The start of any year is a great time for goal-setting. For planning and for improvement. For change and for action. 2024 may well be a massive year for many of us on this rock we call our precious Earth. Let’s suggest a few worthwhile goals you might consider for this year ahead:

  • Make an informed vote in the election. Read about the issues and try to hear some of what “the other side” is saying. Form your own view. Vote.
  • Lose 10kg. Or lose no more than 10% of what you now weigh. Take the full 12 months to achieve this. Slower is better.
  • Try to understand some of the issues that seem to keep causing conflict around us. Once again, try listening, truly listening, to “the other side”. Maybe try accepting that no one-side is entirely correct on something. Look for nuance and subtlety and complexity. It might give you a headache as you truly grapple with the depth of an issue (going beyond slogans and click-bait catch-phrases) but those are the areas where compromise and solution, and peace, are found.
  • Get active. Or stay active. You know what? It matters less what you do or how you get active (gym, walk, run, hike, canoe, row, step, lift…) but just that you MOVE. Regularly. All year. Start now. Do not stop.
  • Deal with one lingering conflict in your life. At work or home or socially or in the family or whatever. We all have these “issues” that just keep, well, lingering. Appearing and reappearing. It’s silly. Try identifying one of these in your life. Now try to think of solutions. Find a compromise? Battle it out and settle the thing your way or any way? Walk away and truly not look back? Accept the thing and move on with no regret or lasting feelings? Simply agree to differ and mean that.  Any of these might work. And or other approaches. Only you can decide.
  • Stop smoking. Just stop it. We know it is very tough but you can do it. And you want to.
  • Get out of debt. Or at least, reduce debt. It’s a killer. You know it. Deal with it. Please. You want to and you can.
  • Eat 2 or 3 portions of veg a day. A portion is about a handful-size.
  • Write down any and all goals you set for yourself. Include numbers and dates.

We do hope that 2024 brings what you would wish it to.

Author: Dr Colin Burns, retired medical practitioner and wellness coach