In light of the current economic crises, the need to develop plans for a new year has become more serious than it was in the past. This is due to the need for individuals to find new ways to help them face challenges and obstacles, in addition to creating some hope that the new year will bring something better than the previous one.

Today, individuals are looking for effective means and ways that will help them have a bright start to a new year, drawing hope in it to achieve everything they seek. A short while ago, the last page of the year 2022 was turned with all its joys and hardships, starting a new year in which we try to provide ourselves and our surroundings with the best hope.

table of contents:

Where did the custom of planning for the New Year come from?

The Romans named January the first month of the new year, a metaphor for the name of the god of entrances and beginnings, Janus, to indicate that this month is a new opening and gateway to a new year. While the same month in the Levant is called the month of January, as the name is derived from the Syriac language ˚˚˚˚ ː˚˪˝, which means “be”, meaning rule, steadfastness, and stability. Based on the habits of farmers in that region to stand still and wait before they set out to plant and prepare for harvest.

Despite the difference between people, their ideas, and their civilizations, most human civilizations saw in January a new beginning that prepares them for what will come in the coming months compensates them for all the difficulties they went through, and increases their success, stability, and prosperity. Every year in this period, people made promises to themselves to bring about change in themselves and to search for happiness and stability, until it became a traditional habit that transcended cultural, religious, and geographical boundaries.

What is important in making plans for the new year?

If we look at the date of the first month of each year, we can only note that this date seems very appropriate to start over, strengthen our ambitions, and change habits that we do not want to have in our lives. As individuals usually tend to divide their lives as if it were a drama series or a movie, which leads them to get excited to welcome the new year to start quitting smoking, exercising, or other actions that they can start at any time.

In other words, beginnings constitute a strong psychological motivation for individuals to start achieving important goals and setting new plans, bypassing previous mistakes and obstacles that they have gone through, and are ready to take more responsibility for the decisions they intend to take, which is known in psychology as the “effect of new beginnings” The Fresh The Start Effect is the rush of individuals to make decisions and develop plans after an important event or date.

In light of the economic crises that have burdened all individuals alike, the importance of making plans for the new year has become clearer.

First: the psychological reinforcement of starting over

There is no need to talk at length about the bad feeling of frustration that accompanies the failure of a plan, or the need to repeat the ball to succeed in a project or operation. Many failed attempts to complete a project or commit to a decision lead to the development of a psychological state called “ Learned Helplessness ”, which is a concept called a feeling of inability to achieve, losing the desire to try, and giving up after several attempts to succeed in a field so that it gradually develops into That the individual enters a depressive state that ends with clinical depression.

Here comes the importance of the new year and making plans for the new year, as it helps the individual develop a new motivation that enables him to try again without getting frustrated and withdrawing from the attempt. Thus, the new start plays a motivating factor for the individual and a positive motivation that enables him to do more to complete a project.

Second: Giving individuals the ability to evaluate themselves

Anyone who aspires to draw plans for the new year should have comprehensive knowledge about his capabilities, the extent of their development, and the changes he underwent during the previous year. To be able to accurately evaluate himself, and to develop logical plans that he can adhere to and achieve based on his abilities in facing obstacles and adhering to decisions.

In addition to the above, making plans for the new year enables individuals to be honest and clear with themselves. That is, they see things as they really are, evaluate their achievements accurately, and try to identify weaknesses in their personalities and decisions without worry or shame, and most of all; without lying to themselves.

Third: an increased ability to take schemes more seriously

Perhaps one of the most significant obstacles to success in adhering to plans drawn up at different times is the inability of individuals to take them seriously or to take responsibility for the decisions they make. Here comes the new year, to provide individuals with an additional ability to commit to plans and achieve the goals they set.

This mainly occurs by taking advantage of the widespread concept of New Year's plans among individuals, which puts them under some kind of peer pressure, which has proven effective in making individuals more able to commit to the goals they set, by stimulating them psychologically and enhancing their sense of belonging to individuals similar to them.

Should we really bother making plans for the new year?

