2024 comes to us as a leap year, meaning there is an adjustment to the calendar by an extra day giving us 366 days this year and not the usual 365 days we experience in most years.
2024 as a leap year for me is not just an adjustment on the calendar so it aligns correctly with the earth's astronomical seasons or the earth's journey around the sun but a metaphorical gift of time - an extra 24 hours - for self-reflection, self-growth and an overall improvement in our lives.
The extra gift of time is an opportunity for us to realign, recalibrate and leap forward this year advancing our lives better than how we had left it in 2023.
The leap year presents to us the opportunity to make the most of the extra day (24 hours) to recalibrate our goals and aspirations. It gives us the opportunity and encouragement to want to grow and leap forward in our personal journey.
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST 2024 TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE LEAP YEAR?
1. SET GOALS : Setting of goals at the start of the year or every day of the year can never be overemphasized. This helps to keep our lives organized and on track.
Define your objectives for the year be it career growth, financial growth, personal growth or physical fitness and make them clear and achievable. Break these goals into smaller and manageable tasks. These tasks become your daily routine to keep you intune with your goals.
Setting clear achievable goals and breaking them into smaller tasks making it a daily routine gives you direction and some form of motivation.
2. WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS : Ensure to write down your set goals and place them where you would see them every day. Habakkuk 2:2 admonishes we "write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it." Putting your written goals before you or where you can see them every day reminds you that you have a vision to actualize for the year. The more you see the written goals, the more you think of them again and again propelling you to the next point which is;
3. TAKE ACTION: A dream is only a dream or wishful thinking excpt actions are taken to actualize those dreams or set goals. You run with a vision - set goals or dreams - when you put in the needed time, energy and resources to realize or achieve your set goals.
Don't just set goals and leave them hanging on the mirror, wardrobe doors or any other place without taking actions. Taking steps even if they are baby or tiny steps every day will eventually lead to the realization of your dreams. A little progress every day adds up to the big result. No matter how small the progress might be, you are still making progress. Slow progress is better than no progress at all. So keep keeping on even when it looks as if you are not making any progress. Don't be discouraged by what is not changing
3. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME : Time is an important factor in our lives. Time wasted can never be regained so we ought to be careful how we use our time. Time well spent or maximised is life or year well spent in productivity.
We have all been gifted 24 hours in a day and this year has gifted us an extra 24 hours to make the most of the year. What we do with our time will greatly determine how the year ends for us all. No one is gifted less time on earth, the difference in our lives is what we do with the time God has given to us.
4. CREATE A VISION BOARD : A vision board contains images, positive words or mantras that let you know you can achieve whatever you set your heart to. These images or words represent your goals or dreams you set to achieve for the year.
5. READ BOOKS : Reading books is one of the major ways to make the very most of 2024. Reading helps you gain more knowledge, enhance your vocabulary and writing skills.
You can decide to read books that resonate with your set goals to gain more ideas, inspiration and motivation to pursue your dreams for the year.
5. ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS : Ensure to learn a new skill this year. One or two skills will enhance your growth in life. Imagine acquiring new skills every year, then our limits will be beyond the sky.
5. STAND OUT : Stand out from the crowd and be uniquely you. You don't need to follow the crowd or the trend to have a splendid 2024. Stay focused on your goals and pursue these goals maintaining your lane.
6. LIVE A LIFE OF IMPACT : Ensure to live an impact in the lives of everyone you come across or relate with this year. Put smiles on the faces of people, lend a helping hand when necessary, give even when it seems like you have nothing to give. The economy may seem harsh and difficult but like Pastor David Ibiyeomie once said, "this is the best time give.".
A major reason God created us is to live a life of purpose creating impact in people's lives and you can be of impact to your contemporaries and for generations to come. You are never too small or insignificant to live a life of impact.
7. HAVE A REVIEW OR SELF REFLECTION OF THE PAST YEAR : Having a review or self-reflection of the past year (2023) helps us do better in 2024. It indicates areas we did well and areas we did not do well giving us room for more improvements and advancement.
8. LEARN TO SET BOUNDARIES : When you learn to maximise the use of your time, you will also be able to set boundaries because you will see every second, minute and hour as vital and not to be wasted with meaningless connections, outings or gatherings but rather you prioritize activities that align with your goals and values. You also learn to say no to commitments that are not beneficial to you.
9. MAKE POSITIVE CONNECTIONS : I am usually a loner. I like being alone and doing things on my own but I have come to realize that, we need positive connections to achieve set goals in life as well as live a productive life. Positive connections give us profound experiences and successes in life. It also gives us a healthier, happier and more satisfied life.
Your social circle can either make or break you so you need to surround yourself with people of like minds, people who have set goals and dreams to achieve this year, people who can motivate and inspire you with great ideas to make the most of 2024 and people who would support your dreams and vision in life.
10. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF : With all being said above, if you lack faith and do not believe in your potentials, capabilities and abilities, then it will be difficult to achieve progress in life. The lack of belief in one's self leads to stagnancy and retrogression in life.
Whatever your goals may be for the year, believe you can achieve them and you will. Learn to develop a positive mindset or mentality, keep speaking positive words to yourself every morning and to your dreams.
Words are powerful and whatever we keep saying comes to fruition. If you speak negative words often they manifest in your life and if your words are positive, then your goals are achievables. No wonder the Bible says in Proverbs 8:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words." Proverbs 18:21
11. CELEBRATE YOUR LITTLE WINS : For every little task accomplished ensure to celebrate it. Celebrating your little wins at any given time inspires, motivates and encourages you to keep pressing forward irrespective of the challenges or difficult moments encountered.
With these few points of mine raised above, I am sure I have been able to convince you that we can have a productive 2024 when we make the most of it and the extra day added to the year so cheers to an extraordinary year filled with growth, joy, happiness, laughter and success.
What other ways are there to make the most of our time? You can leave your points in the comment section so others can learn from you. Start living a life of impact from the comment section☺
Quote for the day - "Cheers to a new year and another chance to get it right." - Oprah Winfrey.
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