5 Year End Tasks #5
Ready for the fifth and final step to prepare for the new year?? I started by reviewing last year, thought of an intention, and actually written out (with the help of Chat GPT) SMARTER goals for 2025. I have a plan for each goal or habit I want to add (or subtract) from my life. Side note: the subtract is mindless scrolling on social media and replace with reading books for enjoyment. Now what? How do we make the goals happen that we want to achieve?
We need accountability and we need our goals - dreams- resolutions in front of us consistently. So, what will I be doing? First, I have always used a paper planner and a digital calendar. But most of the information in both is work oriented with a few personal appointments which fall during the workday. For 2025, I am incorporating a personal planner for my morning and evening routines which will include several of the daily tasks I want to do to achieve my goals. This planner came from Amy Landino’s collection “Good Morning, Good Life” so it fits perfectly what I need it to do. If you have not read her book by the same name, I highly recommend it. I already have a morning habit to journal so by incorporating, or habit stacking as James Clear explains in his book “Atomic Habits” the personal planner on top of my journaling habit, I think this will happen easily. The planner is one week at a time so I can see each specific workout or chapter of the book I want to read for that day and the week ahead. Plus, I can add any Bible verses or my mantra for motivation. It has space for a morning ritual and an evening ritual. I am not as good in the evening so I will be working on that habit to be better prepared for the morning.
Second, it is a spreadsheet in Google Docs that will live on a bookmark tab in my browser on my laptop. This idea came from Danika Brysha at Self Care Society. The spreadsheet includes a tab which lists each goal for 2025, a tab for my truth statements and a tab to track my progress each day. The tracker is pure genius as it will live forever and can be reviewed at any time. You can make your own headings, but she had her energy level or how you feel that day, daily tracking, gratitude (daily gratitude changes everything peeps!) and a column for movement for the day. I have added a couple of more that are specific to my goals for 2025. I think by having this tab open daily on my computer it will put these tasks right up front and remind me of the promises I have made to myself. I am super excited to see what I have accomplished in a few months. I love my 5-year journal that I write a short bit each morning, so this is down my turn row!
And my last way to incorporate my goals is using my digital work calendar for the goals I have at work. I currently use Outlook so my appointments can be shared with my office staff and with others in our organization who will be required to attend some of the meetings as well. This works great since we all share our Microsoft 365 platform. I try to utilize as much of Office 365 as possible since we must pay for it monthly now. There are several apps that I utilize from the Suite, and I find them extremely useful. I have thought about switching to Google Calendar, but I am too far along to do that now! Setting time boundaries at work is something I have on the docket for 2025. I am “too available” during the workday and end up working late or all weekend to do my work. I will be blocking my time and having open time for others to chat with me about an issue or answer questions for them. There will also be days of meetings or calls, and no focused work scheduled. By setting some boundaries around my work time I hope to gain more free time in the evenings and weekends to achieve some of my other goals!
Work-Life balance, right? Well, I love my work, and it is my life but there are still a few other things I want to incorporate into this life. As I get older, I want to use all my time to be productive but also see new places and experience new adventures. More to come on the adventures, I hope! A new year is an exciting time to refresh and renew and set things straight. I know there is one thing in your life you want to add or subtract, and I know you can do it. You ARE worth the effort!
So long 2024 and I will see you in 2025! HAPPY NEW YEAR!