According to a survey conducted in 2018, nearly 70% of the people who participated expressed their commitment to at least part of the plans they made at the beginning of the year. This reflects the extent of interest prevailing among most individuals from different groups and backgrounds in achieving and adhering to the plans of the new year.

Despite what some might think, psychologists, believe that trying to introduce some positive habits is one of the things that help avoid the risks of depression and anxiety, and making plans for the new year is the best way to do so. There is no harm in trying, no matter how modest. It is not about drawing big plans, as much as it is about identifying the things that the individual wants to work on fixing and developing in himself.

All it takes is to follow some correct methods in drawing up plans for the new year, to avoid falling into pressure and frustration when failing to adhere to implementing these plans to the fullest.

Habits of Successful People Sticking to the New Year's Seven Blueprints

According to YouGov, the people who are most optimistic about the new year and willing to make new decisions that contribute to improving the course of their lives are those who have already set plans and goals for the new year, even before they start implementing them. However, statistics indicate that less than 8% of individuals fully committed to their goals for the year.

It is primarily related to the mechanism of drawing up these schemes, and the type of goals that individuals are willing to set for themselves. As these goals are often not commensurate with their abilities or capabilities, which leads to their failure to commit to applying them to the fullest. For example, someone sets a goal of writing 1,000 words per day on a topic, without taking into account their lack of writing skills and the need to learn them first.

But despite all this, there is that small percentage of individuals who can commit to their goals every year, which means that it is not impossible. The habits of successful people in committing to implementing the goals of the new year can be summarized in the following:

1. A small step at the beginning is enough

When running a marathon, it's not about speed, it's about consistency. We can say that it is the same when it comes to setting goals for the new year. It is easy to be filled with enthusiasm and encourage the development of plans and goals that need to have the abilities of superheroes to achieve them so the individual wakes up the next morning and gets shocked because he will not be able to stick to what he promised himself.

Moreover, dividing big goals into smaller goals goes a long way in breaking the illusion and reducing the fear associated with taking the first step. Also, large goals can be divided into smaller goals in keeping expectations within the field of logic, without neglecting any detail that may ultimately lead to failure to commit to achieving the planned or set goal.

For example, if an individual wants to introduce healthy eating habits into his diet, instead of leaving the big goal unchecked, the individual can break it down into smaller and smaller schemes. For example, starting to gradually eliminate caffeine and replace it with natural juices every morning.

According to surveys, goals that include switching to a healthy diet and regulating eating habits are among the goals most set by individuals every year, regardless of the differences between them. Nearly 50% of all respondents were in the questionnaire.

2. They don't neglect to answer "why."

We may think we need to stick to positive plans in the new year just because they are positive, but it's not enough. Successful people stick to their plans for the new year to answer an important question. Namely, why would I want to commit to this blueprint or goal?

The matter serves to form an internal motive that urges the person to adhere to the scheme, to achieve the benefit he wishes. Those who are successful in adhering to their plans tend to create a feeling of guilt if they deviate from the right path to achieving those goals, and the best way to create that is to link the goal directly to the individual.

For example, planning to reduce expenses and save more money in the new year, is also one of the most popular schemes in addition to healthy eating habits. This scheme may seem sufficient on its own for the individual to adhere to it, as it achieves a positive benefit for the individual and helps him to enhance financial responsibility in his life, but will this individual adhere to this scheme because it only provides a general positive benefit?

The answer is no, so what is expected when an interesting product comes across on a website or concert tickets for an artist, is that one abandons his scheme and starts throwing money left and right. While the individual drew that plan and reinforced it with personal goals, such as buying a new house, or car, or traveling to a country. He would have thought twice before embarking on any project that was a waste of money.

3. They document their steps

It is not easy to tighten the grip on focus and remember all the details related to goals and plans in light of the distractions and preoccupations of life. It can be said that what distinguishes those who are successful in sticking to their goals from others is their reliance on documenting their achievements and steps to avoid forgetting or losing them in the first place. In addition to creating a reference for them that motivates them to pursue and continue to achieve their goals, no matter how difficult life is.

