on the year ahead

There is a lot of talk at this time of year about New Year's Resolutions, New Year's Goals, choosing a Word of the Year and all the go-go hit the ground running. Some years I have been super detailed in setting goals and making plans. Other times, I have done nothing. Some holiday seasons life has kicked my ass and I have wanted to cocoon for the month of January. Other years I have been fired up and ready to go at the turn of the calendar.

What I have learned about myself is that I do better when I have a high-level gameplan for the year to come.

In the years when I have let everything roll without direction, I have been frustrated and annoyed that I didn't accomplish what I wanted to. At the other end of the spectrum, the years I made super detailed plans meant that I felt stress and pressure to do everything exactly as intended and missed opportunities along the way.

The past few years I have adopted more of a middle ground to get clear on what I want the year to look like. I have been working through my 2023 plans this week and thought I'd share my process with you today. 

It isn't complicated but it has helped focus my efforts on what matters the most to me.

Step 1:

The first thing I do is look back at the previous year. I list what happened month by month on a blank sheet of paper. It isn't fancy but it informs me of where I spent my time. Did I do what I set out to do? 

For example, in 2022, I tracked my daily word count in my agenda. I was able to see where I was consistent in writing and where I wasn't. Last year, I also said I would move my body for at least thirty minutes every day. I was pretty proud to look through my notes and see that I mostly did just that.

There were some exceptions but if I missed one day I never missed two.

Step 2:

After I have looked back I look forward to the coming year. To do this, I have adapted a tool I learned from a coach I have worked with, Philip McKernan, that he calls the Napkin Plan. The premise is simple ... think about the upcoming year in three categories: Work, Self and Others. What do you want to do at work, what are you going to do for yourself and what are you going to do for others.

I used this framework for 2022 and when I looked back at my year I hit every item I had set out to with the exception of one. Yeah me!

For example, in the work bucket, I wanted to finish my book, then actually tell people I'd written a book and stop taking new interior design clients. Meeting these goals has set me up to launch my book this Spring and evolve my business further.

Step 3:

Once I have established what I want to do in the categories of Work, Self and Others I look month by month at the year ahead. I add dates that have already been set on a calendar and identify what is happening and when. This helps me see what the year looks like, identify any gaps and figure out what needs to shift.

This year, my husband and I went away for a night and planned our year together. We were able to look at what was already on the calendar, see what was missing and make plans accordingly.

Step 4:

And, finally, I am a visual person so I like to make a vision board with images that represent my year ahead. I keep a printed copy in my journal and post one above my desk as a constant reminder of what I have committed to.

Once I go through this process I know what I want to do but have the flexibility built into my plans on how I do it. This allows me to take advantage of opportunities as they arise and pivot when life's inevitable bumps come along. Reviewing my vision board and calendar regularly ensures that I am staying on track.

It might sound complicated but it isn't. There aren't spreadsheets or charts. Most of the planning is done by hand on blank sheets of paper. Sometimes it happens at the start of January and sometimes closer to the middle of the month once the holiday dust settles. What is important though is taking the time to be intentional about the year ahead. 

Whatever you do and however you approach the year be kind to yourself. Some years will be constant forward motion and other years may feel like you are moving backwards. Honour wherever you are at.

Are you a planner? Does setting an intention feel overwhelming? If you have any questions about what I do, let me know by commenting below.

I'd love to chat more.

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