A ccording to the Fresh Start Effect, a term coined back in a 2014 study by Katherine L Milkman, there’s a huge psychological advantage to aligning our goals with the calendar, as humans tend to experience a natural spike in motivation when transitioning into a new year. And after the bumpy ride we’ve all been on, you can hardly blame us for being even more committed to nailing our life goals in 2022, be it learning a new language or running a marathon.
Yet with statistics showing that only about eight per cent of people actually achieve their resolutions each year, we reckon it’s time to call in the experts to get some advice on how to put our life goals into practice and make 2022 the year we actually achieve them.
Quitting your job
While many people believe it’s better to leave a position with a new role to go to, there are reasons to quit without one lined up, and no job is worth compromising your mental health for. Carol Glynn FCA, finance coach and owner of Conscious Finance Coaching, shares her tips.
Calculate your net worth
“It’s advisable to pay off your debts before giving up a reliable income to start a new venture, but if you are in a positive net asset position, then you can feel secure that you have assets or cash to support yourself until you find a new role,” she advises.
Calculate your monthly cost of living “Go through your previous six months’ expenditure, in detail, don’t estimate, and take note,” explains Glynn. “Your cost of living is the minimum amount your new employment will need to provide, or your business venture will need to make, in profit.”
Have an emergency fund in place
This is crucial before walking away from your monthly salary, and is usually between three and six months of living expenses. “Deposit it in a bank account you do not have daily access to but can access quickly in an emergency.”
Work on your side-hustle
“If you want to become an entrepreneur, it’s always better to set up your business on the side while you are still employed. “This way you can make sure it is not only a viable business but also that you actually like doing it.”
Running a marathon
Whether you’re a newbie just hoping to make it to the finish line, or an avid athlete working on a new PB, captain of adidasRunners GCC Lee Ryan offers his priceless tips on how to nail 26 miles safely and in good time.
Slow it down
The GCC’s heat and humidity will have a negative impact on the body if you don’t allow yourself to acclimatise. “Don’t expect to be able to perform at the same intensity in the summer as you would in the winter months, and feel free to alternate with some inside running on a treadmill to limit the stresses to the body,” advises Ryan.
Hydrate
“This is key. Hydration is essential for every athlete no matter the time of year. But even more so during the summer, as the heat and humidity has a huge impact on recovery, health of the immune system, performance, longevity,” he adds.
Sleep
“This is a goal everyone should try and PB,” explains Ryan. “It’s literally where the magic happens.” Going to bed and waking up at the same time, even on a weekend, is advised, while always try to get a full eight hours, especially when training.
Prep for recovery
While training involves well-thought out steps, reps and routes, when it comes to recovery we often just barge through the door and straight into the fridge to grab something cold. “If it’s an early run, get your refuelling prepped the night before. I put three 750ml bottles in the fridge – one with cold water, one with BCAA mix and one with recovery mix and a banana and aim to consume these within half an hour of the run,” says Ryan.
Trust the process
Without sounding cliché, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. “The average training block for a race can be anywhere from 12-16 weeks to build up – adapt, learn, stay healthy and let your body become stronger,” he concludes.
Learning a new language
Whether you want to speak it on a trip, take on a new job or boost your achievements, you’re never too old to learn a new language.
Make realistic goals
“Learning a language takes time and a lot of practice, which depends on a lot of factors such as compatibility and familiarity of the target language with your native language,” explains Mohamed Shokry, associate director of the UAE branch of Berlitz, which has language schools across the GCC. “An elementary level in which a student can function in everyday life conversations would take 100-120 hours of learning, and to reach fluency an average of 700-800 hours of learning is needed.”
Make it a daily ritual
Try learning at least a new words every day, then reinforce that by adding it in a sentence or including it in a conversation. “But be sure to add language learning into your schedule in a way that you won’t overwhelm yourself, and don’t set a timetable that is too difficult to commit to,” adds Shokry.
Immerse yourself in the language
Listen to songs, watch movies and follow pages on social media in your target language, as all of this will help you acquire new vocabulary, stay motivated and learn more about the culture. “Even if you don’t understand most of it, you will at least learn some new words, and every little helps,” he says. If you can travel to the country, even better.
Becoming a digital nomad
While most people think that becoming a digital nomad is as easy as running your office from a beach, the reality is quite different, explains Mark Phillips, founder of Nomad Stays.
Sort out what you are leaving
Are you storing or selling your goods? Renting out your flat? What happens to your mail? “Be sure you have everything tied up at home before you even think about departing,” says Phillips.
Figure out where you will get your money from
“If you’re working for yourself, you need to figure out where you can find new clients, and if you’re working for an employer, does that employer allow me to work overseas?” Most don’t, explains Phillips, and the laws around the world make it difficult or expensive, so it’s much easier to become a freelancer or contractor.
Visas and tax
Unfortunately most tourist visas don’t allow you to work, but they allow you to promote your services. “There are thousands of visas in the world though, and about 30 countries have introduced a new digital nomad visa.” They are all different and tax rates vary
a lot, so be sure to do your research. “It’s swings and roundabouts depending on your nationality and where you are coming from,” adds Mark.
Sort out the essentials
There is lots to prepare before you go, but up there is getting a local sim, credit and debit cards, as you will need spares, and finding travel insurance. “A couple of years ago it was pretty easy to get a 12-month policy, but now they are shrinking.” Look to World Nomads
for starters.
Learning survival skills
It’s always wise to have some basic survival skills up your sleeve – who knows when you’ll need to channel your inner Bear Grylls? Mohsen Safadi, team leader at the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp in the UAE’s Ras Al Khaimah, tells us how to tackle survival situations.
Brush up on your knowledge
Getting your nose stuck in some survival books is a great way to learn the tricks of the trade before getting out there and practising them in real life – and most are real page-turners, too. Bonus. “I always advise people to start with two books that cover almost all survival fields – SAS Survival Guide by John Wiseman and How to Stay Alive by Bear Grylls,” says Safadi.
Start your own journey
Once you have been certified, go to a remote place and put your skills into practice. “Try to manage your food and water depending on how long you plan to stay – never go empty handed,” advises Safadi. “Remember that you are doing this for practice so don’t put yourself in danger. Also, try to have a partner with you so you can share knowledge and support each other.”
