Looking back, planning for 2023

The New Year is upon us, a time for a fresh start. You have a clean slate, and you can make decisions about what you want to do with 2023.

Some people resolve to live healthier lifestyles by joining the gym and changing their diets, others promise to work on their relationships, while others vow to go up the job ladder or to be more prayerful, and spiritual.

Others promise themselves to read more, be kinder to themselves or give more to others - indeed, the list is endless.

For some, however, the idea of resolutions fills them with dread because it forces them to reflect on the past year and face the fact that they never met any of the resolutions they previously set.

This dread is often inspired by the fact that most people go into the New Year with the best of intentions to see their resolutions through; however, it does not take long for many to give up on their resolutions or to forget about them entirely. These public personalities tell us what they feel about New Year resolutions.

Pinky Ghelani - global speaker and influencer, CEO of Pinkemedia

Do you believe in making New Year resolutions?

I do not, I believe it leads to too much pressure. I instead do my new goals every three months. This means that I do my goals in quarters. I am intentional about constantly self-evaluating myself.

The most memorable moment of 2022?

I started the year speaking at the Gender-Based Violence Conference for the Ministry of Sports held in Diani. It meant a lot to me.

What hopes do you have for the New Year?

To get more international speaking engagements and finally sit down to write my book. It is a year of transition for me as a mother as my daughter is heading into unknown territory: teen territory.

I am preparing for this season so I can provide the necessary guidance for my daughter. I also want to be as healthy as I can be. So being intentional about making a healthy decision with my diet and exercise, and just ensuring that I am in good health.

Lastly, this is also a big year for me as I am turning 47, and so I am preparing for my hormones to start leaving my body. The other night I found myself crying for no reason, and I later realised that it was simply hormones.

I have this awareness that I am getting older and I need to prepare and do as much research as I can about this season in my life. We live in a society that normalises teenage talk, motherhood, and other significant stages of a woman's life, but for some reason talking about perimenopause or menopause is still taboo.

We need to normalise this to better prepare women and their loved ones for this important stage of life. To accomplish my goals I am intentional about surrounding myself with the right people, and harnessing my skills like how to improve my public speaking ability, grow my business, and just grow to be a better version of myself in every area of my life in 2023.

Suzie Wokabi - beautypreneur, podcaster, consultant, speaker:

Do you make New Year's resolutions?

When I was younger, I was not been big on New Year's resolutions, but in my 40s, something changed and I began to set yearly goals for myself and so far, it is working well for me. Now in my mid-40s, I am seeing my resolutions come to life, and I recently achieved a major resolution. The whole of 2022 has been like a brand-New Year for me. It has been powerful, There has been a lot of newness and intentionality. I am in the process of launching a new make-up brand. I have spent the whole year gearing towards that, trying to make it work. I had two intense international trips, to Italy and Singapore where I did brand and product building and development. This year will go down in the books for me. Something new is coming - newness, goodness, and positivity.

What do you hope for 2023?

I would say keeping up with my 2022 pace. The years 2020 and 2021 were rough and devastating with the pandemic and all; however, 2022 came with the feeling that we were given a clean slate to begin again. So, I hope to continue living my life according to how I have discovered I should be living my life; to live with positivity and wokeness, and to be expectant of good things in 2023. I will be launching a makeup brand in early 2023.

Any advice on making New Year's resolutions?

Take accountability. However, do not be too stringent about your resolutions. Reduce your annual resolution to weekly and monthly goals. Every time you accomplish something, tick it off and celebrate. If you fail to achieve something move it to the next week or the next month until you complete it. The goal is to get it done but not to kill yourself doing it, or to be hard on yourself when you fail to meet a certain deadline. Do not be military about it, instead be kind.

Janet Mbugua - media personality, actress:

Do you believe in making New Year's resolutions?

Yes; I make resolutions and have found that I can stick to them. This has worked for me, especially in the last two years. It takes a lot of practice and patience, but it is worth it

What 2022 resolutions did you accomplish?

I have accomplished much this year. One achievement that stands out is being invited to host a session with goalkeepers in New York in September by Melinda French Gates and the Gates team. It has been a goal for five years and it was huge for me to accomplish that. Also being invited by UN Women to New York in November as part of a group of global activists in the fight for Human Rights and equality. Finally, fully establishing the Inua Dada Centre in Korogocho where we currently work with underserved women to make pads and have talks in schools as well as distribute pads, host dialogue sessions with the community and empower people economically. Above all, is having my beautiful sons safe, healthy and sound.

Any advice on sticking to resolutions you set at the beginning of the year?

