Three ways to finish 2022 strong

Introduction

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The year 2023 is just around the corner, which means it's always early enough to start planning to finish 2022 in style and the strongest way possible.

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1. Complete Your Daily To-Do Lists

I'm a big fan of to-do lists. I use them every day, and they've been instrumental in helping me get through all sorts of projects and tasks. As 2022 is coming to an end, these to-do lists might come in handy and help you close the year in style.

Here are some strategies for completing your daily To Dos:

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Start with the three most important things.

As you're reviewing your daily to-do list, start by prioritizing your tasks in order of importance.

This can be a great way to feel good about your work and reduce the feeling that there is more left to do than there is.

Save time on unimportant tasks just because they are easy or quick! Doing one thing well (even if it takes a little longer) will give you more satisfaction than doing many things poorly (and taking less time).

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Add deadlines to every task.

When deadlines are added to your tasks, you'll feel a great urgency to complete those items. This can help you stay on track and complete the job before the deadline.

A deadline can be set for each task individually or by day/week/month/year.

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Schedule time for specific tasks.

If you've ever tried to multitask, you know it's not a good idea. You can't do two things well at the same time, and if you think your brain is capable of such a feat, then I have some bad news for you: It's not.

Try to do only some things at a time when scheduling your daily tasks. Schedule time for each job individually, and don't be afraid to reschedule them later on if necessary (or even shift from one task to another).

It's also important to refrain from overbooking yourself. Ensure that the amount of time allotted per task is reasonable so that they are timely and done well.

Finally, remember that there are other things besides work besides work, so make sure there's some space on your calendar dedicated specifically to relaxation!

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Make your to-do list doable.

One of the most frequent errors we make is overloading ourselves with too many tasks, even though we need more time to complete them.

Before creating your to-do list for the day, consider how much time you'll have available to complete each task and whether it's worth prioritizing one task over another.

For example, suppose there are only two hours left in your workday and three major projects still on your plate with no end in sight. In that case, you should shift some of those projects around so they're not all due at once or even eliminate one or two of them altogether until you can devote more attention to completing them.

Another thing that can help is setting realistic expectations for yourself when creating your schedule. If there's something that's causing stress or anxiety because of its importance level, make sure it has enough time allocated within the schedule itself. This ensures you don't overwhelm yourself with concerns about getting everything done on time while also trying to avoid missing out on other important things happening later in the day/weekend/month, etcetera.

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2. Maintain Good Focus and Avoid Distractions

2022 is coming to an end, you might look at your year and start wondering what have you accomplished. How will you finish all your pending work and accomplish the goals you established at the start of the year?

You start doing a certain task, and all of a sudden, you find yourself looking at funny videos and memes on your phone. If this sounds familiar, don't worry, you aren't alone! 

If you find yourself constantly distracted by less important tasks or struggling to stay focused on what matters most, I have some tips for how you can improve your focus and avoid distractions so that you can finish the year strong.

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Focus On What Matters

The key to avoiding distractions is focusing on what matters, which is a challenging task. If you're working towards a goal or trying to accomplish something important, it can help to ask yourself: "Will this make any difference?" When you're tempted by something else, a conversation with a friend or a new Netflix show, ask yourself if it's truly something you need right now.

Be mindful of what you are doing. This may seem to be a no-brainer, but it's easy to get distracted when we're caught in our thoughts about the future or past (and whether we should watch that new episode of Game of Thrones). 

Instead of dwelling on these things, try practicing mindfulness by focusing on your current activity, breathing slowly and deeply as you wash dishes; listening closely so that when someone asks how lunch was today, your response doesn't come out like "What?".

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Avoid Perfectionism

You can get stuck in a trap when you're striving for perfection. You might feel like there is no way to move forward because your idea is still being determined. 

You waste time trying to make it better and then give up on the project entirely. Perfectionism is also self-defeating because it prevents you from doing anything until every detail of something is just right.

Perfectionism can be dangerous because it wastes time, energy, money and relationships with others, and this isn't even considering how unhealthy perfectionism can be for your mental health!

