What do you do for the New Year? Anything?
Resolutions? Set goals? Word for the year? Vision boards? Specific plans?
I have never really been into making resolutions. One year I actually did, and it was a bit of an unconventional resolution. I vowed to try something new every month! I did it, and it was a lot of fun as well! I really enjoyed it and was able to keep it because it wasn’t a massive commitment! It was very doable, one thing per month. And something different each month! If I didn’t like what I did one month, no worries, cause I’d be doing something else the next!
I know some people really review over the last year and make a plan for the next. I would love to hear about how you go about that! Is this something you track during the year so it’s easy to go back to? Or is it all by memory? Because I know I would not be accurate using that process! Ha!
A few years ago I started choosing a word for the year. I found this to be very helpful to guide my year without feeling like a failure as many resolutions end up being. It’s a theme for the year that can help direct your decisions, but when you momentarily get derailed, you don’t feel like all is lost. Just re-focus on your word and get back on track!
I also enjoy seeing how that word evolves as the year goes on. Sometimes it’s not exactly what you had in mind, and other times it’s unbelievable how accurate or applicable it is! If you do a word of the year, and feel like sharing in the comments, I’d love to hear them!
I’ve also started doing a vision board the last couple years. I make a digital board and it’s the wallpaper for my phone because then I am seeing it a lot! It’s a constant reminder of what I want my year to look like and the goals I have set for myself.
Last year’s board was very concrete and material. This year is far more abstract, but every picture has a very significant meaning for me. And simply looking at these pictures brings a peace and calmness that I am looking for.
However you like to attack, jump, or tiptoe into the next year, I do hope you give yourself some sort of direction! It’s so easy to day-in and day-out life. The new year gives us a significant calendar mark to make us pause and think. Is this where we want to be? Are we happy? Is there something else we want to be doing or could change? Is there that goal in the back of your mind that is scary, but you just can’t shake? Why haven’t you tried it yet?
It’s a great time to ponder all these things! I know I have a few more goals I want to mull over this week…
If you are thinking, this is just way too much, I’m barely surviving! I have a different suggestion, which is not going to sound terribly exciting, but, clear the clutter. Don’t worry about goals and vision boards. Simply try to tidy up your environment. Go crazy with full on deep clean mode or just pick up the stuff that is sitting around taking up space. A messy environment often leads to a messy mindset. I dive more into this in another article, but give it a try. Clearing the physical clutter, just might help you clear the mental clutter and allow you to open up to some possibilities for your year ahead!
With whatever you choose to do with your new year, be kind to yourself! Realize that lofty goals require breaking things down into smaller steps. Things take time! It’s not going to happen overnight! We get derailed, distracted, or down in the dumps. Be aware of how you talk to yourself in those moments. Tearing yourself down isn’t going to help, but rather acknowledge that things went sideways, and take action to get back on track!
CELEBRATE all your smaller achievements along the way! Don’t disregard them just because they aren’t the main goal! Appreciate the journey and everything you are learning along the way!