Planning a Damn Good Year
Sugar Paper Planners. My favorite!
For the past seven years or so, I’ve been experimenting with different ways to start the new year. I’ve made lists, started new routines, burned things I wanted to let go of, and even made pigs out of lemons. (Yes, really.) Some things were successful, and some were… shall we say, lemons? Here’s what I’ve learned so far…
The 6 things I do every year that set me up for success:
Celebrate Last Year’s Good Stuff. We tend to forget all of the amazing things we’ve accomplished over the past year, and focus on the things we didn’t. We’re human - it’s wired into us. To combat this, start your year by combing through last year’s calendar and writing down all of the good things that happened. You’ll be surprised by everything you managed to do. :)
Decide What You Want This Year to Look (AND FEEL) Like. While celebrating last year is important, it’s also important to look ahead. How might life look the same? How does it look different? What do you want to accomplish? How do you want to look, think, FEEL? (Feel is an important one - as indicated by that all caps thing.) Allow yourself to dream about the perfect year. Write it down.
Write it Down. Have I mentioned writing it down? There’s something that happens to our brains when we write. It allows us to make our thoughts concrete - for our accomplishments, hopes, and dreams to exist in the real world. Yes, those great things really happened! Yes, those things you want are really possible! Write them down.
CLICK HERE for this really great (and free) guide from YEAR COMPASS that will help you walk through last year and the next.
Whittle it Down. Once you’ve written it all down, it’s time to decide what you want to focus on (and what you reasonably think you can get done) next year. If you choose too many things, you’ll end up setting yourself up for struggle. I choose no more than three big goals for the year and then start with ONLY ONE. If you want to walk daily, write a screenplay, and stick to your budget - start by choosing the most important one and focusing on that until it becomes an unshakable habit. The momentum will carry you to the next - and beyond.
Plan it Out. If you’re a freelancer, an artist, and/or an entrepreneur - you’re probably used to running at full speed and constantly working, working, working. Allow yourself the time to plan - you’ll be rewarded tenfold. Take your goals for the year, write down each step you’ll need to accomplish them, put them on your calendar, and then in your budget. Write it all down. :)
Have a Ritual. It’s important to start the new year off with hope and joy. Find a ritual you really love (one that gets you excited to wake up) and do it every year. Is it watching the Rose Parade and having brunch with your loved ones? An excellent cup of coffee and the start of a new book? A tarot reading with your favorite witchy pal? Whatever it is, I’m wishing you a day full of endless joy and a 2023 full of everything you could possibly desire.
Don’t forget - celebrating yourself, dreaming big, and taking time to plan are all part of saying Yes to You!