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A fresh start as everyone looks forward to new opportunities, possibilities, milestones, achievements, and successes.Expectedly, there would be expectations, projections, plans, and well-intentioned resolutions laid down to achieve set goals for the year.
Before you roll your eyes at the mention of “new year resolutions”, or the widely proclaimed “New Year, New Me” mantra, it is critical to note that resolutions, albeit sometimes led by emotions and unrealistic goals, evolve from a genuine decision to get it right in the new year.
Resolutions are commonplace, as people indulge in retrospection and re-evaluation of some of their decisions with the resolute desire to lead a better life from the previous year. However, the question is how many people follow through to keeping the well written and laid-out plans?
According to the Discover Happy Habits blog, only 64% successfully keep to their new year resolution just one month after making them. There is no prize for guessing that the numbers thin out as the year unfolds. Clinical psychologists conclude that the major reason most resolutions fail is attributable to a lack of self-discipline and low tracking of progress evaluation.
Let us be honest, most of these resolutions are made at the spur of the moment without clarity or unrealistic measures. So, this year we thought to help with simple, realistic, and foolproof steps to ensure your resolutions are not the usual “wash, rinse and repeat”. The best way to plan is to ask; “what realistic and immediate changes do I want for my life”? Below are steps on how to plan your 2022 results-driven resolutions.
What should I do now?
We believe that the best way to plan and achieve the desired goal is by taking immediate action. Planning should not only be approached from a futuristic point of view but from simple questions like “What do I do now? What can I change or adjust now?”.
Typically, resolutions focus on the achievements in a month, a quarter, half-year or end of the year, with less attention on the immediate steps. Sometimes, these changes and adjustments are the real deal in achieving your plans for the year.
Let’s make it clearer; imagine you have a mental note of the professional certifications you would like to acquire in three months, or the networking events you love to attend within the quarter, but you never actually note the professional certifications or create a reminder for the events at the instant, pin in at a visible spot or on your electronic devices, what would happen? Yes, you guessed right, there is a higher chance that you might forget them because these plans were never staring you in the face. If the plan is to get more certified, surf the internet now, register for the desired courses, pin the date on your calendar and start the countdown.
If yours is to spend more quality time with your family and kids, check your calendar to plan your leave, plan either a vacation or a staycation, check the newest recipes to prepare for your family, call that loved one as you plan a visit. In other words, do not postpone the actualization of your goals and take deliberate steps immediately.
What should I do by mid-year?
After taking immediate actions, the next step is what should you plan for the mid-year? What needs to be achieved by the year’s second quarter (April – June)?
Researchers and psychologists noted that people tend to get forgetful or complacent in pursuing their desired goals for the year by the second quarter. This mindset is caused by the growing activities, pressure and shifts or failure to meet already set targets.
However, the second quarter of the year is critical in achieving your midterm goals as one looks to steer the final half of the year on the right course. Whether your midterm goal is to save for the purchase of a car or house, plan for the summer trip with the family, acquire more skills and knowledge, do not wait till June to start the mid-year work appraisal, begin in April to check which activities need more focus to realign. Do not let the months slide away, engage yourself, do the things you might not have achieved in the first quarter and master the decisions you were able to achieve.
What should I do by the full year?
The full-year goals might sound so far off and might seem not to require immediate and deliberate planning. Darling, this year, don’t dull yourself, start planning now, so as not to get caught up in the tale of “Oh, it is the end of the year, already? What have I achieved this year?”, “How did the year go so fast”. So, if you think pampering yourself with that long-desired destination trip or gifting your loved ones that special gift or taking a deliberate step to preparing for the future of your family and kids and not living anything to chance or happenstance, planning the long-term goals are your go-to.
Without any doubt, mistakes, risks, and uncertainties and sometimes failure characterize human endeavours. It is essential not to leave anything to chance. Therefore, this year, no matter what your plan is, make sure to prioritize peace of mind and the confidence to acknowledge that there is assurance and comfort no matter what happens.
For more enlightening professional conversations towards a more fulfilling 2022, please visit www.leadway.com or call the Leadway Assurance Financial Management Experts on 01-2800-70 or email Lcs@leadway.com for professional advice.
