Welcome to 2020, another chance you are invited to rethink about your life once again. Since this is January, where most people plot their yearly targets and goals while scheduling their calendars like the businessmen/women they are, it is THE most appropriate albeit clichéd time to think about a good life RESET. Would be good if you could give yourself a vacation day to think about Resetting Your Life seriously.
HOW TO RESET YOUR LIFE, THIS TIME (HELLLL YEAH !!!!!)
FIRST, THINK ABOUT ELIMINATING THOSE THINGS YOU DON’T WANNA DO OR BE IN 2020
This year, instead of planning all the fun, great things to do this awesome year right away like the exciting family holiday you have planned in Spring or Autumn, be sure to remove all those things you think you can do without. For example, what are some major lifestyle decisions which you have chose to un-adopt ? Like going to a club party every weekend just for an additional high booster of booze and all night dancing only to come home dreading your drunk actions with terrible hangovers the next day? Uncheck all those things you will not be doing ever again and no longer will be participating - including any employment decisions such as a potential job-hopping or resigning from your current line of work because it no longer made you happier or enhanced your wellbeing. Not to mention, draining all your precious resources. LET IT GO.
AND THEN, ADD THOSE NEW ACTIONS WHICH YOU INTEND TO DO IN 2020
Here’s the best part after curbing those deeds you no longer will be doing. Adding new actions to your activities. Those cooking classes which you have spent your work time thinking about and hesitating whether it is worth going even when you can’t ever cook? DO IT. If you have spent more than a week thinking about a class, an event, a situation, something in a lifestyle that you want, GO FOR IT. Don’t be afraid of risking anything because the outcome didn’t turn out as expected. Usually, we just need a little push from our inner voice. And this is that little voice nagging at you for so many hours already! Go ahead, get it done in 2020!
to do: making sure my cat has a life.
(Because, they don’t.)
OF COURSE, TIME TO BACKUP YOUR LIFE NOW IN 2020 (just like your iPhone)
Last year some plans went downhill, certain circumstances unfolded because you didn’t take into account some issues that have actually affected you immensely. For example, if you went on a trip to Spain in 2019 and was pickpocketed by a bandit and/or due to bad weather circumstances had to postpone some itineraries during the trip.. BUT holy moly you forgot to insure yourself with travel insurance, pack protective gears and do your homework before you leave for Spain. The very next time you are going anywhere again, you sure as hell will buy that insurance package that offers the best defense against the worst that can happen during your adventures. You will prepare raincoats for stormy days, or have arrangements to book for another day tour if there is even a rain check for the highlight show, and have enough interesting venues to visit. Plan your Plan B, C, D, or all the way to Z if you possibly can. Plan C will kick in when B fails, Plan D will help Plan C, and the chain of backups will somehow take you out of the woods in most batshit scenarios. Start holding and maintaining backups to your act each time, so you don’t have to start all over again. Point said?
backup yourself by backing up the backups too, before it pours.
START TAKING BETTER CARE OF YOURSELF IN 2020 (did you love yourself?)
How often did you really took care of yourself last year, to allow yourself room to breathe? Think about all your values and expectations. Have you been too hard on yourself? Why couldn’t you take that sick leave when you have that fever and still pulled your hardworking ass to work just to impress your demanding boss? (Eventually you became really sick and had no choice but to call in sick for many days, what for?). Have you been skipping meals for more than 200 days in a year? Did you overly diet yourself just to feel better in a new outfit or save money? Did you ignore what your body tells you? If you are in pain for the most part of last year, time to go see a doctor to obtain treatment and remedy instead of procrastinating. Pain is the largest indicator that you are NOT WELL AND NOT TAKING CARE of yourself!
DECLUTTER, EXTRACCCTTTTT ALL YOUR THINGS THAT DON’T SPARK KONDO HERO JOY IN 2020
Like what the Kondo cleaning goddess has said, get rid of things that no longer serve your happiness or joy. If you can’t minimise, at least simplify your possessions and ensure that there is only calm in organisation and purpose in having those things. Digitally declutter all your electronic devices like your drives and mobile phones, accounts and more where too many unimportant information isn’t needed anymore. Remember, all your stuff should be mostly 80% living space and not so much of storage space. If you can’t give away something, pass it away to your best friend who might be delighted to have it, or donate to charity. And if you really can’t, make sure to repurpose that item into something else that value adds you. You don’t have time to live with clutter in 2020!
declutter> only kondo-ing when kondo-ed.
GET ON TOP OF ALL YOUR FINANCES IN 2020 (yes I know this is eewwwww… boring)
Did you break the bank last year by purchasing many, omg several new (some not even used) things that were totally out of your planned budget? This year, you will reset to be a much more savvy person in monitoring all of your spending patterns. You will talk to your spouse often about your shopping, you will keep those receipts, compile and track them each time you sense some impulse buying. I’m not even talking about investments yet, but if you are smart about investing and engage well in that arena, go ahead I can’t outdo you. Nevertheless, you have to know exactly how much you can save each time you give some money away for something you perhaps don’t even need. And for needy items, have you sought better alternatives to get them elsewhere instead of the usual stores you go to? These days, e-commerce sites offer the best deals coupled with credit card and many other additional perks in case you weren’t aware. Also various full-priced articles regularly go on sale online, you can’t possibly miss every single opportunity to make use of them.
DEFINE YOUR IDEAL LIFE - EVERYTHING, IN LIFE 2020 (relationships, commitments, episodes)
In 2020, you will rethink what it means to really go to work, what it means to interact with people you hardly care about, what it means to have a stable boyfriend or girlfriend and stand for what you preach. You will get true and truer right now about how you want your life to exactly unfold (like what 500 podcasts from TEDTalks to famous Youtubers to brilliant money-making speakers have a lot to say). Start to design your life meticulously now, crafting out clearly what is your ideal morning, afternoon and night from start to finish. This is probably the best way to starting saying NO in glorious condescending Sarah Knight style but don’t be mean to people who really love you. Learn to end some friendships which were narcissistically toxic, say no to badgering donation solicitors that are shady and untruthful, cut back on your lifestyle habits (like staying up late to binge watch movies or dramas) that prevented you from an early start the next day. Set it in this reset that you are going to say NO to things that you don’t see as ideal for you.
print out your life in color and see which sweet one fits you.
BE GRATEFUL AND THINK GRATITUDE (how Lavendaire perspicaciously lines her journals)
This year, write down in a journal or in your hard-pressed head that you are sincerely, genuinely, uttermostly appreciative of everything. Yes, everything my dear. From the small to the big things and the insanely bad to the good. So long as you can find a reason to be thankful for, you will be a much better person in 2020. Why do you bother being sad when you are actually sipping Starbucks Reserve nitro brew right now when children in the other continents are only trying to stay hydrated by river water. If you are married and have kids at age 28 but are really panicking about them right now, pulling out your hairs in the struggle for work-life balance, learn to see that it would all pass and all your wonderful babies will eventually grow up with the most surprising of beer loud cheers. For there are always singles out there who would kill to be you in every minute and day of your worries. And there again, you lament?
i am grateful for smelly durians.
Now go on, reset that life in 2020 and live your very best life! Love, Vander.