The New Year means a new start for me and a fresh approach if the previous year did not pan out as I expected. A new year provides an avenue to reassess your life’s journey, goals, and how to get there. The desire to improve oneself is a trait everyone has, but for some reason, people struggle to become the best version of the person that they would want to be. Change does not come easy. This is the main reason why set goals remain unachieved. Change takes time. It would help if you came to terms with the fact that it will take some extra effort. Here are five tips to help improve yourself in the New Year:

1) Personal Development Plan
During the past year:
· How many self improvement resources did you read?
· How many podcasts did you listen to?
· How many people did you learn from?
· How many documentaries did you watch?

Ask yourself these questions and take a personal development audit of the previous year. Did you observe a severe lack of input on your side? This shows that you prioritize outputs (meeting and working with other people) than inputs, which are self-development tools (learning, listening, and reading). You need the inputs to grow; they are concentrated sources of wisdom.

2) Self-Discipline
Self-discipline is everything. It is a crucial point and, maybe, the most difficult to internalize. You need to create good habits, avoid procrastination, and manage your time efficiently. Great project ideas and execution plans are not enough when there is a lack of focus, productivity, and consistency. Everyone has 24 hours a day. How useful and productive these hours are to you is relative.

3) Exercise Daily
Exercises are effective in the treatment of ADHD, depression, and anxiety. Exercising for 20 minutes every day will boost your brain chemicals – GABA, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. These brain chemicals are naturally low in individuals who have depression. Exercises may include, parking some distance away from your office and walking the rest of the way. Also, ditch the elevators for the stairs. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Call it fitness if the word ‘’exercise ‘’ is a turn-off.

4) Write Down Your Goals
Achieving set goals is easy when you write it down. Additionally, inform as many people as possible about the set goals. Sharing goals with others helps drive the hunger to fulfill them. This is the principle of social consistency, where humans try to look good to others. This drives the desire to do things we told others we would do. As you set the New Year goals, inform as many people as you can.

5) Establish Priorities
If left with a choice of only three-lifetime activities, what would they be? It would help if you stayed away from the activities bringing you down. How are you spending your 24 hours? Do you get significant returns on your investment of energy, money, and time? Alternatively, is it a dead end? As we accumulate life experiences, we outgrow certain people and activities. It is not good or bad; it is what it is. Set boundaries to say no to events or people that no longer serve a purpose.