Jan 22, 2024 16 min read

How To Make 2024 The Best One Yet

Make it count.

The first few weeks of 2024 have been and gone. At the start of the year motivation was high.

The air was charged with enthusiasm. You were feeling pumped. You wrote down some goals.

And in those early moments or even back in December, you told yourself that this year is going to be your year. This year is going to be different.

This is the year you’re going to change and become the best version of yourself. But why is it that just a couple months later, we sink back into our old routines.

Even though you told yourself that this is the year your life changes. And fast forward to the end of the year. Less than 10% of you will actually achieve your resolutions.

I want to talk about this because we’ve all been here before. We tell ourselves those exact things.

And then in the end, nothing changes.

Which makes us feel disappointed and frustrated with ourselves. And it's not a good feeling.

It’s more common than you think. And if breaking free from this cycle and making a permanent change in your life is what you’re after.

It’s not too late.

And so today, we are going to PLAN.

This is probably the biggest reason why most resolutions fail. Because without a concrete, clear and actionable plan - there is no direction.

There is no roadmap to follow.

Crafting a well-defined plan is so important because it provides a framework for decision-making.

This plan can also play a key role in shaping your identity through guiding the actions you take.

So there’s 4 stages to this plan.

Life Assessment. This creates a comprehensive snapshot of your current situation. It allows you to identify areas that may require more attention and areas where you're thriving.
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Yearly reflection. Reflecting gives you valuable insights into your successes, challenges, and areas for growth. It's a big part of the planning process.
Goal Setting. These goals serve as the milestones on your journey to bettering yourself.
Implementation phase. This is how we bring it all together

Phase 1 of our plan is the Life Assessment.

There are 3 key areas in your life that you should master. They are the key to personal development.

Health, Wealth and Relationships.

They all require attention and investment of your time if you want to be the best version of yourself. If you’re well rounded in all 3 areas then you stand a pretty good shot of being happy.

So how do you know where you stand at the moment?

A simple way is to build your Wheel of Life.

It’s a really easy but powerful thing you can do to help you bring things back into balance. It’s like a birds-eye view of your life.

It breaks down the 3 key areas into 9 total categories. So for example, health can be broken down into, physical, mental and spiritual health.

You can download a template for this resource for free at the end of this article.

And once you have your categories listed, you should rate them on a scale of 0 to 10. And the scale doesn’t reflect how satisfied you are with that area. Because if you rate your physical health a 10 - that implies that there is no room for growth or improvement.

So what you should do instead is think about how closely aligned you are with the area.

By this I mean how your actions are aligned with your aspirations in that specific area.

For example, I rated the spiritual area an 8/10 because of my consistent meditation, reflection and gratitude practices.

But I know there is more that I can do to incorporate mindfulness into my daily life as well as reflecting more often. So I encourage you to print it off and fill it in. That way it’s in your hand and you can leave it somewhere safe and reflect at the end of this year and see how things have changed for you.

And when you’re filling it in, remember to be totally honest with yourself.

And now we’re going to go over the 3 main areas in more depth and I’ll give practical steps you can take to improve your life this year and beyond.

The first area is health and probably the most important one.

Ok - so have you noticed how when your health takes a nosedive, everything else seems to follow suit?

I got ill around just after Christmas time and it was the worst I felt in a long time.

Working in a hospital, being surrounded by unwell patients, can sometimes take a toll on your own health.

I had a mild headache and wasn’t feeling my best when I was getting ready for work. I felt quite dehydrated and didn’t have the best sleep so I just put it down to that. I pushed through thinking it was nothing serious and headed to work.

It was an unbelievably hectic day, a few people had called in sick so we were already really short staffed.

I remember standing there in the middle of the ward trying to document in the notes after seeing a patient.

There were a dozen different beeping sounds from monitors and machines.

Nurses were trying to get my attention.

My work phone was ringing non-stop as well.

And all this was like a screw turning in my head making my headache 10 times worse. By the time I could go for lunch around 3pm I had lost my appetite. After work my plan was to hit the gym.

I walked to the car park, chucked my backpack in the boot next to my gym gear, fully intending to stick to my routine. But as I drove back home, a wave of exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks, and the gym plans were dashed.

The lack of energy meant I couldn't bring myself to edit my YouTube videos which is something I usually like doing.

So, feeling pretty defeated, I headed to the living room, fired up netflix and I started scrolling through the endless list of films.

The pull of comfort was unreal – a warm blanket, a good film, and the temptation of ordering a Domino’s.

But in that moment, something clicked. I paused and reflected for a second.

I asked myself - is this really the person I want to be?