A paper notebook or an electronic file can be used to write down each step and the progress they make, which helps support their determination and encourage them to stick to the goal until the end.

4. Patience and follow-up

Nothing happens from the first time, from the habits of successful people to stick to the plans of the new year and implement them to the fullest; Keep trying and be as patient as possible. Despite the frustration a person may feel when he fails to commit to a plan for his new year, giving up is not among the solutions before him.

This mindset is what allows successful people to draw and implement their plans every year, learn more about themselves, know their limits logically, and thus have enough experience to plan successfully in the future.

5. They don't mind pausing

One of the most common misconceptions of individuals about achieving New Year's plans is rushing and trying to keep moving forward without looking back. This might sound like a winning way to win a car race, but it isn't when it comes to achieving goals.

People who are successful in adhering to their plans treat their steps with some deliberation, that is, they stop every once in a while to shed light on the progress they have achieved in the previous period. In the first place, it helps motivate them and pushes them to do more without feeling forced to do so, as if they are in a race against time.

In addition to the above, stopping for a while and looking at what they have accomplished, no matter how small, is an effective way to identify effective behaviors and steps that contribute to bringing them closer to their goal, and to know the behaviors that consume their energies without giving them a significant return. An example of this is when an individual who seeks to lose weight sits down to note what he has accomplished in the past period, and to see if the efforts made have paid off, instead of rushing into a harsh diet similar to starvation.

6. They reward themselves

Today's social media culture promotes the concepts of continuous self-flagellation to achieve goals and achieve the desired successes. However, it is not long before the individual who follows this method becomes frustrated, bored, and tired.

Individuals who are successful in making and sticking to New Year's plans appreciate all the steps they take toward achieving their goals and even reward themselves for achieving one of the goals they set in mind. Which encourages them to continue and strive to achieve more success without feeling stress and fatigue.

7. They involve others in their schemes

Involving others in the implementation of the plans drawn for the new year by individuals who are successful in adhering to the goals of the new year, does not mean in any way bragging about every step they make, or asking for the opinions of others about what they will do. Goals are purely personal matter that does not need the opinion or intervention of others.

Rather, it means seeking help from individuals to implement plans and keeping them informed about the extent of progress they have made in their plans, which contributes to providing support and positive reinforcement and provides them with additional motivation to accomplish what they have set for themselves, to prove that they can commit to what they have planned for.

How to set goals for the new year

One of the most important reasons that lead to failure to achieve the goals of the New Year is the wrong planning for it, as the correct planning provides sufficient means for the individual to be able to achieve his goals and reap their fruits.

First: Set your goals accurately and intelligently

According to the Al Waseet Arabic dictionary, intelligence is defined as the ability to understand, analyze, assimilate, coordinate, and arrange correctly, in addition to the ability to choose appropriately, which is what you desperately need when planning for the new year. Studies show that 30% of New Year's goals for some individuals fail before the end of the first month of the year.

It is due to poor planning and excessive impulsiveness, as well as the lack of wisdom in determining what one really needs to achieve, i.e. the wrong prioritization. In addition, one may be confused about the goals he wants to achieve for himself from the goals that seek to change what is related to the words of the surrounding society.

Second: the characteristics of the appropriate goals and plans

1. Clarity and accuracy

One of the most important features of goals that can be relied upon for an individual's success in committing to achieving them is accuracy and clarity. That is, these goals should be far from ambiguous. For example, when talking about a weight loss goal, a person should specify precisely how much weight they want to lose each period of the year.

It helps keep things under control and gives the individual a sense of accomplishment when he approaches his goal during the year, instead of being satisfied with the general idea of ​​the goal, which is weight loss. The individual did not specify in advance the amount of weight he wants to lose, so how can he feel satisfied with what he accomplished during the year.

2. Actionability and logicality

These goals should also be reasonable and implementable on the ground. For example, if the goal is related to saving money to buy a house, the individual must, before seeking to achieve this goal, answer an important question, namely; Is my savings enough to buy a house in the first place?