You call also request a call back by visiting www.leadway.com/call-me. We are also within your reach on WhatsApp via our virtual assistant support on 08129997044 or any of our social media outlets – @LeadwayAssurance on Facebook & Instagram, @Leadwayinsure on Twitter. You can also send a DM, and we will revert with all the information you require.
Every village across the kingdom prepared their home for the sacrifices to the gods; sons and daughters of the soil returned home to celebrate. Just as the white man toasts at midnight to the New Year, the Benins offer sacrifices to the gods of their land; a tradition we uphold each year to welcome a new season with blessings. We call it the Ijue festival: a ceremony for the monarch of the Benin kingdom to perform each year as he honours the loyalty of Ewere into the New Year.
The procession of the king
The day started with the chief priest cleansing the palace, as he welcomed the spirits of our ancestors to the throne room. Oba was not to be disturbed until the palace was ready to begin the procession through the village square. Maids prepared the palace for the arrival of guests, as the gong was struck to summon the chiefs of the land into the palace. Servings of kola-nuts were placed in wooden trays to welcome the chiefs as they took their seats as elders around the throne. The chief priest, dressed in garments of red and white, continued to strike his staff with words of incantations to the spirits.
Suddenly, a wooden staff thumped on the landing in front of the throne, as a guard cried out “Long live the king” and the chiefs prostrated in agreement saying “Isee.” The Oba walked into the room in an adornment of tribal red beads, and his golden staff—a symbol of the sovereignty of the king. The incantations of the chief priest continued: “Oba is sitting at the table of the gods. Our king is ready to transcend between the heavens and earth to make way for his people.” The king proceeded to the courtyard of the palace to begin the procession. The villagers gathered outside the walls of the palace to join their king in excitement; men left their farms, women left their pots of soups boiling on firewood outside and children abandoned their play in the sand to render praise to their king.
As the Oba proceeded, the animals held by the guards were handed to him to be slain at different points to purify the land with their blood. Women dressed in vibrant red beads danced around, as the guards surrounding the king blew the Akpata (Akpata-mamwe)—a wooden harp made of the palm trees from our ancestral shrine—in celebration of the gods. In recognition of a supreme God (Osanobua) that rules over the deities of the Benin kingdom, the monarch is obligated to visit the Arousa church for thanksgiving. He pays homage with bags of rice and goats placed on the alter of the church as the priest prays for protection for the people of Benin to end the day.
A ritual to cleanse the land
Very early the next morning, Oba is taken to the bush to cleanse the land of disloyalty (a representation of the disloyal wife of the king called Ugbi). Only the monarch is allowed to proceed into the deep ends of the forest, for the gods do not accept the presence of mere mortals. He is clothed in white garments, and covered with the lines of our ancestors across his back and face. The bush is set ablaze to send the ashes of impurity away from the land. The chief priest then begins the ceremony that gives honour to the loyal wife of Oba; a tradition of restoration once the bush is set on fire. Ewere leaves—a symbol of prosperity, joy, love and equity—are plucked and placed in a bowl and given to the Oba to share to his people.
Each household returns to perform the Igwe: a personal sacrifice of chickens, cows or goats for the first day of the year. The elder of the home prays over the blood of the dead animal and marks each person with its blood on their forehead. A plate of coconut is also handed to be eaten by the elder as prayers for protection by the gods are offered.
The end of the Ijue festival is marked with a feast across the kingdom. Rolls of hot pounded yam and egusi is served in each home, as music is played with young girls dancing around the kingdom dressed in red. I can almost hear the sounds of pestles hitting against the tender yams in the mortars; women shouting at their sons to hurry up with the pounding as their sisters stirred the soup over firewood. Ijue was a season of love, so children ran from house to house collecting wraps of pounded yam as we celebrated.
The white man made a mockery of our beliefs in the gods of our land, but our people have held on to this faith thousands of years later. The Ijue festival is a period where loyalty counts and that is what we continue to offer up to our ancestors —loyalty to the Benin kingdom.
If you’re bored this holiday season, take some Zikoko quizzes to spice up your day.