Is this how I want to spend my evening, surrendering to exhaustion and unhealthy habits?

Is this me?

I said no.

I walked over to the bookshelf, grabbed the book I had been meaning to finish, and settled into my reading spot. The words on the pages provided an escape from the illness that had clouded my day. It was a small win in prioritising my well-being over instant gratification, a reminder that even in moments where you’re exhausted and feel like total shit, we still have the power to make choices that resonate with our identity.

The illness on the whole was a pretty bleak reminder of how our health is connected to every aspect of our lives.

And it’s an area that people want to improve because some of the most common new year's resolutions are related to health.

They usually include things like “I want to eat healthier” or “I want to lose weight” or “I want to workout more”.

We’ll talk about how you can set proper health goals later on.

So, you need to be a well oiled machine. Pay attention to what you put into your body. And that includes alcohol as well. So monitor your intake. Don’t neglect your sleep. Stay hydrated throughout the day.

And work out. You don’t have to go to the gym every day. 3 to 4 times a week works for me and my schedule. But try and move every day.

Your later self will thank you.

On the days when you’re not training, go for a walk, spend time in nature. The benefits you can get from being outdoors extend beyond physical health.

I find that it really helps to generate ideas and gives me inspiration.

The next area is wealth.

This category encompasses a spectrum of financial elements. It includes your work, businesses, side hustles, investments and savings.

First - evaluate your primary source of income – it will usually be your job.

If you’re not employed, don’t worry, I’ll come back to this in a second.

You need to assess whether your job aligns with your goals and values. Are there opportunities for growth in your work? How do you level up? Can you get promoted? Is the job challenging enough for you?

If your job isn’t providing you with the autonomy or fulfilment you’re after, then it might be a good idea to consider any potential side hustles that can supplement your income and broaden your financial portfolio.

Business Ventures.

If you're an entrepreneur or have a side business, are you regularly analysing its performance? Are there areas for improvement or expansion? Could you look at other potential revenue streams for your product or service?

Reassess your business goals and strategies to ensure they align with your overall wealth-building plan.

Savings and Investments.

The next thing to do is dive into your savings and investment habits. Ask yourself if you're consistently setting aside money each month for the future. Explore different investment options and consider speaking with a financial advisor to optimise your portfolio for long-term growth.

Financial Awareness.

I want you to take a real close look at your bank statement from the previous month.

Examine where your money is flowing. What are your spending habits like?

This helps you to pinpoint areas where you can make adjustments, plug financial leaks, and redirect funds towards your goals. Awareness is the first step towards financial empowerment.

Subscription Auditing.

Just following on from the awareness point - one surprising but high impact thing that’s helped me is scrutinising your subscriptions. Track every penny you spend for a couple of months, I used notion to break down every single transaction and direct debit. I was genuinely shocked at the sheer number of subscriptions that were draining my finances.

Weed out the unnecessary ones to redirect those funds towards more meaningful things like savings.

Ok so, if you’re not employed..

The financial landscape may look different but the principles of wealth management still apply. If you're a freelancer, contractor, or pursuing part time work because you’re a student, your income might change month to month.

If this is the case, try to create a robust financial plan that accommodates irregular cash flows.

Diversify Income Streams.

It might be a good idea to consider diversifying your income streams.

This is because it can help it can stabilise your situation by reducing the impact of any single fluctuation of income source. Look into freelance projects, take on part-time gigs, or engage in a side hustle.

Other than the financial side of things, this diversification will actually improve your skills and give you valuable experience as well.

Emergency Fund for Stability.

You should build an emergency fund. I think this is just a good idea for everyone.

If you don’t have a traditional job, having an emergency fund is probably even more important. Having a safety net to cover living expenses during difficult periods can give you peace of mind and some stability.

People tend to say you should have 6 months of your living expenses saved in an emergency fund. Easy way to calculate this is to find out all your outgoings in a month including food, bills, mortgage, debt like student loans and transportation. Then just multiply it by 6.

Investing in Skills.

Another thing you should be doing is investing in continuous learning and skill development. In a world that is changing rapidly - versatility wins.

Enhancing your skill set can open up new opportunities and increase your earning potential over time. Just be patient with it.

The Power of Reading.

Lastly, immerse yourself in books that expand your financial knowledge. This ties into the personal development part area of wealth. A couple of money related books that I recommend include What I learned losing a million dollars by Jim Paul and The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel.

Once you’ve assessed and analysed your finances in depth. You need to identify and clarify your core values.

I might do another article on this topic alone but for now, try to understand what truly matters to you in life, beyond material things.

These core values can lay the foundation for your life.

