Join the ‘Smart Brigade’ in 2019 and you will see positive changes in your life
Be smart. Those should be the buzz words as we face the challenges of 2019.
They should guide what we think, say and do. When we are smart, we will make well-informed and sound decisions.
New Year resolutions can be a powerful way to make a change in your life. But as all know many of them are broken in the first three months.
But we can succeed if we do things differently.
Here are some tips:
They are realistic and easy to keep. That is being smart. There is no point in coming up with a resolution that you know you can’t keep. You are just wasting your time.
Set goals that will help you get there
For example, if you have decided to quit smoking and drinking, you need to be in an environment where these are banned. You have to be careful about whom you are interacting with. If you used to hang around people when they were smoking or drinking, then you must stop it because you would be tempted to return to your old habits. That is being smart.
Be positive. Positivity builds character and the courage to overcome challenges. Even in the face of provocation, trials and tribulations, it pays to count to 10 and not rush into a decision that you may later regret. Patience is a great virtue. It’s a great feature of positivity. Anger is the opposite. Patience allows people to think about an issue and come up with a measured and principled decision. That is being smart.
During the December festive season when prices of goods were generally cheaper, parents should have done their back to school shopping to avoid the mad rush and take advantage of the cheaper prices. It is only 12 days away from the beginning of the school term and many parents will start preparing for school. The smart parents are now relaxed and waiting for school to reopen.
Discipline. To be disciplined is being smart. When you are disciplined you will not go overboard in anything, especially celebrations. It also means you will spend your money wisely and you will not live beyond your means. You will follow a strict budget and not incur debt. In this festive season it is easy to blow your budget. Those who stick to a strict budget are wise. That’s being smart. If you want to join the “Smart Brigade” then you have to make some tough decisions in your New Year resolution.