It is the week between Christmas and New Year, and I am home in Frankfurt, enjoying my week off from work. Besides getting some rest, catching up with friends and family, reading and walking, studying, making face masks and yoga, and watching “The White Lotus,” I am also using this time to organize my life.
On a physical level, this means, e.g., completing the tasks I have put aside for a while, such as decluttering, organizing my kitchen cabinets, cleaning the basement, unsubscribing from not-so-valuable marketing emails, and canceling subscription services that I never use. E.g., I just discovered I have spent almost 250 EUR on a subscription service that I used to watch one video! ONE damn video! Fun things like that :).
Talking of organizing my mind (or taking care of my mental hygiene if you will ), I am traditionally using the year-end to reflect on 2022 and set meaningful goals for 2023.
After 7 years of regular goal setting and constantly trying to improve my life, I am currently following the “less is more” strategy, meaning that compared to 2014 or 2015, I have learned how to choose and what’s important (still doesn’t come easy to me!). Today I set much fewer goals than I used to, but they are more meaningful, and am trying to commit to them fully. In short: quality over quantity.
I have come to accept that it is perfectly fine to have a short(er) goal list since it very much depends on the mix of long-term and short-term targets as well as on the structure of the list itself (how detailed is your list?) and in the end, also on your life situation at that moment. And remember, you can always add, delete, or adjust your list – like life itself, your list is not set in stone.
Here are the steps I follow:
Step 1: Reflect
Answer all or just a few – there will be a benefit either way.
- Describe 2022 in 3 words.
- What did you accomplish? What is the one thing you are most proud of? (If you set any goals for 2022, look at them and compare the difference between now vs. then)
- What challenge did you overcome and how?
- What did you learn?
- What surprised you?
- What do you wish you had done that you didn’t manage to do?
- Who made a difference in your life and why?
- What was your most empowering moment?
- List all moments when you laughed from your heart.
- What did you let go (or what did you change your mind about)?
- What was something you bought (invested) in 2022 that you love?
- 3 things you are grateful for right now.
Step 2: Life vision
Now let’s pause for a second before jumping to 2023.
- What does your dream life vision look like? Who do you want to be/become?
Feel free to write a Vision Statement or create a Vision Board answering where do you want your life to be in 3, 5, 10, 20 years from now. Make it as long or as short as possible, but it is important that you have an overall vision.
Step 3: Set the tone for 2023
- Name 3 words that you want 2023 to reflect and that are aligned with your life vision statement/vision board.
- How do you want to feel in 2023?
- What is non-negotiable in 2023?
Step 4: Set the goals to level up in 2023
- What are your 3 main goals for 2023?
- List anyadditional goals for different areas of your life. E.g., career, finances, family, friends, health, personal development, etc. -> Ideas and dreams without a due date and specific action plan belong to a bucket list.
Tips:
- With each goal, ask, “why is this important to me?” and check if your goals are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely).
- Leave room for spontaneity and be flexible. The purpose of a goal list is not to cause burnout but to organize your thoughts, ideas, and dreams better so you can be more effective while enjoying your life.
- Don’t forget to write down your goals as it helps you to hold yourself accountable, and you are more likely to achieve your goals. Place your list somewhere you can see it every day.
Step 5: Create the action plan
(e.g., which month are you planning to work on this goal? Dividing goals/challenges throughout the year makes it easier to focus on 1-3 things at once, and that way, you will ensure that there won’t conflict between the goals. E.g., Do you want to make a detox challenge during your vacation time?). *More about this topic in the next blog post. Stay tuned! (Once it is ready, it will be linked as well!)
Step 6: Take action
Consistency is the key! Whatever you do, do it every day even for 10 minutes rather than 7 hours every two weeks on a Sunday. If you want to make a lasting change, you need to change on an identity level, and this is how you will build a new habit that will eventually come part of your routine. *More about this topic in the next blog post. Stay tuned! (Once it is ready, it will be linked as well!)
Step 7: Review
Review at least once a quarter but as much as you want/need.
Have fun!
Light & love,
Liis