Hello 2021! The Growth Letter by Tim Cakir - Issue #33

Happy New Year!

We’re all ready for the fresh start that 2021 promises. We’re still a long way from “normal” and our troubles are not over just because a number has changed on the date. However, there’s plenty of reasons to be positive.

This edition of The Growth Letter is a bit different, I’m going to share with you my top tips for making the most of that “new year, new me” feeling and setting yourself up for success in 2021.

A better goal-setting method

New Year’s Resolutions don’t really work - you need a more effective way of setting goals.

Here are some tactics I use for setting and achieving goals:

• Don’t set annual goals. A year is too long to stay accountable to the same goal. Instead, set monthly and quarterly goals, and schedule regular reminders to check-in and evaluate whether you’re on track to hitting them. This will give you a chance to refresh your goals at various times during the year, which can help you stay motivated and on track.

• Make sure your goals are within your control. It’s easier to stick to goals that are related to action rather than results. So, for example, instead of “secure 5 new clients in January”, aim to “contact 5 new prospects every day”. Or if you’re trying to get fit, “work out for 30 mins, 5 times a week” is more within your control than “lose 6kg in 60 days”

• Track your progress every day. Daily accountability is crucial! I like to use Best Self journals which encourage you to write out your goals every morning at the top of the page and reflect on your progress at night. If handwritten journals aren’t for you, try a digital version or use a Notion journal template.

Establish simple routines

Routines are helpful because they help reduce the amount of energy you spend deciding what to do next, and healthy practices become automatic.

Here are my tips for starting new routines:

• Start simple. Don’t come up with a crazy morning routine that involves getting up at 6 am, running 5k, meditating, journaling, and more. Instead, start with one or two simple habits that are most important to you. It could be getting up 30 mins earlier than usual and doing a quick workout, or swapping your usual croissants and latte for fruit and lemon water.

• Modest daily progress is better than a huge, one-off effort. True progress happens slowly with consistent effort. It’s ok to miss a day, but don’t let that derail you so you give up - get back to it the next day. Something is better than nothing, so if you can’t face a full workout, a walk around the block is better than staying on the sofa.

• Read Atomic Habits by James Clear - this is the best book I’ve ever read for building great habits and replacing bad ones.

Practice self-care

No matter how busy you are, you always need to make time to look after yourself. I’ve been through periods of extreme stress where I was outwardly successful but failing at taking care of my mental and physical health.

These are a few ways I practice self-care which might work for you:

• Meditation. I always feel less stressed and more present when I meditate on a regular basis. Headspace is the perfect app for building your practice, but I also enjoy Synctuition, a more immersive experience that lets you escape for 25 minutes.

• Hobbies. It’s really important to have hobbies that are just for pleasure and don’t have any goals attached to them. I’ve always been into music, but more recently I’ve discovered a love for gardening. Make time for something you enjoy at least once a week!

• Be present. If you’re taking time off, make sure your mind is not preoccupied with work, and while you’re working, limit distractions and aim for focus. If you aren’t fully present with your current task you’ll find it harder to get anything meaningful done.

• Go outside. Getting some fresh air and going for a walk outside at least once a day is great for your mental health and it always helps me come up with new ideas and solve problems.

Surround yourself with positivity

Last year it often felt like we were surrounded by negativity. Although we can’t bury our heads and ignore what’s happening, it won’t do any good to immerse ourselves in sad news and social media drama.

I have some advice for keeping your environment as positive as possible:

• Clean up your Twitter, Instagram and Facebook feeds. Unfollow, unfriend, or mute people who consistently post negative, unhelpful content and start arguments online. If your social feeds are depressing you, cut down the time you spend online and start following people who post helpful or inspirational content that aligns with your interests.

• Don’t argue with loved ones about politics. Many of us disagree with friends and family about how the Covid crisis is being handled, but I believe that our relationships with loved ones are more important. We should enjoy the time we have with our families and leave politics out of it as much as possible.

• Focus on learning and self-improvement. Create a list of all the skills you’d like to learn or improve this year, and schedule a little time every day for reading, doing courses, or even taking notes from YouTube videos and tutorials.

Tools and More....Recommendations for 2021

I intend to make a lot more content about tools in 2021 but for now, here’s a quick list of some tools and resources that’ll be getting my year off to a good start.

Headspace - the best meditation app that will introduce you gently to the practice

Motley Fool - a top resource for everything related to stocks and investing.

Note-taking - I use my Remarkable 2 to take extensive notes on everything from courses to meetings, but you don’t need a pricey tool to start practicing more organized note-taking.

Notion - an all-in-one productivity app that’s great for organizing digital documents and notes, tracking projects and goals, and journaling.

Oura - since I began to track my fitness with an Oura ring, I’ve become more aware of how my actions affect my health, and I feel empowered to make better choices.

Timeular - a time-tracking device that lets me see how long I’m spending on different activities and balance my time.

Quartz - a great source of business and technology news.

Over to you....

I hope you’ve enjoyed my first newsletter of 2021, now I’d love to hear from you. Tell me what your goals are for January, what are you focussed on, and I’d love to know if there’s any way that I could help you!