. Do something you’ve been putting off for ages

Whether it’s filling in those holes where you moved a picture frame, taking those Spanish classes or putting your house on the market, make 2018 the year you finally get round to doing that really important thing you’ve been procrastinating about for too long. I’ve got lots of things planned, from booking the big holiday we couldn’t afford this year to moving house to setting up a new business we’ve talked about for ages (that’s a hell of a lot to take on, I know).

While it’s still the festive season take the time to write down all the things you want and NEED to do in 2018. Look at what’s realistically possible. Write a rough schedule of what needs doing and when and set aside time to do them – make concrete plans now.

As well as the moving house and other big stuff I must, must, MUST sort out things like a pension, life insurance and a will. It’s boring (probably why I’ve put it off) but oh-so-important. When you’re freelance these things go by the wayside a bit, and I’m grown up enough to now get these things sorted because I don’t have an employer to rely on for this stuff anymore.

No more procrastination…!

2. Don’t let people take advantage of you

I wrote about this very subject in October this year: Know your worth. I’m not just talking about money, I’m talking about knowing your worth in every aspect of life, from career to relationships to life in general. 2017 has been a very significant year for women with everything that’s happened in relation to the #MeToo movement and it’s paved the way for women to think so much more about their worth.

So don’t let others take advantage of you.

Make sure you’re being paid the same as men in your workplace.

Don’t put up with bad behaviour from a partner, friend or family member.

Don’t let that estate agent take you for a ride (I’m sooo prepared for this one)… and so on, and so on.

Take back control in 2018.[tweetshare tweet=”Take back control in 2018: Know your worth. Don’t let others take advantage of you. Take a break. Look after your health. Put yourself first now and then so you can look after everyone else properly.” username=”notlamb”]

3. Take a break – or lots of small ones

Everyone deserves a holiday, so if you can plan a break away from work, from your home life, whatever it may be – just DO IT. Keith and I couldn’t afford a proper vacation away in the sun this year, but we had a quiet week down in Cornwall to do pretty much nothing… it was utter bliss. No plans, just each day spent waking up and deciding what to do right there and then. And sometimes we did nothing more than sit reading, watching movies and walking the dog – all day. I highly recommend just a weekend of that if you can manage it.

If we’re talking daily routines and taking lunch breaks, then I’m the worst culprit for this. As I work from home I can easily go through till 5pm and realise I’ve not moved away from my desk or had a break since breakfast time. Breaks from the screen and breaks from too much sitting are VITAL to your health.

Which leads me onto…

4. Don’t neglect your health

This one is SO important it really should be first on the list. As they always say, if you don’t have your health…?!

I know too many people who either put off having things checked out (hmm, see number 1 on the list) or battle on through when they really should either be taking it easy or getting someone to look at something. I’ve recently (finally!) had the answers to my two-year-old leg injury – it’s getting sorted at last (I’ll talk about it in next Friday’s #SaturdayShareLinkUp). I could have ignored it and accepted that’s how my leg would always be, but thank GOD I didn’t.

And if you’re still eating endless rounds of processed takeaways or consuming Diet Coke every day and you’re over the age of 20 then you really, REALLY should take responsibility for what you’re doing to your body.

You wouldn’t feed a baby or an animal that much sugar and fat, so start respecting your body… it’s the only one you’ve got!

5. Put yourself first now and then

I’m not saying you need to be all-out selfish here, I’m saying that your needs, wants and desires are just as important as the needs, wants and desires of your loved ones. If you’re not looking after number one (see point 4!) and doing things to aid your own well-being and happiness, it’s very difficult to make those you care about happy too. One of the EASIEST ways to make other people happy is to be an easygoing, likeable person to be around.

Who doesn’t love being with happy people? It sure beats being with unhappy ones – so do what you can, as often as you can, to make your life easier, less stressful, and more fulfilled. You’ll find looking after everyone else then comes automatically as a result.

Now, go forth and make next year your best year EVER!

WHAT GOALS (OR RESOLUTIONS) ARE YOU SETTING YOURSELF FOR 2018? DO SHARE WITH US IN THE COMMENTS, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU MIGHT INSPIRE…

So all that’s left to say is – I’ve shared my thoughts/stories/tuppence-worth this week, now it’s time to share yours… LET’S GET THIS [LINK UP] PARTY STARTED!

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PLEASE be kind and leave a link somewhere on your post, and share your post using the hashtag #SaturdayShareLinkUp – if you tweet your link with the hashtag and tag me in @notlamb I’ll even retweet it to my followers for you 🙂

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Linking up to: Brilliant Blog Posts, Fake It Until You Make It

Catherine