Its hard to believe that 2018 has come and is almost gone. These last few days of the year I tend to prepare to reset different areas of my life in order to grow in person hood. I find starting the year fresh, with as little baggage as possible from the previous year, adds light in a normally gray January. Among the many ways I start fresh, below are four I tend to focus on.
I buy a new calendar/planner.
Typically in November, I start searching for the next year's calendar. The organizational nerd in me comes out and I take care to scour the globe for the perfect planner. My calendar/planner must have certain characteristics: it must always include an overview of the entire month, it should have a notes section, include 1-3 previous months before the new year, and be notebook size (5 x 8 is just too small). I usually strike gold in my quest at T.J. Maxx or Target, but this year I surprised myself by falling for a blue and white Day Designer® at FedEx Office. Along with the required qualities, this planner is sturdier than some of my previous and contains a few extra features to help me stay on track with my goals.
I create my reading challenge.
If it hasn't been clear, books are an important part of my life. Not only do I enjoy reading but it makes me a better writer and expands my world view. I first take stock of the books I'm currently reading and won't likely finish before the ball drops on 2019. As long as the book is good and worth the read, I carry it over to the following year. At the present I'll be continuing with…
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
The Myth of the Nice Girl by Fran Hauser
After that I try to come up with the realistic yet challenging goal. I'm going to shoot for 20 again this year, since I didn't quite meet my goal last year. I never set the number higher than the year before until I surpass the previous year's goal. Goodreads makes keeping track of what you read and your reading challenge really easy. I have a tendency to read multiple books at once, so it's helpful to know which ones I've already read or if I put a book down for a while.
I reset my routines.
This one probably requires the most effort. It might be hard to believe but I'm not naturally inclined to follow routines. So the ones I set have to be intentional, practical and easy to follow. My husband is going to be in shock when he finds little notes all around our house reminding myself of my "new routines." In 2019, I'll be focusing on spending the necessary time the night before to prepare for the next day as well as routines that will help me keep my stress level in check.
I buy a new journal, and assess my creative work.
Journaling is extremely important to my creative work, and has been since I was a teenager. Whether it was a "Dear Diary" moment, a prayer, or a brainstorming session I find it deeply therapeutic and highly necessary to "get the crazy out." Journaling helps me to view my thoughts from the outside, while not completely removed, I'm able to step back and take a more thoughtful look at the research I do, the relationships I keep, and the moments I struggle with. It provides me a perspective I value as I continue to learn about myself.