I need some silence and alone time to ponder what I really want to achieve. It's not about working harder, either. We all have been pushing, taking on new responsibilities, and there is only so much more we can absorb into our lives. Making the "most of every moment" doesn't mean trying to force yourself to over-perform and overcorrect until you're a washed-out version of the person you could have been. I've come to the conclusion that a lot of our woes have nothing to do with not trying hard enough but that we're too attached to forcing things that aren't right for us.

If we want to be in a completely different place by this time next year, we're going to have to stop fooling ourselves and face the truth. What is truly important to us, shifting our focus from quantity to quality, stop distracting yourself with busy work and not important work, and prioritize the activities your future self will thank you for.

First thing first.

Appreciate the now.

People tend to live as if we have an endless supply of days ahead. We plan our lives in the future, believing this will happen or that will fall into place. "Tomorrow" is the day you will wake up into the life you imagine. We forget to embrace every moment of today, the one we have right here, right now, in front of us.

Now, with that out of the way, let's begin to make the shifts that will make this time next year better.

1. Admit to yourself that you don't know it all. Recognize that the answers to your problems may reside outside of yourself. Whether it's a person, a book, a seminar, or a video. It's your job to go out and find it.
2. Start thinking Long Term. What step can you take now that will make your progress smoother a year, two or five down the road? If you don't make forward-thinking a priority, then you'll be treading water and wondering why you haven't reached the shore.
3. Stick to the path. As you move towards your goals, you will be tempted either by alternative routes that look tantalizing or offers that will take you away from where you have decided to go. If you've done the initial work that goes into figuring out who you are and what you're about, then the shiny new stuff will not distract you. You should realize by now that things can change, but that is expected. If you're looking for an easier route, then your priorities are wrong. Stick to the path.
4. Have a big vision for yourself. Can you think beyond the limits of your current perspective? To have a big vision, You need to be daring. Because you need a type of boldness that requires you to take the kind of action you might not yet believe in. But I've found that just by having the willingness to believe that something might be possible for you — it already is.
5. Waiting for the right time. There is no such thing. As Napoleon Hill said - "Don't wait. The time will never be just right." Act Now!
6. Stop Wasting time on activities that are not your priorities. Our energy throughout the day is limited. There is so much of our personal energy that we can give to specific tasks before it is depleted. Find the peak hours of your day where you're the clearest, most energized, most capable of problem-solving, getting inspired, and creating. Go do your most important work then, leaving everything else that won't move you forward.
7.  Feel the Discomfort and Do it Anyway. Too many people believe that facing discomfort on their way to achieving their goals is too much for them. This is faulty logic. Discomfort is an indicator. Jack Canfield calls them "yellow alerts." They are advance warnings you get in the form of telltale signs, gut instinct, intuition, comments from others that alert you to impending danger, and give you time to prevent the unwanted outcome. Or they can be circumstances you need to endure until you find your solution. Through experience, you will know which is which.

Don't feel guilty about protecting your energy for the things you care most about. I'm a believer in hard work but working on the wrong things is a recipe for failure. I'm not saying you shouldn't try new methods; just make sure it's leading you closer to your goals, whatever they might be. Know your priorities, listen to your instincts, and who knows, next year could be your best year ever.