Episode No. 10
Where to listen:
What Inspired this Episode:
This episode was inspired by the season I was in. When I did this podcast episode it was the end of 2023. I am always really excited for the New Year because it offers a fresh start. In this episode share my personal check list and things I found would be helpful for a variety of people to prepare for any year ahead. As I am creating bonus content in July 2024 , I want to center this on revisting our new years goals and making a seasonal checklist to effectively assess your progress for the year so far.
Questions I wanted to explore:
How can I set effective New Year goals?
What are the best mid-year review strategies?
How to reset your goals mid-year?
What are some tips for a successful New Year?
How to stay motivated throughout the year?
What should I do if I haven't achieved my New Year goals?
How to evaluate my progress at mid-year?
What are some actionable steps for a mid-year reset?
How to prioritize my goals for the second half of the year?
What lessons can I learn from my first six months?
How to create a balanced plan for the rest of the year?
How to avoid regret and guilt when reviewing my goals?
What are the benefits of small wins and how to recognize them?
How to develop a personal growth strategy for the New Year and mid-year?
What are some effective ways to reflect on my achievements?
How to adjust my goals based on my current life circumstances?
What is a good mid-year check-in process?
How to create a well-rounded plan for the remainder of the year?
How can I boost my productivity for the second half of the year?
What are some self-improvement tips for mid-year and New Year?
What should be included in a New Year checklist?
How to create a New Year checklist that works for you?
What are the key components of a mid-year review?
How to effectively track progress on New Year resolutions?
What questions should I ask myself during a mid-year review?
How to set realistic goals for the New Year?
What are some common pitfalls to avoid in a mid-year review?
How to stay accountable to your New Year goals?
What tools can help with a New Year checklist and mid-year review?
How to celebrate your progress during a mid-year review?
What is the best way to reflect on personal growth mid-year?
How to adjust your New Year goals based on mid-year insights?
What are some strategies for maintaining momentum throughout the year?
How to involve peers or mentors in your mid-year review process?
What are the benefits of doing a mid-year review?
How to set new priorities during a mid-year review?
What role does self-care play in a New Year checklist and mid-year review?
How to create an action plan for the second half of the year?
What are some examples of successful mid-year reviews?
How to identify and overcome obstacles in your mid-year review?
Episode Description:
Welcome to "Your 2024 Prep Checklist," the podcast episode where we dive into essential steps to prepare for the upcoming year. During the Holiday season, it can be super overwhelming with the mix of studying, all the holiday festivities and so much more. Sometimes we all need a bit of a checklist to prepare for the coming year.
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Music by Remil - Evening Tea - https://thmatc.co/?l=DFECB5D4
Section | Timestamp | Notes |
Introduction + Card pull + What I'm grateful for | 00:00 | -New Year Prep Guide -Card Pull: The Fool Card (Tarot Deck) -Grateful for my growth in confidence -Shedding old versions of yourself -Having faith |
Good experience of the week & learning experience | 02:35 | -Gaining confidence through what I've been working on -Learning to stop looking for the outcome |
Checklist | 05:43 | -Do a yearly review (List of questions ) - Script out a vision and create a vision board -Developing Systems and routines -Physically decluttering -Digital decluttering -Add something new to your room (Decorating or shifting around your room) -Make bingos (If your goal is to do more) -Make an elimination list (If your goal is to do less) -Setting up your planner and trackers for each year -Take a break from social media -Look for a challenge to try -Decide on things you want to learn this year -Evaluate your relationships -Review your finances -Looking at your unfinished projects/ activities and deciding if it is something you want to continue or scrap -Set a plan (Business owners/ Content creators/ Entrepreneurs) -Spend more time with loved ones -Self-care activities -Book appointments and checkups -Drafting Buckletist and ways you want to celebrate seasons/ holiday -Express Gratitude |
Conclusion & Homework | 18:53 | Do one of these tasks on the list and see where it leads you
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BONUS CONTENT: Mid-Year Reset
I noticed that I always get the new year feeling twice yearly: December/January and June/ July. Since the podcast episode focused on prepping for the new year, making the bonus content about your midyear reset is reasonable. I did a podcast episode describing my midyear, but I want to focus more on the structure that helped me figure out my next steps.
