I typically love this time of year, because I typically start thinking about how the past year has gone and what I want to do or work on in the next year.
Actually, I don’t always love this process.
There have been years when I went all-in with goal setting, even encouraging family members to set goals for themselves too.
But the last few years have been hard, for various reasons.
At the end of 2019 I set just three goals:
- Grow a garden
- Prepare for emergencies (storms, etc.)
- Increase my understanding of finance
Those goals turned out to be pretty on-target for what 2020 threw at us!
At the end of 2020 and 2021 I didn’t set any goals at all. In fact, I don’t think it even crossed my mind. World events and personal crises with family took all my brain space.
At the end of 2022 though, I really felt the need to get back to myself. The preceding years had taken a toll and I was ready to move out of that chapter and into something new.
I chose the word Flourish as my theme for the year and started this email newsletter and blog. (Next week I will share how this word impacted my year and what word I’ve chosen for next year.)
Now, at the end of 2023 I can say again that I love this process of goal setting and planning for the year ahead! (I’ll have more to share about goal-setting at the end of December.)
Whether you’d like to go all-in with goal setting or you’re not at all in that kind of space right now, I’ve got some questions for you.
Let your mind wander over your answers to these questions. Maybe stick them in the back of your mind for a while and let them percolate. Or get out a journal and start writing your thoughts.
Either way, I think these may prompt some ideas for you:
What do you want to carry into 2024?
What do you want to let go of?
What do you need to work on?
Where would you like to find some momentum?
What do you want to move toward?
I hope you find these questions helpful. Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below. I’d love to know how you approach a new year.
I love your blog and thoughtful commentary. I hope you’ll continue it next year!
What do you want to carry into 2024? A: my Fitness Bingo process where I highlight actions taken each week toward better health.
What do you want to let go of? A: negative self talk!
What do you need to work on? A: updating my perceptions to align with joy and gratitude.
Where would you like to find some momentum? A: strength training, scheduling, and better morning time management
What do you want to move toward?
Nancy, I love your list! The fitness bingo sounds like a great way to approach health goals!
What do you want to move toward? A: writing and enjoying fun