There are only 6 weeks left until 2024; can you believe it? I certainly can’t. I’ve spent most of this year, like most of you, nowhere near my goals and resolutions from the previous year. It doesn’t happen intentionally. I make plans and am full of hope in January, and I usually follow through. By the look of my vision board for 2023, maybe half of my goals Life isn’t about just checking boxes, and sometimes we believe it is.

And that is the problem.

However, what did I not do? There seems to be a connection between these five causes and the reasons why the tasks were not completed. Furthermore, I believe it will position me for success in 2024.

Here are five things we are leaving behind in 2023:

• Keeping Yourself in Your Comfort Zone

Sticking to what’s comfy is nice, but it’s good to step out sometimes. So, as we say bye to 2023, let’s ditch the habit of always staying in our comfort zone in 2024. Trying new things and facing challenges is how we grow. It’s like going from a cozy blanket to exploring new territories. So, let’s keep it simple—try new stuff, face the unknown, and see what cool things we can discover in the coming year!

• Comparing yourself to others

Comparing yourself to others isn’t always a bad thing. Seeing other people thrive and achieve their objectives can be a fantastic incentive to help us get where we want to go in life.

Many people, however, take the comparison too far and conclude that they are less qualified just because they do not achieve their goals by a specific age. It’s time to give yourself more credit for who you are this year and make a place for self-acceptance.

We all take various paths in life, and constantly comparing ourselves to others will only lead to self-doubt.

• Bad time management 

Bad time management can be a formidable obstacle on the path to professional success, and it’s high time to bid farewell to this counterproductive habit as we step into 2024. In the fast-paced world of the workplace, where efficiency is key, failing to allocate time wisely can lead to missed deadlines, increased stress, and hindered overall performance. It’s like dragging unnecessary baggage into the new year when we should be aiming for a lighter, more agile approach.

Embracing effective time management not only ensures that tasks are completed promptly but also allows for better prioritization, improved focus, and increased productivity. Let’s make 2024 the year of mastering our schedules, breaking free from the shackles of procrastination, and unlocking our full potential in the professional arena.

• Having a poor attitude

Keeping a positive attitude at work has some real perks. It makes your work buddies like you more, boosts your motivation and productivity, and just generally makes the job more enjoyable. If you catch yourself being a bit of a downer, figure out what’s bugging you. Maybe it’s stress or not loving your job. Whatever the reason, you can usually do something about it. Take a breather if personal stuff is stressing you out, or ask for help if work’s piling up. Small changes can turn that frown upside down, making work a better place for everyone.

• Being disorganized 

Being all over the place at work? Not the best move. It can mean missing deadlines, taking forever to finish stuff, and looking like you didn’t do your homework for meetings. To kick this habit, get yourself a system that clicks with you. Maybe it’s blocking off chunks of time in your calendar, going old-school with a filing cabinet, or just tidying up your digital files. Clear that messy desk, too. And when a meeting’s on the horizon, prep early so you’re not scrambling at the last minute. Get organized, and watch how much smoother things go at work.

Five things we are bringing into 2024:

• Strong morning routine

A strong morning routine helps us set the tone for the day, better allowing us to control our schedules rather than our schedules controlling us. As we start each day fresh, we can better focus on what is in front of us, where to prioritize our time, and, ultimately, increase our productivity.

• Positive thinking

Your brain is stimulated to work at its peak efficiency when you think positively. Additionally, it gives you more energy, which improves your alertness and capacity to carry out your tasks. Positive thinking will help you think more clearly and focus better while lowering your stress levels.

• Being organized

The main advantages of being well organized and working in a generally clutter-free environment are enhanced performance and higher production. And that leads to an increased sensation of control, which is essential for resilience, stress reduction, and general wellbeing.

Improved thinking can also result from effective organization. Making decisions and addressing problems requires having a clear head in addition to having quick access to the appropriate resources. A clutter-free approach helps you focus better, learn more effectively, and become more conducive to the deep focus known as “flow.”

How other people see you also plays a big role in your success at work. Your reputation and prospects of advancement in your profession are in jeopardy if you are habitually tardy for meetings, neglectful of your duties, and appear uncontrollable in your position.

Your skill and worth, however, will be obvious to all if you come across as someone who can be counted on to assist your team or organization function more efficiently and who handles their workload properly.

• Practicing gratitude

Gratitude at work brings a lot of advantages. People need community, recognition, and meaningful human connections on the most fundamental level. Colleague relationships at work improve when gratitude is expressed and received.

• Focus on yourself and your unique gifts.

Embracing our individual gifts and realizing their power is a powerful thing. We lose the possibility of developing greater humility as well as the chance to feel confident if we don’t own our abilities and knowledge. Because we can only act in a falsely modest manner if we refuse to acknowledge our gifts.

Gaining self-assurance in your skills and contributions will promote cooperation over rivalry and result in more harmonious relationships without feelings of inferiority or superiority.

It’s critical to first identify your strengths. Enumerate them. Develop the practice of acknowledging small victories throughout the day. And repeat these two actions frequently. We require constant reminders because we have a tendency to forget about this. Keep a note of your advantages close at hand at your desk.

As we embark on the final stretch of 2023, it’s the perfect time to shift our gaze towards the possibilities that lie in the coming year. Instead of overwhelming ourselves with an exhaustive checklist, let’s prioritize the journey of transformation by replacing unhealthy habits with positive ones. As we bid farewell to this year, let’s pave the way for a healthier and more fulfilling 2024. Cheers to embracing the power of intentional habits!