Step 1) Review Your Goals Without Regret or Guilt
There is no way around this. A lot of times, people avoid revisiting their goals because of the negative emotions it could evoke when you aren't where you want to be. The most common feelings that come out are regret and guilt, which result in feeling like a failure.
When I was in my rut not too long ago, I had a message come up on my phone:
"You're not a failure, you're a practice."
I wanted to share this because a lot of times we don't give ourselves grace and compassion. When you set a New Year's goal and it hasn't happened yet, instead of assigning blame (to others or yourself), it would be better to see it as a practice to find the best way to work towards those goals. When you want to do something new or different, it will be a learning curve.
One of my favorite content creators was referencing the song "Training Season" by Dua Lipa to describe the first 6 months of the year, and it felt really fitting.
For myself, the first 6 months of 2024 were very self-focused:
I learned more about myself
I developed a new routine for my hair (which is important for more of what that represented for me as someone who grew up hating their hair)
I was able to take a chance on figuring out what I wanted creation to look like for me (which made me more confident in 2/3 of my desired platforms)
I made three 5-year plans
I started a new hobby that gave me more confidence that maybe I could do more hands-on tasks
I had a chance to really examine my relationship with food and exercise
I ended up doing a 50-day fitness challenge (actually, I completed it the day before this was posted).
My next season (My Year 3 - July-September) is more about putting what I learned into practice, opening my world, and being of service to others. I’m happy about the way things are unfolding.
Key Takeaway: You probably did more than you thought you did and you are probably downplaying it because it’s not exactly what you had planned. So maybe when you review your goals, you might feel like you didn’t do enough, but if those feelings of guilt and regret come up, try to widen your view and remember to celebrate.
Step 2) Write Down Your Top Lessons Learned
We are meant to be students for life. There are always new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new lessons that appear from the good and the bad. When you are present in your life, it is easy to see what you are meant to get out of whatever you went through/are going through.
Some lessons I learned this year:
Self-love is a lot different than how it is traditionally talked about in media. (This is a future episode for the podcast that I recorded.)
It’s okay if some creative pursuits take more time than others
Adulting is more than the new job, living alone, and all the other expectations they present on social media. Sometimes the process of maturing looks like taking care of an older parent (especially when you’re the youngest and technically among the first of your family to be in your respective country), setting your standards for relationships, and learning how to cope with changes and uncertainty. It’s about developing the skills you need, and you can do that at your own pace.
In your own space, do what feels right to process your emotions. To deny your emotions because they are viewed as negative is emotional suppression.
Embracing your role as a lifelong student allows you to continuously grow and adapt. By acknowledging and documenting the lessons learned, you equip yourself with the wisdom to navigate future challenges and opportunities with greater resilience and clarity. This reflective practice helps you stay grounded and focused on your personal and professional development, ensuring that each experience, whether positive or negative, contributes to your overall growth. As you move forward, these insights will serve as a valuable resource, guiding you toward a more fulfilling and purposeful life.
Key Takeaway: Reflecting on the lessons learned throughout the year can provide valuable insights and foster personal growth. By identifying these lessons, you can better understand your journey, recognize patterns, and make informed decisions moving forward. This practice not only highlights your progress but also reinforces the importance of continuous learning and self-improvement.
Step 3) Think About What You Could Prioritize That is Manageable in Your Life
With only 6 months to go, being honest about what you can do within your current circumstances is the best way not to pressure yourself.
My life right now is about being of service to others, and what that means is I may need to spend less time a week exercising and more time contributing to the household by doing work like cleaning, cooking, organizing, and all the things that don’t come to me naturally. I spoke about being excited to volunteer, so I’m doing so once a week while picking up more of the heavy housework because my mom had surgery. It is uncommon in media to discuss this part of being in your 20s, but because my mom had me after 35 years old, my young 20s aren’t just about me.
