According 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 buying a house 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 goals into practice and make 2022 the year we actually achieve them. Here’s what they have to say…
Quitting your job
While many people believe it’s better to leave a position with a new role to go to, there are many valid reasons to quit without another lined up, and no job is worth compromising your mental health for. Carol Glynn FCA, finance coach and owner of Conscious Finance Coaching, explains how.
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,” advises Glynn.
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,” adds Glynn. “This way you can make sure it is not only a viable business but also that you actually like doing it.”
Buying a house
With property values continually on the rise, buyers are rushing to get on the ladder before prices spiral even more out of control.
Tackle your deposit. Amounts differ all over the world, but in the UAE, the down payment requirement for first time buyers is 20 percent for expats and 15 percent for nationals.
“The down payment is generally considered the most challenging part when it comes to purchasing a property as it can be a significant amount of money to raise,” explains Brendan Kennelly, senior mortgage consultant at Mortgage Finder.
Work out how much you can afford to borrow. There are several mortgage calculators online which will help with this, or speak to a mortgage broker. “Do your research and know exactly what you can borrow and therefore what sort of property you can afford,” he says.
Be upfront about your circumstances. This includes your financial position and job role. “The banks will do their due diligence before releasing any funds to you, so being honest gives you the best chance at getting your mortgage approved in a timely manner,”
says Kennelly.
Start the mortgage process early and secure your pre-approval. “It can take around six weeks to complete a property purchase when buying with a mortgage,” he explains.
“Securing pre-approval can give you an advantage as it shows sellers that you are a serious buyer with the ability to move quickly on your purchase.”
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 top tips on how to nail those 26 miles.
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 an upcoming trip, take on new job responsibilities or simply want to boost your academic 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 word 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.
Speak to yourself. It’s not always easy to find a language learning partner, so it’s important to continually imagine yourself in certain situations and role play them in your head. “This will help you retain the language learned,” advises Shokry.
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 apartment? What will happen 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 do allow you to market and 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.
Prepare your clients. Especially if you’re self-employed, as many clients just aren’t comfortable with no face-to-face contact. “And be prepared to work on their time zone. You might end up getting up at 2am to make phone calls five times per week – some nomads have to do that for a long time.”
Sort out the essentials. There’s so much you need to prepare before you leave, but up there is getting a local sim to save money, get lots of bank and credit cards before you go as you will always need some spares, and be sure to find 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 Ras Al Khaimah, talks us through how to tackle any survival situation.
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. “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.
Take your skills to the next level. The easiest way to learn survival skill is from the experts, and the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp offers everything from a Basic Survival Course to Surviving in the Wild for those looking to go the whole hog. “The military is the best school for survival, but it’s not accessible for everyone, so you need to look for a place that comes from a similar background,” adds 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.”
