Five Things To Try Before The End Of 2023
When we’re young, it seems like the world is in the palm of our hands, and time is nothing but dials on a clock. Our immature minds never stop to think about what growing older means and the responsibilities that come with it, and really, that’s how it should be. Being young is a time to have fun, take risks, and just…live.
Fast-forward two decades, and it seems like yesterday I had my Discman attached to my Limited Too shorts, with Spice Girls on repeat as I made up dance routines. Time gets away from us because we either choose to live in the now or life goes too fast to hold onto it.
I had all of these ideas of who I would be as an adult and what I’d be doing, but the truth is, we can’t predict our future. What we can do is make a plan and goals so we can control our time spent a bit better. I’ve had a lot of time this year to really think about who I am, what I want, and how I choose to do it. Since we’re already in the first week of October, it hit me that New Year’s Eve, signifying the end of 2023, will be here in the blink of an eye.
Sometimes, I feel like moments and time get away from me; when that happens, I find writing tasks or things I plan to do down in a planner or notebook for the day or week to give myself some semblance of what to expect or what I’ll fill my days with; so I decided it might be brilliant to share goals for the rest of the year. Life gets busy, and times get tough, so even if one of these items rings true to you, I hope it sticks, and you truly feel accomplished at the end of 2023 because those typical “eat better, exercise more” resolutions are getting tiresome, aren’t they?
Do something for yourself without hesitation: doing something for yourself may seem easy, but when it comes down to it, how often is it meaningful and well worth your time? I’m not talking about a shopping spree or a mani/pedi (even both options are pretty satisfying); I’m saying something that’ll leave a lasting impression. I’ve said it before, but when I had extra time earlier this year, I didn’t want to waste it. I knew this time was unique, so I really dug deep and thought about what makes ME happy: not my significant other, not my parents, but for me.
So often, we push our passions or a hobby out of reach and tell ourselves we’ll return to it later; it’s never too late to do anything, but why wait? Take that cooking class, start making pottery, or go back to school to be a professional clown; whatever you’ve been thinking about, whatever you make excuses for, do it now; you won’t regret it.
Slow down and reflect: As we get older, it seems like time gets faster, and the time we have to go to work, see our loved ones, finish that project, cook dinner, clean the house, and feel fulfilled all the while is really, really hard. As a child or teenagers, we’ve only lived about 10-20% of our lives and haven’t experienced as much as we do as adults. Once we’re in our 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond, we have more memories and experiences and less time to process and visualize new situations. Sometimes, we have to actively stop, breathe, and take in the world around us to appreciate it.
If this speaks the truth for you, find a method that works for you to slow your life and your brain down. This could be as simple as meditation, a mental health day, or even that vacation you’ve been dreaming of; whatever it looks like for you, try your hand at truly savoring a moment or situation you’re currently in. Forget the past, pause looking to the future, and savor the present; it’s only here now, and before you know it, it’s gone.
Try something new: We’ve all done it. Before the end of the year, we’ve made unrealistic resolutions we kill ourselves over, and when we don’t achieve them, we feel horrible about it. There’s a sense of renewal around the new year and making promises to ourselves to be better and healthier; that’s all well and good, but what about the things we WANT to do versus things we feel we need to do?
Whatever that ‘new’ thing may be, whether trying a new coffee shop or booking that trip to Italy, now is the time. We all find ourselves in a more positive mood when we have something to look forward to and work toward, so why not use the end of 2023 to plan something for yourself with no regrets?
Abandon toxicity: Do you have something or someone in your life you feel that takes away your mental energy? Maybe it’s a job, a friend, a significant other, or a generalized situation that eats away at your happiness without you even recognizing it.
It’s easy to let things fester when life goes by fast, and maybe once we slow down and look inward, you’ll notice what I mean. Getting rid of unwanted mental or physical energy that doesn’t serve us is important when we already have so much going on; shedding that presence in your life may take some time and additional energy, but once it’s gone, you’ll feel a whole lot lighter. We all deserve to live our best lives, so do yourself a favor and let go of toxicity.
Appreciate the small things: Okay, I may be a cliche, but sometimes the most obvious things ring true. Recognizing the small things in your life can go hand-in-hand with taking the time to reflect because it all starts with appreciation. We often give others so much of our time, energy, and focus that we forget to notice what’s right in front of us.
It’s also important to actively focus on the positive and meaningful things in our lives because so much negativity and worry can quickly trickle in, whether it be work, the media, etc., reflecting on what you have, such as the roof over your head, the food in your fridge or the meaningful relationships that surround you are pivotal to leading a healthy lifestyle. In a world of so much noise, it’s normal to forget these things, but when you take the time, and I mean, really take the time to appreciate what you have instead of what you want, you’ll feel lighter, happier, and more at ease.