Big or small, wins are wins. We want to remind you that no matter what happened this year, if you did any of the things on this list, you deserve a lot more credit than you’re giving yourself for 2021.
1. You tried something new
It’s never easy to start, so if you stepped out of your comfort zone this year, you’re a badass. Cheers to leaving more room to explore in 2022.
2. You said ‘No’ more
Boundaries are difficult to set as we get older. So if you said more no’s for your peace of mind this year, you’re the real MVP.
3. You took care of your family
With the price of sardine, If you were able to send any amount of money back home this year, you need to applaud yourself. There’s nothing easy about the sacrifice you made.
4. You took care of yourself
Problem no dey finish and It’s easy to get lost in a cycle of what other people need. So if you spent this year learning to love yourself and focusing on you, that’s an achievement you need to note.
5. You made it through
If you made it through this economy in one piece, you are the GOAT
6. You coped with grief
You got up every morning despite the pain, and that’s all that matters. No matter what your process looked like, you still made it here today.
7. You stuck to a new routine
You had a goal, and you stuck to it. The results may seem slow, but don’t sweat it, something hooge is coming.
8. You showed up for your guys
It’s never easy showing up or listening to people complain about their life when you have your own shit going on. So thank you for choosing to be present this year.
9. Started over
Don’t beat yourself down, you packed a punch this year! Even if it felt difficult sometimes, it was your strength that put it back together again and again.
10. You became an owner
Whether it’s a new car, renting a house or just being able to buy new clothes for yourself this year, you spent that money. Na you be boss!
Cheers to more wins next year!
If you’re bored at home, take some Zikoko quizzes to spice up your day.
No matter how bad a year is, one thing is constant; people will try to lie to themselves about things they will do in the next year. From lying that they will journal more or exercise more, as soon as the year is about to end, the lies begin to happen. We don’t know what makes people start acting brand new but here are 8 memes that describe how people think about a new year.
1. The “Omo, I give up” meme
We don’t even blame people that can relate to this meme. Everyone is tired as it is, that is why no one is consciously trying to manifest anything for next year.
2. The “we move” meme
People that can relate to this meme have the mindset that drives capitalism. Must we always move? can’t we rest? where are we moving to? All the best to them sha.
3. The “my body count has reset” meme
Every year, people tweet this and will still lie that they are over their ex. If you are so over that ex, why do you need to reset your body count? Secondly, what in the Babalawo science is this?
4. The “don’t disturb me please I’m manifesting” meme
These guys are too busy retweeting all those “Like this tweet and your helper will find you in two days”, we can’t even judge, manifest all you want, this country is hard and any extraterrestrial help you can get is better than nothing.
5. The “how far that 13th-month salary” meme
People that can relate to this meme are busy wondering how they will frustrate their boss into giving everyone a 13th-month salary before they start crying hot tears while looking at their account balance.
6. The “January lasts for 30 days and 30 nights” meme
Everyone knows that January is not a month for human beings to survive in, but no one knows why it always last’s that long. We go dey alright sha.
7. The “another year and I’m still single” meme
People that can relate to this meme are the ones that block couples that post anything about their relationships across social media platforms. Maybe next year will be your year sha, and if not, you can always go to Shiloh.
8. The “next year I am ready to be a hoe” meme
This meme is for people that have bought land “in the streets” and are tired of looking for “the one.” They are not trying to manifest any ‘Yama Yama’ partner, good luck to everyone trying to find love with them because it will end it tears.
New year’s eve is the one day in the year that carries the hopes of millions of people around the globe. It is the day we round up and settle all affairs of the previous year while looking forward to a new year. Today, I asked Nigerian women about how they spent their new year’s eve.
1. Sarah, Day dreaming of penis
I spent new year’s eve at my mother’s house thinking of all the penis I wasn’t getting and how annoying it is that I wasn’t going to be kissed into the new year. Also, I’m not at my spiritual best right now so, I wasn’t too pumped about joining the crossover service but I did anyway. It’s so annoying that I was sober hence giving my mind room to panic and worry about the new year.
