Preparing for 2022

I am back, I took a slightly longer break than I had planned to take. But now I am back and have a few blogs lined up. I can’t believe this year is coming to the end. It went by so fast yet so slow simultaneously, I cannot wrap my head around the concept of time anymore. So much has happened in 2021 (2021 recap coming next week). It’s time to let go of 2021 and prepare for a fresh start as the new year is creeping upon us.

There are many different things you can do to prepare for the new year. Remember to always do what’s best for you and what you feel most comfortable doing but also try to push yourself outside your comfort zone. Here are some tips:

Academics: so, if you are a student, here are some things you can do in anticipation of the new years

- Take a break: we have very few days left for the new year to come, but salvage what you can and just rest and try not to study until after the new year has come around. It is important to just let your mind rest, I am sure you have been studying this whole year. It’s time to take a few days to yourself. Do only what is necessary

- Prepare yourself: I do mean mentally but mostly physically. List out all the tests/ assignments you have that you know of in the upcoming year. It helps to go through the portion of those tests and try making a schedule for you to restart your studies. I suggest starting with a few chapters per day and as you get re-adjusted to your schedule, you can amp it up. It all depends on the amount of time you have before a test.

- Don’t push yourself too hard: take it slow in your academics for now. Watch a few productive videos in order to feel motivated to study. Start with achieving small tasks and work your way up. If you feel like you have to study, start with finishing some assignments which are not too time- consuming. Work according to your deadlines.

Personal: here are some things you can do to prepare yourself generally for the upcoming year:

1. New year’s resolution: I like to call these goals. I know it is awfully hard to follow resolutions, so here is a solution. Keep short-term goals and plan monthly. For example: now you can list down a few goals you have for January specifically. You can also start with a minimum of 3-4 major goals to work on throughout the entire year (I am talking about big projects). You can always keep adding to your list as and when needed. Try keeping it small and achievable, start slow. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and remember to keep it simple

2. Declutter: declutter your surroundings. Clean your room, get rid of all the things that don’t belong there or things you don’t want. Try not to buy too many new things now. If you keep your surroundings clean, you can have a fresh start. Do not follow the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mantra. Make it a point to put something back, the moment you are done using it, you can avoid that hour that you spent cleaning your room. You can put on some music or videos which will help motivate you. If time permits, you can even do a digital declutter

3. An overview: besides all the tests and all, there must be some other events that are coming up in the year. You can start by writing all of that down and scheduling any preparation you have to do for it. This can be very helpful in the future and you get a good idea of what your year might look like.

4. Review your year: go through all things you did this year and all the new habits you adopted, all the new people you met. Write down your thoughts, what would you like to do more of? What would you like to get rid of? Getting things off your mind is the best way to get a fresh start. Leave everything you need to back in 2021 and only take the things you know will improve your life into 2022. Any new habits you picked up on that you liked? A new show? A new hobby? The possibilities are endless.

5. Do something for yourself: before the year ends, treat yourself. You have done good, you got through this year. For now, it doesn’t matter how good or bad your year was. All that matters is that you get a fresh start and you deserve a treat. Do something you like or that you have been meaning to do but never got around to it. You time is also equally important, remember that.

Here are a few motivating quotes for the new year:

“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year”- Vern Mclellan

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” - Michael Altshuler

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go. They merely determine where you start.”- Nido Qubein

“The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all.”- Josiyah Martin

“You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King

I hope these tips are useful to you and help you prepare for 2022. A lot more blogs coming soon. I am so excited to share them with you. Have a safe and happy New Year! I hope this year brings good things for you!

Thanks for reading,

Xx Mahika

(Question of the day: What is your most listened-to song of 2021?)

(Ps: follow my Instagram: @blogbanterandbigwords where I share polls and put teasers for my upcoming blogs, you might also find some nice quotes in there)