Proactively Crafting 2024
As a goal-oriented individual, I have always loved a new year - I love the opportunity to have a clean slate, to have a fresh outlook on life, and to have closure for the year that is past and hope for all that is to come in the future.
BUT I have always hated resolutions. Growing up in the gym, I always found it annoying when come January 1, it would be impossible to find a parking space let alone the machines you wanted to use. But by mid-February, it would clear out again as the newness of the resolution fades and reality sets in. And those who are committed to their fitness regime no matter what month it is, will get to resume their regularly scheduled program.
I like to instead create intentions and goals for myself for the year because I find that I can set myself up for success this way. In this blog I will share my personal reflections from 2023 and my intentions and goals for 2024. I’ll also share some questions you can ask yourself as you ponder what this next trip around the sun will hold for you and your life.
What’s the difference between goals and Resolutions?
Resolutions are unstructured and lead to failure. Goals are concrete, action-oriented and usually lead to success.
Resolutions are often broad statements or general intentions without specific details. For example "Lose weight," "Exercise more," or "Eat healthier." These intentions lack specificity and have no clear objectives. Resolutions also lack a plan of action - so you have this guilty feeling like you’re not doing what you set out to do, but you were never really sure what the plan was to begin with.
Resolutions tend to me made with all-or-nothing mindset, leading to a higher likelihood of failure since it’s unrealistic and inflexible.
Goals, on the other hand, are concrete and action-oriented. I’m sure you’re familiar with SMART goals which are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Resolutions can be arbitrary while goals involve detailed planning and actions to achieve the desired outcome. Goals often allow for adjustments and flexibility in the approach without compromising the overall objective. Goals often involve a step-by-step approach, allowing for incremental progress which in the long run leads to successful completion.
What’s the difference between goals and Intentions?
Goals are the WHAT and the HOW. Intentions are the WHY!
Goals are concrete outcomes you are striving for, and they have clear objectives. You can tell easily if you met your goal or not by measuring the clear endpoint and whether you were successful or not. An example of a goal I set was to have 30 members in our You Go, Girl group by the end of 2023. We surpassed that goal by March, and exceeded the goal by 17 sign ups by December. For 2024, my goal is to retain the members who loved the experience, and open the doors for a few more people to join us, but then I will shift my goal away from growing our group to really cultivating the relationships inside the group.
Intentions refer to the internal mindset or commitment to act in a certain way. They are about the purpose or the attitude with which an action is undertaken.They are the conscious decisions or commitments you make to guide your actions. For example, my intention with YGG in 2023 was to create an engaged group of women who support one another and encourage each other to expand their comfort zones. I intend to continue this in the new year, but my new intention is to deepen the relationships we have formed so that women can experience the true joy of having close girl friends. These are hard to measure, but still super important in the grand scheme of things.
Reflection & Transition
Reflecting back on 2023 helps to transition into 2024 with confidence, gratitude and ease.
I love to end a year by reflecting back on the previous 12 months. Pondering what I am proud of - what went well. Then considering what I am leaving behind - what no longer serves me. And next, what I am carrying forward or continuing into the new year. And finally, what I am claiming or adopting in the new year. This really helps to provide a thoughtful perspective on personal growth and goal setting as we transition into the fresh start of the new year.
Look Back: what went well in 2023
launching a kid to college!!
adding a family member - my adorable niece Celia completed my sister’s sweet family
a wonderful family vacation to Hawaii
spending intentional time with my parents, my in laws, my good girl friends and my immediate family
creating my website and having a designated place to send people for info
creating and nurturing You Go, Girl
consistency with my fitness classes
completing a new nutrition certification
committing to a new blog post each week for Wellness Wednesday and keeping an organized grid on my IG
investing in myself/my business with a digital course
Letting Go: What I'm Leaving Behind in 2023
flying by the seat of my pants - I work well under pressure, but I am often scrambling last minute and just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.
not leaving myself down time or time to get ready - I am constantly rushing through choosing my outfit and jewelry
doing it all myself - I need to ask for help in my business but I struggle with what to ask of who
being busy and not giving myself a full day off
writing a new blog post each Wednesday - this was fun and challenging but also stressful and sometimes not my best work
being in the gap (versus the gain) for example, comparing myself to an unrealistic expectation of perfection versus measuring my current self to my past self so I can see how far I have come.
Carrying Forward: What I'm Taking into 2024
my ambition and my upbeat energy
my focus on creating, nurturing and growing communities
my creative flow for content related to moving, nourishing and gathering
my excitement for changing lives and making an impact
my growth mindset
my understanding of where my business is rather than just a guess
my stick-to-it-iveness
Claiming: what I am claiming in 2024
boundaries around my time - designated work time and rest time versus just getting it all done
taking a full day off working - hopefully Sundays
prioritizing church and bible study
abundance - my biggest year yet in my business and the most amount of impact
peace in the pursuit
joy in the little things
ease - how can I let it be easy? Instead of forcing things to happen, where are things naturally happening - find those and focus there.
Questions to ponder
What are you proud of / what did you accomplish, learn, do or succeed at in 2023?
What are you leaving behind in 2023? What will not come with you into the new year?
What are you continuing - what will come with you into the new year?
What are you claiming for 2024?
What are your intentions for 2024?
What are your goals - (SMART)
My Goals for 2024
To establish clear routines in my life and business that are predictable (ie when I work, when I rest, when I spend time on house work, when I spend time with family and friends etc
To establish my plan for the year ahead of time, so I can relax into it and begin to establish parts of my business that are rinse and repeat
To have my biggest year in business ever - both financially but also with my reach/impact
To spend quality 1:1 time with each of my family members - intentional designated activity with my husband, daughters, parents, sister, niece and nephew.
To create my nutrition coaching and food prep class offerings - being specific so I can make a bigger impact
To grow my fitness membership to 45-50 members
To go to church and/or bible study weekly
What are some of your intentions/goals for the new year? I would love to hear about them! Email Me