It is not enough to say that accuracy alone is capable of depicting an appropriate goal to be pursued, but rather it should be accompanied by logic, which mainly relates to the circumstances and factors surrounding the individual.

3. The ability to implement it during the year

It means choosing goals that can be implemented within a maximum period of one year. It is not expected that an individual will choose to obtain a university degree as one of the goals of the new year unless he is studying at the university originally. The individual should be able to implement the new year's plan during the same year, or at the very least be able to implement as many sub-goals as possible emanating from this plan during the same year. Otherwise, it is better to classify this scheme as one of the long-term schemes, so that one does not get frustrated when he notices that he was unable to implement what he drew at the end of the year.

Third: Develop your plan to achieve the goals of the new year

This is intended to draw a road map for the implementation of the set plans and try to visualize the mechanism for their completion, as this contributes to making the individual aware of the requirements of the plans for the new year. In addition to giving him the ability to identify the best times during the year to focus on achieving these goals. Without interfering with other goals, or hindering the individual from carrying out his daily tasks or other goals.

After drawing the time map for the implementation of the plans, the individual should work to clarify his goals accurately, to be able to acquire a positive habit or abandon a negative habit. For example: quitting smoking, when mapping the individual's journey to quit smoking, he has identified the times during which he consumes a lot of cigarettes, this habit may usually be associated with the pressures of work or study, but he has determined the mechanism through which he will quit strictly stop smoking.

Dividing the big goals into a set of stages and steps contributes to strengthening the individual's ability to commit to his plans, in addition to giving him enough time to adapt to the new changes he is trying to introduce into his life, without turning his world upside down in a day and night.

Fourth: Find your peers to draw strength from

As mentioned above, positive peer pressure helps motivate them to stick to their plans to the fullest extent possible. A 2021 survey showed that 42% of the participants wanted to exercise more, 34% of the participants expressed a desire to spend more time with friends, and 31% expressed a desire to lose weight. This means that finding peers with similar goals is not as difficult as you might imagine.

For example, when an individual gets to know a group of people who share the same plan or goal for the new year, eg: staying up late at night. It is easy to express the difficulties and obstacles he faces, in addition to sharing the tips and experiences gained by individuals in their attempts to overcome this negative habit, such as avoiding watching TV or browsing the phone for at least an hour before bed.

In other words, being present in an environment that shares the same goals for the new year enables the individual to expand his experiences and skills, which saves him from incurring the trouble of unsuccessful attempts, in addition to giving him the motivation to commit to achieving the goals as he becomes part of a team and not alone in the pursuit of achieving them.

Do I need to change everything in the new year?

The answer here is no. Despite the positive feeling of improving all aspects of life, adopting healthy habits, and developing skills, an individual is not obligated to radically change his life in one year. It takes a lot of effort and attempts, and choosing to improve everything at once will only lead to a bout of frustration and depression when you fail to commit to that.

An individual should divide his priorities into the goals he wants to achieve, and plan rationally for what he can implement this year after taking into account the challenges that he will encounter, and the capabilities he possesses to excel and overcome them. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and starting a series of positive changes will inevitably bring more benefit than changing everything at once.

What if I can't stick to all my plans for the New Year?

Before you start blaming yourself or trying to find justifications for not sticking to the New Year's plans that you set while you were so excited to bring out the best in you and strive for the top. You should know that many people cannot start drawing plans for the new year. Every step you take towards reaching your goals is a positive step that deserves appreciation and praise.

There is no harm in constantly trying to reach the best results, even if it does not bear fruit the first time. Every scheme that the individual is unable to adhere to is an attempt to add to his balance of experiences that will eventually help him to reach better results than those he wanted in the first place.

In conclusion, many people seek to set plans and goals for a new year, hoping to reach the best. We hope, at the end of this article, that you have acquired the basic keys to drawing plans for your new year, and have learned enough principles that will help you commit to implementing them and reaping the best results from them. We ask God Almighty to make this year of ours filled with happiness, success, and stability in our Arab world.