This is a collaborative post by Ellie Jo about setting priorities for the new year.
Don’t worry; you’re not the only one who puts things off. It’s a common thing, we all do it. Life is busy; it’s complicated, full of surprises and distractions. There’s always things to do and not enough time to do it, and often, when it comes to taking care of some of life’s most important decisions, we put them off, and usually, the reason for doing this is fear. It could be for fear of failure, fear of success, fear of criticism, fear that there’s nothing more
What if we do achieve success beyond our expectations or dreams? What, then? What if there’s nothing more? Or fear that you’re lacking. You know the saying, ‘never put off till tomorrow what you can do now,’ well as the new year has just begun and resolutions, good spirit, and motivation are flying around, then now is the time to get in on the action and get some things done.
So what are the most common things that people put off, and why should you stop putting them off and get them done?
Setting Priorities for the New Year
Going To The Doctors
People put off going to the doctors for many reasons; some don’t want to feel like they are making a fuss, others hope their symptoms will go away, some don’t think their symptoms are serious, and others are afraid of what the doctor will say. No matter which one of these reasons it is, stop putting it off and go and find out. It will put your mind at ease more than you even know. If you think your symptoms will go away, then why not make them go away quicker and find out for sure? And if you think you’re making a fuss, you’re not. Go and find out what it is that’s bothering you, what you can do about it, and get on with your life. It’s nice to know what’s going on with your body and then you can either relax, or you can make some changes.
Going To The Dentist
Many people are afraid of the dentist; some are physically afraid of the tools and procedures; others haven’t been for so long and are afraid of what the dentist might say to them. If you’re afraid of the dentist and having a procedure, then there are sedation options to help you relax. If you’re putting it off because you haven’t been for so long, then stop making it worse for yourself now. Go, get it over with, and start making regular appointments. You’ll feel the relief once you’ve done it.
Start That Project
Whatever it is you have meant to do for a long time now, get it done. There must be something you keep putting off, whether it’s decorating your house, scheduling a routine local or Dallas maid service, refurbishing or upcycling those old drawers or shelves, starting your own blog, fixing those cupboards in the kitchen, setting up your own website, writing a book or all of the above. There must be one big project that you keep saying you’ll get around to. Stop putting it off, start it now – the beginning of 2020 is as good a time as any.
Remove Toxic People From Your Life
People who put you down, friends who you feel rubbish after spending time with, negative people, people who treat you like you’re a second option, people who use you, those who don’t want you to achieve and those who are jealous of your success – get rid of them. Life is too short to be spending time with people like this, no matter who they are or how long you have known them, it might be awkward at first, but it will be so much better for your mental health to free yourself of them.
Clear Out Your Wardrobe.
It’s time to go through your wardrobe and take stock of what you have. Donate clothes you haven’t worn for more than a year because there will be someone else who will be more than happy to have them.
Learn A New Skill
Learning doesn’t have to stop when you finish school; it’s always good to keep learning. Whether it’s learning to play an instrument, learning a new sport, taking up a new language or going on a cocktail making course, learning a new skill will be an achievement, it could lead to making new friends, it could lead to a new career move and on top of that, you will have a new skill.
Try Online Dating
If you’ve not tried it yet, maybe it’s time to dip your toes in the dating pool. Write yourself a profile and start swiping or whatever it is you have to do, you never know where it might lead, it’s worth a try.
Have That Awkward Conversation
Is there are the conversation you’ve been putting off? Conversations can be difficult, and they can be awkward, but what they can also be exhilarating when you have cleared the air between you and someone else, you’ve got to the bottom of a misunderstanding and finally clarified something that’s been troubling you both. It’s good to know where you’re at, where you stand with people, and get their point of view on something – there’s no point assuming you know what’s going on without having that chat.
Make Amends.
Say sorry, accept an apology, forgive someone or seek someone’s forgiveness. Life is short, and sooner or later you will need to make peace with this person, so it’s better to do it sooner rather than later.
Get Fit
Stop putting it off thinking you have all the time in the world, change your habits today. Little by little, start drinking more water, adding more vegetables to your diet, or going for more walks. Look after your health while you still can, it’s important.
Fill Out That Application
Whether you want to join your local theatre, apply for further education, audition for the X-Factor or go on Love Island, you’ll never know if you don’t try. What’s the worst that can happen if you just fill out and send the application form in?
Save Money
Start now if you haven’t already. Stop putting it off; life is too short. Even if you can’t afford to save a lot, just getting into the habit and putting a little away each month will make all the difference.
Quit That Bad Habit
Quit smoking, give up drinking, stop eating so much chocolate in the evenings, whatever bad habits you want to kick, make that first step now.