2. Grace, Playing video games with my man
My boyfriend and I spent the first part of the day opening the rest of our Christmas presents over wine and cookies. Then, watched “Death to 2020” on Netflix and planned a stroll around 11:55 pm to watch the fireworks. We ended up playing some new video game by 11:00 pm, this went on for over an hour. We took a break 12:00 am to shout “HAPPY NEW YEAR” and went back to gaming till 2:00 am.
3. Lara, A blunt, phone sex and Jesus
My crossover into 2021 has been one of the most unusual ones I’ve had yet. At around 10ish, I snuck to the back of our house to smoke the fattest joint with my brother. High as a kite I called my favourite lover and had him talk me through the most delicious orgasm. I wanted him to be my last nut of the year and he was. Post orgasmic and high asf, I gather with my mum and siblings to pray into the new year. I loved it. I was so happy and grateful for my lover and my family.
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This new year’s eve has to be one of my best ones ever. Since my lover had to travel, I set out to get alcohol and food so I can Netflix and chill into the new year. I had some weed at home so I was set. However, he got stuck in some gangster level traffic. He left home at 1:30 pm and at 8:00 pm, he still hadn’t gotten to the interchange and there was still heavy traffic ahead. Oga just turned back and came home (yay me!).
I was already buzzed from the drinking and weed. At 11:45, we were both tipsy, so I just randomly started yapping about how he made my 2020 better and my hopes for the new year and how much I loved him. He did the same and we just had that intimate moment into the new year and kissed. It was perfect. In those few hours, we had no care in the world. We were happy as can be and I’ll like to maintain that happiness throughout the year.
5. Nneka, Twitter drama and music
I knew I didn’t want to spend new year’s eve in church, not really into the prophetic declaration and shouting into the year. I’m Catholic and it’s subtle, but I still wasn’t interested. I thought I would sleep through it but that didn’t work. I stayed on Twitter till when I saw Dangobabe’s gist (Loved it). At a few minutes to 12:00 am, I listened to cultural praise by Kcee while doing my night routine and rounded up with the sign of the cross at 12:00 am because I still need Jesus.
6. Temi, Intense penising to fireworks
My partner and I had a silly argument on new year’s eve. We even broke up just a few hours to new year’s day. Somehow, we managed to reconcile our differences. We went to the balcony to watch the fireworks as we did a countdown into the new year. That’s how oga’s penis entered me as we entered the new year. Have you ever had sex to the sound of fireworks? It’s like making love in a warzone. I started the new year with an orgasm and it’s safe to say that makeup sex >>>>>.
7. Oluchi, I slept into the new year
All my life, I have had to spend new year’s eve in church with my family, praying for a better year. I recently got my own apartment so I’m made my own rules. New year’s eve, I drank, smoked, listened to music and slept off watching Family Guy. I woke up to missed calls and messages from family members wishing me a happy new year.
Believe us, we know 2016 has been very tough! From the economy that is dancing azonto to personal heartbreaks, we all need some form of inspiration before we finally get to sign out from 2016. These songs will do just that!
1. ‘Surulere’ -Dr Sid ft Donjazzy
Because there’s light at the end of 2016.
2. ‘Rise’ -Katy Perry
Don’t break! Victory is in your veins!
3. ‘Fight Song’ – Rachel Platten
For all of us who don’t plan on giving up. Ever!
4. ‘Bring It On’- PSquare
Hey 2016, is this all you’ve got?
5. ‘Alive’ – Sia
After everything, you are still alive. ALIVE!
6. ‘Great Nation’ – Timi Dakolo
Nigeria needs inspiration too abeg! She don suffer!
7. ‘Mercy’ – Banky W
Have mercy, Lord!
8. ‘The Sun Is Rising’ – Britt Nicole
You’re gonna make it! Just hold on!
9. ‘Bang My Head’ – David Guetta Ft Sia, Fetty Wap
You’ll rise above it all, we promise. Don’t actually bang your head against the wall, please and thank you!
10. ‘Life (Walaahi)’ – R2Bees
‘So keep doing whachu doing and don’t watch nobody!’
You know how Nigerian churches have a motto for every year? No? Okay, now you know. Take this quiz to know your motto for 2016, Zikoko style of course!
Because let’s be honest, you will break it.
