I know the new year is already a few weeks in, but it is a good time to take a moment to reflect and maybe fine-tune with a little refocusing. How are you doing now that the holidays are over and life is starting to get back on track?
New Year, New Me doesn’t have to look the same for everyone and it is okay to start refocusing at any time!
Last Sunday, I sat in a room of 30-plus women and we were talking about the focus of our new year. The conversation was extremely insightful as we realized that most of us have moved past setting only one resolution. Instead, a lot of us also set goals or a focus word to live by for the year.
For the last two years, I have been doing all three above and it has been great. No more feeling like I failed because I didn’t complete my resolution. We’ve all been there, done that.
Let me walk you through my Refocusing process:
Setting a Resolution:
- Choose something that can be broken down into smaller steps i.e. cooking at home three nights a week; this will help your overall bigger goal, i.e. eating healthier this year.
- Choose something you can adjust and control.
Setting Goals is a great way to measure your progress with a resolution. They are also a great way to redirect yourself as your life changes. It’s important to adapt to your season of life.
Setting Goals:
- Make sure it is measurable.
- Make sure it pushes you out of your comfort zone.
- Once you reach the goal make another one right away to help you develop more.
- Be Specific! Make sure the goal is clear on what you want to do.
Here are a few examples from our group discussion that I loved:
- Taking time before bed to self care. Start with brushing your teeth every night and washing your face.
- Spending 10 minutes a day journaling. Using a 5-year journal record a couple of sentences on what happened during the day. Look back at past years’ journal entries to reflect.
- Spend 1 evening at home together as a family per week. Set a day every week that everyone will be home together. Cook and eat dinner together then play a game or watch a movie. One family chose Sunday because it’s the slowest day.
- Run a Marathon. Start by running a mile, 2 miles then a fun run. Move to a 1/2 marathon and then on to a marathon.
- Read/Listen to 60 Books. Read or listen to 1 book a week. Have only 2 books going at a time. Listen while cleaning or driving and read at night after the kids go to bed, or before you go to bed.
Setting a Focus Word:
- Make sure the word has meaning to you. Make sure you know the meaning of the word and how it is applicable to reflect you. No one else has to understand. Just you and/or your family.
- Set reminders around your home. I love to create or put up artwork in my home. or have the word on my planner and in my journal.
- Set Goals and activities Around your focus. Try to apply your word to your daily life and goals. We have a lot of sports interaction and kindness and humility are often overlooked. We focus on our kids encouraging and cheering on others and not boasting or showboating.
Remember whatever you choose, let it take on a personal meaning to you. Don’t fear changing or adapting to your life and what you have going on, THERE IS NO SHAME in refocusing.
The biggest advice I can give is to try to do 1% better than the day before, and then do the same the next day.
How are you refocusing for the year?