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Embrace Consistency

Maintaining consistency in your life is one of the most important things you can do to keep your focus. This means, first and foremost, getting enough sleep. The body needs rest to continue functioning at its best.

You also need to ensure you're eating well and exercising regularly — both activities that can help relieve stress and increase focus.

If you need help maintaining such a routine, try setting up a schedule for yourself so it becomes easier over time (more on this later).

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Stay in Motion

Stay away from one place or on one thing. 

Don't get stuck on people and don't get stuck in your head. 

If you notice yourself becoming frustrated, take a walk around the block, literally or metaphorically, and come back to it when you've recharged your batteries, so to speak.

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3. Keep a Positive Mental Attitude

It's the end of the year, and you've been working hard to achieve your goals. You may need to catch up because of all your holiday parties and shopping this season.

However, it is now time to return to work and finish strong. Here are five ways to keep your head in the game:

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Getting out in the sun and ditching the shades, even on cloudy days.

Sunlight is known to have a positive impact on our moods and energy levels.

Light, especially the kind that comes from the sun, has been shown to boost serotonin production in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate your mood and appetite, among other things.

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Staying active and moving every day.

Our bodies are designed to move. We are meant to walk, run, bend, squat and lift heavy things.

Exercising regularly includes improved mood, increased energy levels, better sleep, and reduced stress.

Exercise also boosts your immune system, promotes weight loss and fights depression.

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Eating real food, that is low-sugar and nutrient-dense.

The holidays are often associated with overindulging, so eat mindfully to avoid the temptation of all those temptations around you.

For the sake of your health:

• Eat plenty of vegetables, fruit and nuts.
• Avoid processed foods.
• Avoid sugar.
• Avoid gluten (wheat).
• Avoid dairy if you have an intolerance or allergy to it, such as lactose intolerance or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

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Drinking plenty of water every day.

Water is your body's most critical nutrient.

Every cell needs water to function correctly, and even a small amount of dehydration can cause serious health issues.

Water helps to keep your skin hydrated, which means you’ll be looking and feeling your best; it also helps keep your muscles healthy. Water keeps organs like the kidneys and liver functioning well, too.

In addition, drinking plenty of water every day helps keep your brain hydrated so that you can make better decisions with less anxiety or stress! Drinking enough water keeps you healthy and helps with digestion since the digestive system is made up of mostly fluids!

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Focusing on the positives in your life.

When you're feeling down, remembering the good things in your life might help you stay motivated and lift your spirits.

A positive mental attitude is important for a number of reasons: it helps improve your overall well-being, makes it easier to deal with stress and challenges, and encourages healthy relationships with others.

Here are some ideas for how to think about the positives in your life:

Think about what you are thankful for—the people who love you, the things that make life enjoyable (such as food), etcetera.

Think about any goals or successes that have happened recently in your life. For example, did you achieve something that seemed impossible before? Did someone tell you they appreciated something that you did? If so, take note of this achievement so that when times get tough later on down the line, at least there will be something else to remind yourself of!

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Keep going strong through the end of 2022!

When you start a new year, there's always a lot of excitement. Making resolutions and setting goals is exciting! But then, all too often, people start to lose steam as time goes on. They get bored with their goals, and they stop working towards them.

That's why it's so important to keep going strong through the end of 2022! If you've been slacking off lately, don't worry: there are many ways to continue where you left off and finish strong over these last few months.

You should always remember that perseverance is key when it comes to achieving whatever goals you have set for yourself in life, especially as we near 2022's end date.

So don't give up now! Keep going! Keep working towards your goals until they're complete and even beyond that point. There's no time limit on achieving greatness in life, only limitations imposed by ourselves through laziness or failure-to-try scenarios.

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Conclusion

I hope that this has helped you to keep going strong in 2022. 

Start today if you want to be at the top of your game in 2022. I know it can be difficult, but with some work and effort on your part, I believe you can make this year the best one yet!

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