In media, it’s more common to show stories of people who decide to have kids young or people who go across the country or to new countries for work. To many, the early 20s are about finding love, finding friends, finding work, and finding “ourselves” (but not really if we are ever-evolving beings).
All I mean is for some of us, there are growing pains where it seems unnatural to not be moved out, have a job, and have a partner of our own. But on the other hand, wanting to spend as much time as possible with the people you love because who knows what will happen, wanting to care for them the way they cared for you, and still wanting enough time to figure out your skills and interests so you don’t keep quitting.
So maybe I can’t meet new people right now, but maybe I could create stronger bonds with the friends I have. Maybe I can’t do all three of my creative pursuits, but I can focus on one and make the other two supplementary. Maybe I can’t spend as much time as I did on self-care, but with the time I spent practicing, I can identify which ones are the most rewarding for me. Maybe I don’t have it all together, and I feel so uncertain about just life in general, but in my heart and soul, I know I’ll figure it out even when the blinders are on that make me doubt whether I could.
Key Takeaway: Prioritizing what is manageable within your current circumstances allows you to make meaningful progress without overwhelming yourself. Recognizing and embracing the unique responsibilities and challenges you face ensures that your goals are realistic and attainable, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life. It’s important to understand that everyone's journey is different, and what might be feasible for someone else may not be for you. By focusing on what you can realistically achieve, you avoid unnecessary stress and disappointment. This approach not only helps you stay motivated but also ensures that you are making steady progress toward your goals, even if it's in smaller, more manageable steps. Remember, it’s not about doing everything at once but about making consistent, meaningful efforts that align with your current life situation.
Step 4) Create Criteria That Are Well-Rounded That Allow Your Brain to Recognize Progress and Small Wins
Since I talked about the benefit of small wins often, I’m just going to give my criteria for how I know I’m moving in the right direction, which ultimately revolves around my energy levels, mood, creativity, and sleep:
I wake up with something to either feel content or joy
I stop falling asleep throughout the day or have very minimal energy crashes
I create something
I sleep throughout the night
I can find things within my day to be grateful for
Even if I occasionally feel frustrated or negative, I am able to reframe it in a way that helps me grow
I feel like I don’t have to hold back my emotions
I feel like regardless of the stress that may occur, I’m not losing myself
My sleeping pattern is more regular
The small things that happen don’t make me feel like I’m failing
Key Takeaway: Establishing well-rounded criteria to recognize progress and small wins helps maintain motivation and a positive mindset. By focusing on tangible and achievable indicators of success, you can celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and build momentum towards achieving your larger goals. This practice not only boosts your confidence but also reinforces the importance of consistent effort and self-compassion. Remember, progress is not always linear, and acknowledging your small wins can provide the encouragement needed to continue moving forward, even during challenging times.
Welcoming New Energy for the Next 6 Months
As we move into the next six months, it's important to welcome in new energy with open arms. This period is an opportunity to embrace fun and joyful moments while also being open to the lessons that will help us grow even further.
Reflecting on the first half of the year, we've learned a lot about self-love, managing our goals without guilt, and understanding the importance of small wins. Now, it's time to put those lessons into practice. Let's prioritize what is manageable in our lives, recognize that everyone's journey is different, and focus on consistent, meaningful efforts that align with our current situations.
By setting well-rounded criteria to measure our progress, we can celebrate the small wins and maintain a positive mindset. Whether it's finding joy in our daily routines, creating something new, or simply being grateful for the little things, these moments add up and contribute to our overall growth.
As we welcome this new energy, let's also be mindful of the balance between self-care and being of service to others. It's okay to adjust our priorities and make space for both personal growth and supporting those we love.
So here's to the next six months—may they be filled with joy, growth, and the fulfillment that comes from pursuing our goals with grace and compassion. Let's embrace the journey ahead, knowing that each step, no matter how small, brings us closer to becoming the best versions of ourselves.
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