My plans for 2023

Every beginning of the year we make new year’s resolutions. However, most of them last for the first few months due to the fact that they were made based on the societal pressure to make plans for the new year, and not on the reflection of the previous year’s actions and how one would like to improve his or her life.

Additionally, we try to make instant changes in all aspects of our lives at the same time, thereby leading to feeling burdened and overwhelmed. Hence I decided that this year I plan to have fun and accept situations that I have no control over.

Working hard without allowing yourself to have fun is detrimental to one’s wellbeing.

In 2022 I was doing my final year in Bachelor of Social Sciences at the University of the Free State. I was so very focused on obtaining good results that I ended up immersing myself in academic work only until it got to a point where I was struggling mentally.

The irony is that, instead of obtaining distinctions in all subjects like I had planned, my state of mind negatively impacted my academic work. As a result, I received average results in one of my modules.

When doing a reflection on how

I can improve my life this year, I realized that I should make time for hobbies and quality time with beloved ones as much as I make time for my goals.

Completing a certain level of education comes with a lot of uncertainties.

After completing matric, I was confused about which career path to follow. Now I am confused about whether I should go into a workplace or further my studies – both are situations out of my control as they are based on acceptance from institutions and companies.

This year I planned to reach for all opportunities so that I can learn that when applying or trying anything, acceptance is not always the answer; that the only way to learn to accept situations that are beyond one’s control is through experience. In fact, one goes through several failures before succeeding.

In whatever stage of life that you are at, do what you can with the resources that you have, develop yourself and be prepared for possible opportunities. Let your plans cater for your specific needs and do not be pressured by society.