Some of mine for example are Loyalty, Authenticity, Growth and Adventure.

And once you’ve clarified your values, set goals that align with them.

For example, something that matters to me is spending time with my family and friends and travelling as well.

Last year I was fortunate enough to visit some amazing places like LA, St Tropez, Amsterdam, Paris and Monaco. I also went to Turkey, Portugal and Latvia as well.

I went to these places with my close friends and family.

We went to festivals, had amazing dinners and parties, we did boat trips, experiences and all sorts.

Looking back it was probably one of the best years of my life.

I know that these trips can be expensive when you factor in flights, accommodation, food, spending money and things. So my goal was to allocate a portion of my paycheck every month to go into a travel pot that I can use for trips and experiences.

And if travelling is something that matters to you as well, then setting yourself a realistic goal to save for trips might be a good idea for you.

And this leads us nicely onto the last area, relationships.

We are social beings. We live in families. We work in teams.

We build in groups. We form lifelong bonds with our partners.

We thrive on social interactions and connection.

There is a growing body of evidence that consistently indicates that having social connections is one of the most dependable indicators for a prolonged, healthy, and gratifying life.

A review paper looked at 38 studies and they looked at the relationship with adult friendship and wellbeing.

They found that those with high quality friendships - so ones that offer support and companionship - correlate strongly with overall wellbeing.

They also found that friendships like these can be protective against mental health problems and depression.

Another meta analysis project that analysed over 300,000 people found that people with no friends or poor quality ones are twice as much likely to die prematurely.

Relationships are something you should prioritise.

They play a key role in shaping your experiences and emotions. It’s not a case of counting the number of friends you have, the quality of your relationships is far more important.

So first you should really think about the people who are in your life right now.

A simple way to do this is to do an audit. It won’t take long.

Just make a list of the people you speak to the most and who spend the most time with. This could include your family, friends, roommates, co-workers and your partner for example.

Then a good place to start is to categorise them into 2 broad groups.

Drainers and chargers.

Drainers are those who consistently bring negativity and try to pull you down.

They are the ones who constantly criticise or undermine you. They just emit negativity. They’re usually selfish and can cause the relationship to be one-sided.

They take too much without giving much back. They are usually unreliable or flakey.

They pray on your insecurities and are toxic.

They never apologise but if they do, it’s usually a fake apology that goes along the lines of “I’m sorry you feel that way”. So they subtly shift the blame on you rather than taking responsibility.

And usually they’re only there when it suits them.

As I’m writing this, a name or two might pop up in your mind.

These are the people that cast a shadow on your experiences and just sap your energy.

Ask yourself - are they worth sacrificing your happiness for?

If not, then you should walk away.

Having said that, outright removing these people from your life can be difficult especially if they’re close family members or if you’ve known them forever.

The best thing to do sometimes is to create distance, refrain from seeking support, and maintain minimal contact.

On the other hand, you have your chargers.

These are the best kind. These are the people who genuinely support and root for you - both in your presence and behind your back. These are the people you lift you up, the ones you laugh with and they leave you feeling energised and happy after you spend time with them.

They’re good listeners and are the ones you feel comfortable around discussing important things. They love you for who you are and they don’t try to change you.

Their existence in your life is a good thing. You need to embrace the chargers in your life. So, go through the list of people you’ve written down. Hopefully it gives you the clarity you’re after.

Just following on from this - You should be intentional with the company you keep. You should want to be around big thinkers.

Be around people who are hustling. Be around people who actively seek ways to better themselves. Those who have a passion for self-improvement.

Because their drive and ambition can be contagious.

Can this person be your accountability partner? This has been a game changer for me.

They can be a partner, a close friend or even a family member. Having someone who holds you responsible for your goals and actions can be a powerful motivator.

Remember that the quality of your relationships can massively impact the quality of your life. You can make this the best year of your life by fostering amazing and meaningful connections. Choose wisely, create boundaries, and surround yourself with positive people.

Ok so we’ve talked about the 3 main areas of health, wealth and relationships. I’ve given some actionable tips along the way as well as how you can fill in your Wheel of Life.

The next stage is to perform your annual review.

You need to reflect on last year’s experiences and achievements.

Think of it as a way to gather information about yourself. And you have so much more information after something happens. You can’t do anything to change the past, but you can take time to collect information, evaluate, and learn things about yourself.

But before you reflect, remember that this process is not supposed to make you rehash old problems, criticise past versions of yourself or to dwell on the past.

It’s supposed to help you to understand yourself better.

And from this, you can recognise certain patterns of behaviour which can be both good or bad.

The things you generate from these questions can help give you clarity about what you need to do going forward.

