The end of the year is closing in and I seriously have no idea where the time went. One minute it was January, the next it was December. Because time seems to fly by so quickly, it’s had me thinking lately and really envisioning the new year. I want 2019 to be very intentional, so in order to actually have the year I’m envisioning, here’s what I’m doing now to get the new year started off on the best foot possible.
How I’m Planning for the Best Year Yet
Clean sweeping my life
When’s a better time to clean every nook and cranny of your life then at the end of the year? From big ticket items like my house and studio to my closet and laptop. I’m going to set aside some time to deep clean it all. Usually I take off the week between Christmas and New Years from working so that I can tackle this project. I feel like to start the new year in the best way possible, I don’t want any messes from 2018 creeping in. Not that 2018 was a messy year, but you know what I mean. We had a lot going on over here in Camp Jojotastic , so I’m going to organize, clean and ready my life for an intentional new year.
Writing out my goals
This probably sounds pretty typical for a “new year” kind of post, but I want to take a slightly different approach this year. Usually, I like to think of the big picture goals. For example, work with x new brands, gain x number of followers, hire a full-time employee, etc. This year, though, I want to focus on the small wins and taking care of my sanity (because without that, this blog is definitely doomed).
My goal list this year will probably look something like this:
- Set a time limit on Instagram use.
- Write about a new topic/start a new series on the blog.
- Always remember to truly serve followers/readers.
- Give back to my local community more.
Even just writing out these goals that came to me off the top of my head makes me feel totally different about 2019 and gets me very excited! I will, of course, be sharing more of my 2019 goals next month, but for now that feels like a great start.
Create a vision board
Clearly, I am a very visual person so building a good old fashioned vision board is my favorite. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the practice, basically you need to round up old magazines, newspapers, and all sorts of print material. As you look through the images and words, cut out anything that feels like it aligns with your intentions. Tape or glue them onto a poster board in an order that feels like it makes sense to you. This is your tool, so there is no right or wrong way to build a vision board. Once you’re finished, put the vision board somewhere you can see it easily (I like to keep mine by my desk). The key is to use the board to visualize your new year and all the goals you hope to accomplish — and putting that into a visual reminder helps immensely!
Tying up any loose ends
The worst way to start a new year is with unfinished anything from last year. And I’m not just talking work stuff either. Think about all the loose ends in your life. Did you have an argument with a friend that hasn’t been resolved yet? Do you keep rescheduling that pesky dentist appointment? I challenge you to check all of it off before January 1. You’ll feel a million pounds lighter and you’ll finally be able to start a brand new to-do list without carrying over anything from 2018.
Taking care of myself
Taking better care of myself is a big priority for me in 2019. When I envision the year, I see my best self killing it every day. But to actually be my best self, I have to put self-care at the top of my list. This could come in the form of more face time with Sean, less tech time, or finding ways to give back and become even more embedded in my local community. I’ve been digging into this more and more with our Wellness series, so you can expect a lot more there, too.
How do you envision your year? Sitting down and giving it some thought always helps me get excited and ready to take on the year!
P.S. you can find even more self care and wellness tips for the holidays here, including:
- 7 Last Minute Tips to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
- On Having Holiday Spirit When Your Partner Isn’t Into It
- How to Get Into the Holiday Spirit When You’re Renovating
- 5 Things To Do For Yourself During the Holidays
- How to Reduce Waste During the Holidays
