Five things to avoid in 2023

By Adegoke Awau

A new year is often seen as a new dawn and a new journey laced with optimism.

At the start of each year, it is a common practice to see people penning down their goals and aspirations.

I am sure you have also done yours, right?

The bitter truth, however, is that if you keep doing things the same way, you won’t see a different result.

It is therefore imperative that you must do things differently and apply different methods.

In the same vein, if you don’t give up your bad habits yet dreaming of something big in the new year, you are likely deceiving yourself.

Perhaps in 2023, you dearly want to reach that goal you have been nursing or changing a particular behavior and becoming the better version of yourself.

It could also be that you want to live a healthy lifestyle. Regardless of what your own dream may be, you must do away with all forms of goal snatchers to achieve it.

Below are some things to avoid in 2023 to reach that your much-coveted goal.

Procrastination: Now that you have an amazing goal to reach, and a dream to fulfill, you must be careful of dream snatchers — on of which is procrastination. Procrastination stops one from achieving set goals. It deters you from taking worthy action towards your dream.

Procrastination is also defined as a thief of time and opportunities because once you give in to procrastination, you tend to lose values that would set you off.

To fight against procrastination in 2023, you must set things right and be time conscious. Time management is the best remedy to overcome procrastination.

Lack of consistency: In reaching goals in 2023, you must be consistent.

Consistency is the key to success. When you lack consistency in whatever you do, it will be difficult to reach your goals. You will tend to be going back over and over again.

It is said that what you do every day becomes part of you unknowingly. To this end, the secret to success is consistency. You must be consistent and work on your goal every day.

Distraction: This can come in different forms. Sometimes, people will doubt you and make you feel less about your set goals if you give them a listening ear.

This is why you must keep your dreams and goals confidential. You can only share them with those who have the same dream and passion as yours. 

Excuses: Excuses kill a lot most of the time. It can damage or intentionally obstruct a dream from becoming a reality.

Sometimes, you hear people utter words such as: I’m not ready, I’m not fit for it, it’s not yet time, I’m not good enough, it’s too hard, I don’t have the time, money and experience for the job, I’m scared, people will mock me if I don’t do it well and so on.

Such negative thoughts are harmful and unhealthy to your goals and can make you depressed if care is not taken. Once you get rid of such nasty thoughts, you will become more determined to achieve your goals.

And lastly,

Avoid wrong companions: People you hang out with sometimes depict who you are, what you are, and who you will become.  As the saying goes “show me your friends and I will tell you who you are”.

If only those you associate with are the jokers, party-goers, unserious, and the likes; your dream is at risk. 

But if your companions are critical thinkers, highly ambitious and motivated people, then you have a greater chance of reaching your set goals.

As you journey further into the year therefore, be more conscious of those you relate with.