1. What are my top 3 achievements in each of the areas: Health, Wealth and Relationships?

2. In what ways have I changed as a person?

3. What are my 5 favourite memories?

4. What 3 habits helped me the most?

5. What were the top 3 books I read and why?

(The rest of the questions are in the PDF file at the end of this article).

Doing this reflection can really help you make better decisions going forward. And once you’ve completed it. You need to learn from it. So try to find common themes.

Find things that you want to stop doing or things you want to keep doing.

Find the people who you want to spend more or less time with.

Find out what needs to change.

The 3rd step of this plan is goal setting.

Because goals give you direction. Your goals need to be ambitious but achievable.

And you should have goals that sit in all 3 areas of health, wealth and relationships.

These should be your overarching goals.

It’s usually a good idea to focus on the aspects of your life that seem to be out of shape or falling behind.

Ask yourself - what is my end goal? What do I want to achieve?

Who do I want to be at the end of the year? What is important for my physical and mental health?

I write a couple of goals for each life area but for some people it might be overwhelming. If that’s the case you can simplify it by just setting one goal for each area.

And then these goals should be broken down into 3 month goals.

For each goal, write your reasons for wanting the goal and you can also include a reward for achieving it to keep you motivated. But usually, the goal itself is enough for that.

And the goals you set can’t just be “I want to lose weight” or “I want to save more money”. They need to be more specific.

SMART goals are a good place to start. You’ve probably heard of these.

It’s a common framework for goal setting.

The goal has to be Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Relevant and time bound.

I like to phrase my goals as if they’ve already happened. For example rather than saying I want to have £2000 saved up as an emergency fund by the end of the year.

You can reframe it by saying I have £2000 saved.

Let’s say you’ve done the life assessment using the Wheel Of life, you’ve used the nnual reflection to learn more about yourself and you’ve set ambitious but achievable goals.

And now comes the Implementation Phase. This is how you bring it all together.

It’s the 4th part of our plan and it’s really important because this is how you stop the motivation from fading and how you prevent the old routines from creeping back in.

So how do we bridge that gap? We need to transform those goals into daily habits and actions.

There’s 4 parts to the implementation phase.

The first thing to do is to create a solid routine.

Consider your priorities in health, wealth, and relationships and the goals you’ve set for yourself within those areas.

Think about the daily habits and actions that will move the needle for you the most. Could it be exercising or going for a walk every day? Or maybe a morning gratitude practice? Can it be a daily budget recap? Or maybe reaching out to a different friend or family member each day?

Whatever you decide to incorporate into your routine, ensure that ensure that it aligns with your broader goals and priorities.

The next step is reflection.

Regular reflection is like checking your compass on a journey.

It keeps you on the right path. I spend a couple of minutes each morning and evening to reflect on my day and set intentions for the next. And then I spend a little longer for weekly and monthly reflections. It really helps you evaluate what’s working and what needs changing. So so important.

The next part is to generate action steps for each goal.

For each 3-month goal, list 5 to 10 specific actions that will propel you forward.

And this is because tangible steps make your aspirations more achievable.

For example if your 3 month goal is to lose 3 kilos of body weight.

Then your action steps could be things like:

Meal prepping each week and being mindful with portion control.
Establish a consistent workout routine.
Weighing yourself every morning and counting your calories.

This is actually really important if you want to lose weight, I’ve done a video on this:

The Truth About Calories

So remember, each action contributes to the overall objective and when you do them consistently, it will increase the likelihood of success.

The last step is time blocking.

Time blocking essentially means dedicating specific chunks of time to particular activities or goals.

It kinda ties in with the routine element but this helps you to prioritise tasks and stop you from procrastinating.

If you struggle with procrastination, watch this:

Kill Your Procrastinating

I’ve started to use a proactive approach by planning my day in advance the evening before.

It helps me to approach each task or job with purpose.

It gives you a clear roadmap of what needs to be done within specific time frames, and this stops you from feeling overwhelmed if you have a million things to do.

If you made it this far. Well done.

It shows that you’re probably not someone who wants to just coast through life but rather, you’re someone who is committed to steering the course of your own life.

So don’t be part of the majority who let resolutions slip away.

Embrace this 4 stage plan.

Embrace uncertainty.

Life is full of twists and turns and setbacks and sometimes the unexpected can lead to the most significant breakthroughs.

So push yourself this year.

Seek new experiences.

Take on challenges that intimidate you.

Make yourself uncomfortable.

Because growth will be waiting for you on the other side.

I really hope this is your year of unprecedented success and personal development.

You've got this.

Wheel of Life & Annual Review