Be aware of why you are resolving, make baby steps towards achieving them and be kind to yourself if for whatever reason you fumble. Dust off, and try again. Integrate the resolution into everyday life and ensure it is coming from a place that is important to you.

What hopes do you have for the New Year?

That we continue to push for a safer, more sustainable environment for everyone one of us. No matter how much I might have as an individual, I feel the burden of injustice and lack of access for so many Kenyans and this weighs heavily on me. I hope we can have better prioritisation of issues and people's needs so that we collectively prosper. Safety, shelter, food, education, mental wellness, happiness, and grace are key.

Kalekye Mumo - media professional, actress and influencer:

Do you believe or make New Year's resolutions?

Not anymore, I believe you can make a decision to turn things around in your life any time of the year, as long as you are well motivated and have the faith to pull through.

Most memorable moment of 2022?

I have two memorable moments of 2022. One was getting back into the acting scene with a lead role on an M-Net Africa Original produced by Blackwell Films - Life and with another titled It's a Free Country, which is in production stages under Chatterbox Film & Theatre and is set for release in 2023. To be able to deliver on the silver screen in such a capacity after such a long time was thrilling. The second was when I finally took my radio and media training programme out on the road to our future media personalities. It was so amazing to see students eager to learn from my experiences as I presented 'On Air with Kalekye Mumo' to the Pan African Christian University, Riara University and Mount Kenya University.

Are you making resolutions for 2023?

I will not call them resolutions, but more of an approach to life which I adopted in October 2022. I plan to keep walking in faith; it is not over until God says it is. I saw the hand of the Lord in my life in the last three months of 2022 and I know the best is yet to come.

Any advice on whether to make New Year's resolution or not?

A New Year's resolution is simply a personal decision to think positively and want more for yourself. It is a game of the mind. I love what Steve Harvey advised in one of his motivational talks: "Take a paper and write 300 things you want to see happen in your life, they must be 300... then come back in the next year and tick them off." I will be trying this out as we close 2022 because I believe if my heart's desire is aligned with God's will and purpose for me and I keep the faith, then those things will happen. It is all determined by the posture of my heart.

Abigail Nwaocha, digital marketing consultant and marketing coach:

Do you believe in New Year's resolutions?

I believe in setting one to three goals maximum, but they need to be overarching big goals for the year, not a resolution that requires day-to-day action.

What was your best moment in 2022?

Going back to school. It was a blessing to work on my CIM postgraduate diploma during a very tough economic time for me. Also, despite the stress, I was able to put in the work and never missed a class, or assignment deadline.

What do you hope to see in 2023, and what advice on sticking to New Years resolutions?

Be honest with yourself and set a goal that is achievable without pushing yourself too much and matters to you beyond a superficial level. The goal must contribute to your personal/career/future development directly or indirectly. One that five years down the line you can look back and know 100 per cent that it contributed positively to where you are now.

Lucy Wanjiku Njenga - Executive Director, Positive Young Women Voices:

Do you believe in New Year's resolutions?

No, but if it works for you, then by all means put down your resolutions. I do not make New Year's resolutions in January as it does not inspire me. However, on my birthdays I think of one thing I would like to do that year that is different from the other years and then do it. I do not make resolutions in the New Year because a New Year can make you over-commit, and then when you fail to accomplish the resolutions make you feel horrible. I believe that there is magic in everyday accomplishments, even in just waking up and getting your chores done.

What was your best moment in 2022?

I had many moments, but one stand-out moment was finally getting to see a therapist. We have been made to believe it is not important to do therapy, but I believe it is something we should all embrace. Therapy helps in healing and growth by aligning your past, present and future.

What do you hope to see in 2023?

I set out to write a book on my birthday, and so by my next birthday, I hope to have seen this materialise in all ways envisioned and more.

Any advice on attaining goals?

Whatever you aim for, do your best to make it work. Also, break down your goals into smaller goals as this makes it easier to better gauge your progress, plus it is also encouraging when you accomplish a small task that draws you closer to accomplishing a bigger goal.

Jacky Vike - actress and radio presenter:

Do you believe in New Year's resolutions?

I used to when I was younger, but I do not anymore because most of the things I used to write never used to come to pass no matter how diligent I was in putting them down at the beginning of every year. When I plan, I often get disappointed.

Most memorable memory of 2022?

I had many, but if I had to pick something it would have to be going to Qatar to watch the World Cup, sponsored by Odibets. This is not the first time my gift has opened up a door for me to travel, but this trip was most memorable.

What do you hope for 2023?

I do not plan for the future; I simply take it one day at a time. My advice to others is that you do what works for you. If setting resolutions at the beginning of every year works for you, then do that. If, however, you are like me, let us boldly match into the New Year and see what it holds for us.