It has been 53 years since I entered the world of work. Initially I delivered carpets and beds in my hometown of Stockton-On-Tees followed by two careers (Army and then Social Care); I want to be better than I was the previous year, to be more and do more for the people I support and my family.

So, at the start of each year instead of making resolutions (who keeps those?), let us change the word to ‘Commitments’ as in “I am going to make some commitments in my life and in my career.”  It feels different – using the word Commitment feels like it has a purpose (there is no going back!).

In the days leading up to the New Year I have put down on ‘paper’ what I am going to do, and I thought it might be something that might help you too, to have your best year too. ‘The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity” Amelia Earhart

In 2025 believe in yourself:

  1. If you make mistakes (no one is perfect) accept that you will make mistakes, learn from them, and keep going. “Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement” C S Lewis
  2. Don’t second guess yourself. You can only make the best judgement at the time with the facts in front of you, but do decide (nobody likes a ditherer)
  3. It is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. Back yourself to do the right thing and do it now. (Nobody likes a procrastinator).
  4. No matter how busy or how much pressure you are under during your day, do one thing which you enjoy.
  5. Book yourself a coaching or mentoring session with your coach or mentor. Talk through your dreams and aspirations (try and fix up one of these meetings at least bi-monthly)
  6. Record your successes and read them through before you start your new week.
  7. When you are facing a crisis, and you are coming under pressure, tell yourself two things:  One. Have you faced this before – How did I deal with it then? And two. In six months, time will this situation be so important. Probably not.
  8. Reward yourself. Something I picked up from running – if I had a good race, I rewarded myself. It could have been a new pair of running socks or an energy bar, it does not have to be much, but it can make you feel a whole lot better. Give yourself a pat on the back.
  9. Laugh whenever you can – it is cheap medicine.
  10. Regularly (daily is best) go for a walk. Take a break- you only need to find 30 minutes in your day. It will refresh you and it will give you the time to think.

My Five commitments for 2025:

  1. Physical exercise:  Train twice a day: Be available to go for a run – 4 x sessions a week. Each morning core strength training (sit-ups and press ups etc). A programme that is: ‘viable and sustainable’ that focuses on quality not quantity.       
  2. Continued Professional Development (CPD) this year I am going to:
  3. (Write) A monthly blog post alternating between leadership and wellbeing.
  4. Set up a new wellbeing site with Joyce, my wife which will focus on quite ‘takeaways’ e.g. top ten tips.
  5. Publish a monthly leadership & wellbeing e-magazine.

4.        Health and Well Being. This year I am going to:

  • Improve my sleep patterns – working towards getting at least seven hours sleep every night. (So, no cups of tea for me after 7pm and no looking a ‘blue screens after 8pm)
  • Drink at least one bottle of water every day.
  • Stand up more instead of sitting down – especially when using my laptop.
  • Practice balancing on one leg at a time at least once a day (I got that one from Joyce)
  • Practice Mindfulness at least once a day (I have learned this from Bettina)
  • Loose 10lbs in weight (according to my running magazines this will knock 1.5 minutes of my 5KM time!)

5.           Eliminate Waste. Look at every part of my professional and personal life and eliminate waste – what am I wasting time on? What am I duplicating? What savings (financially) can I make that will not affect my performance and the difference I want to make in other people’s lives?

And not to forget to live my life well https://leadershipintheraw.org/2016/09/26/living-your-lifewell/   

In 2025 I will repeatedly take a step back and I will think about what I have in my life and be grateful for everything that comes my way. So, I am going to wake up in gratitude every morning:   

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”

Robert L Stevenson

Related:    https://leadershipintheraw.org/2015/09/09/being-bettinas-dad-taking-the-time-to-be-grateful-andshowing-gratitude/  

“If you woke up this morning in a nice warm bed, if all your loved ones are safe and happy and you have food/water – why wouldn’t you be grateful?” 

 Joyce Raw

If it happens to be a failure, I will see it as my first and second step towards my next success. I will understand that failure is not permanent, and neither is success, so I will prepare for both this year.

Related:   https://leadershipintheraw.org/2014/08/11/fail-and-fail-big/      

On 31 December 2025 I am going to read this again to see how I got on before I make a new set of commitments for 2026. Why? Because I want 2026 to be my best year yet (my 70th)!

Source:           Steve Raw www.leadershipintheraw.org