5 IDEAS TO MAKE 2023 A CRACKER YEAR

Covid gave many of us the opportunity to reset, and we discovered we could change our lives completely. We left jobs we hated. We discovered we could work from a lovely environment rather than a sterile office. We discovered there were things we could go without.

In my coaching work, though, it looks as though many of my clients are slipping back into their old patterns. They’re taking on more and more (without putting anything down). They’re spending too much time in meetings – and travelling to meetings. They’re running from deadline to deadline. Before they know it, they’ll be back at pre-Covid stress levels – and, like the proverbial boiled frog, they will not even notice the loss of quality in their lives until it’s too late.

The end of a year is a great time to take stock and make some decisions for the next year. If you want to make sure you have a good quality of life in 2023, here are some good starting points:

1. Make A “To Don’t” List

We all have To Do lists, and for most of us they just keep growing. How about this – make some clear decisions about what you will NOT do in 2023. What will you stop doing? These could be things that other people should be doing – so make it clear they will need to do these things if they want them to continue happening. It could be things that add no value to your life, but you keep doing them out of a sense of obligation or guilt. High on my own “To Don’t” list is spending time writing proposals for people who really just want my ideas, but have no intention of doing any work with me. I’m done with that.

THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE MADE US ALL MORE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY OF LIFE. BELINDA DAVIES – A DURBAN-BASED BUSINESS COACH WITH SPECIAL INTERESTS IN STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP – SUGGESTS FIVE IDEAS TO FOSTER A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE GOING INTO 2023

2. Identify What You Definitely Want In Your Life

A little bit of what you fancy does you good. Do you love spending time in nature? Schedule dates with yourself to get out there and enjoy the mountains, the beach or the birds. Do you love road tripping? Even a few two-day road trips to enjoy our beautiful country will make a significant impact on the quality of your life. Book the time out in your calendar – if you wait to see if you’ll have the time, you’ll never have the time. I learnt to book my holidays into my calendar before I book my clients in.

Take time out to sit in the garden or in a park – and make it a regular thing. Do you wish you had more time with your friends? Put some dates in your calendar when you can get together with them – and do it before your calendar fills with

busy-ness that doesn’t feed your soul. Include something creative in this list – fi nd an art class or a gardening group and commit to regular creative time.

3. Take Charge Of Your Finances

There’s nothing more draining than continuously struggling fi nancially. Debt is a drain on your bank account and on your soul. Put a plan in place to get out of debt. Look at your retirement planning. Are you on track? Or are you just hoping it will work out? Find a reputable independent fi nancial planner who can help you get on track. Decide what you can do without. Do you really need that new car/outfi t/gadget? Or could you put that money towards getting out of debt or your savings?

4. Make A Contribution

I believe our lives have greater purpose when we make a contribution. This is about giving of our time, energy and expertise in the interests of something outside of our own lives. This could include simple things like helping in a pet shelter, or working with a local charity to help them raise funds. We feel good about ourselves when we make a contribution, but we also connect with others in a meaningful way – that social connection is important to us as human beings. There is something about working together towards something bigger than ourselves, and we need to fi nd something that matters enough to us to be willing to get involved.

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5. Practice Gratitude

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Life is busy. Life can be Y

diffi cult. If we don’t make a point of savouring moments of gratitude, we can become blind to all the good in our lives. Start your own daily ritual. Perhaps at the dinner table, every family member talks about something they are grateful for today, or something that warmed their hearts. Alternatively, end your day with a reflection on what was good today. If you know you tend to be overly aware of what is not good in your life, start a gratitude journal and write down three things you’re grateful for each day. It will completely change your focus and you’ll start to notice more and more aspects of your life that are worthwhile and positive. Just being appreciative has an amazing impact on one’s quality of life. *

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FOR MORE INFO 082 551 9504; belinda@leadershipsolutions.co.za; www.leadershipsolutions.co.za

EDEN DURBAN

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den Schools Durban offers the best quality co-educational private schooling in KZN from Sunshine Group (grade 0000) to grade 12.

Matric Results Eden has ranked as one of the top five schools in South Africa for our NSC matric results for the past 5 years. In 2021 Eden was ranked Number 1 in SA with 3,76 A’s per candidate.

The Secret to Eden’s Success The secret to our success is our small classes, warm, friendly, family atmosphere and experienced, caring teachers who are prepared to go the extra mile.

Extension at Eden We extend our children by developing out-the-box thinking and problem solving skills by entering various Olympiads.

Eden’s Philosophy: Holistic Education Eden Schools are committed to provide a balanced, holistic education to produce well-rounded confident young people. We offer a wide range of learning areas and extra-mural activities and have a strong programme of arts and culture.

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