How to Make 2009 Your Best Year Ever

Over the last weekend, my wife and I finished all our Christmas present shopping (and we wrapped it!). Now we simply have to give the presents.

We finish all our Christmas shopping nice and early every year.
The closer and closer it gets to Christmas the shops get busier and busier – and we hate that.

We can relax now and what I like to do during December while others are fighting their way through the shopping crowds is to plan next year’s activities.

Here I am not referring to those great big projects…these are little activities than can make a huge difference to your life and enjoyment. Each year I want to improve on the last.
So I’m gonna make 2009 my best ever…what about you?

Here are some thoughts on how to make 2009 Your Best Year Ever…

1. Go on a date with your other half. My wife and I have been married for almost 25 years and I still ask her out on dates. Can be simply a pizza in the local restaurant…but it’s fun. My wife and I try and get out at least once a week.

2. Get in shape. I’m not saying join a gym or start jogging. Just do a little more exercise. Maybe walk to the local shops instead of getting the car. Use the stairs instead of the lift. Along with more exercise, eat healthier. Eat only one biscuit instead of three. Eat cakes only at the weekends. Try some simple small steps.

3. Make contact with an old friend. How many ‘friends’ have you lost touch with? Too many. I know I have. Take 30 minutes out of just one of your days each month and contact an old friend – maybe by email or Facebook.

4. Change your journey to work. You’ll be off autopilot which means you’ll get new ideas. Taking a different route makes your brain work differently.

5. Your first week back at work after the Christmas break, get to work 30 minutes earlier and leave 30 minutes later. Use this extra hour to knock one big thing off your to-do list. Knocking things of your to-do list will reduce your stress levels, help you sleep and at the end of the week while going home, start planning how you’ll spend the pay rise you get!

6. Only list the things you are really going to do and let go of the things you keep saying you are going to do. How many years have you said you are going to do something and never have? Write a book, learn a new language, start drama classes or learn to draw. If over the last few years you keep saying these things and you never start, you never will or will this be the year? If not, let them go and only list things your will do.

7. Plan your holidays. What holidays will you be enjoying in 2010 and 2011. Think about them now, plan them, and book them. Have something to look forward to.

8. Change the TV channel. Start watching some of the History or Discovery channels or dare I say it…watch less TV than you did in 2008 and complete some of the other activities listed here.

9. Never skip breakfast again.

10. Update your resume. Even if you are not looking for a job. You never know when you are going to need it. Plus by updating it as you go, you remember all your achievements.

11. Re-arrange your furniture. Great therapy and gives a new perspective in the room you live.

12. Start your own business or shut-up about it. Will 2009 be your year of starting your own business or will you just talk about it (like you have for the past 5 years). It’s your choice but please don’t just talk about it.

13. Change your aftershave or perfume. Still wearing that same old smell? Get a new one, surprise the other half!

14. Clear your desk of rubbish. Either file all the paperwork or ‘bin it’. Get a simple ‘in’, ‘out’, ‘reading’ tray. They do work. Tell everyone about your new ‘clear desk’ process. Having a clear desk can save you hours and be so invigorating.

15. Get your kids into exercise. I’m not talking about going down the gym or start jogging. But go swimming with them. Have a family bike-ride. Encourage them to join a local sports activity club. Take them and stay and watch them – don’t just take them, dump them and use it as a crèche while you go shopping.

16. Make dinner for your partner. Leave the office early, get all the ingredients and cook!

17. Re-read a book you read 10 years ago. You just never know what you might find.

18. Do some voluntary work. You’ll be helping others and it is one of the best ways to find new contacts.

19. Organise a ‘mans’ or ‘girls’ night out with 6 of your best friends. Have a good old gossip. You’ll love it.

20. Introduce a new work habit. Talk to your customers everyday. Managers, employees who talk to customers have the advantage over those that don’t. Find out what their issues and needs are. Then, even better, be a customer. Experience what it is like to buy your business’s product – you may be surprised.

21. Talk to someone you don’t know. I do this all the time! Making conversation with someone next to you in a queue will make you feel good.

22. Pat yourself on the back. List all your achievements (can be used to update your resume as well). This will help inform you what areas you excel in and allow you to feel great about knowing what your strengths are.

So there we are. A number of simple activities you can easily use to make your 2009 even better than 2008. Which ones will you use? What can you add?