Have New Year Goals? Check This Out First.
I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately, and this morning was no exception.
I was up by 3:30 AM. Usually at this early hour, I try to stay in bed. I typically tell myself that even if I can’t sleep, I can at least relax and listen to classical music (one of my favorite things to do)
But THIS morning, was different. I was waking up to the Winter Solstice and I was excited to take advantage of the natural rhythm of the day. This morning I used the darkest day of the year to hunker down, take a pause, and do some good planning for the year ahead.
I’ve been a list maker and a planner since I learned to write and in the early hours of this particular morning, I was excited to dream, envision and organize my thoughts.
With the excitement around the new year, many of us move forward into planning mode, without considering, what I believe to be, the most essential step.
In our hustle culture, a culture that values production, we rarely take the time to pause and gain perspective.
Our lives seem to be on autopilot, ticking off the daily list of to-do’s, that it often doesn’t occur to us, that we can indeed design our lives.
Learning to pause, in the moment, is the key to a good life.
When we take the time to pause and assess what we’ve just been through, (whether it’s a meeting at work, a vacation weekend or even a full year) we have the opportunity to learn from our mistakes, and recognize our wins.
So, this morning I was excited to wake up and do my regular year end review using the Living Fully Balanced Process™.
I developed this process to have a simple rhythm.
My clients and I regularly practice it in less than 5 minutes as each day begins and ends.
And, as I implemented today, the same rhythmic process can be used as a day long experience; offering a look back at the year that was, so that we can plan ahead for the year to come.
Here are the exact planning sheets I used for my own year in review. Click to grab them for yourself.
However, before you grab them, here’s an overview of the Living Fully Balanced™ Process and End Of Year Review.
ASSESS
Record what made you proud.
List what didn’t go as well as you’d hoped.
Recall what you learned through those challenges.
Identify what you want/need to let go of.
ENVISION
List what you want to experience/achieve in the upcoming year.
This is the time to dream. No filters allowed.
CLARIFY
Choose the most important goals you will focus on in the coming year.
Identify why these are essential for you now.
ENERGIZE
Schedule things that energize and renew you.
FOCUS
Identify resources you already have in place that will help you rise after a fall.
List additional resources you may need to keep the momentum going. (enrolling in additional classes, hiring a mentor or coach, adjusting your physical environment to support your new goals)
I hope that you don’t find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, like I did. But, I would encourage you to take advantage of the rhythm of the season and do your own Year End Review,
By taking time to pause and gain perspective, I have a feeling you’ll see just how powerful your year has been and how many possibilities are waiting for you in the year to come.
Lisa Bobyak, Life Balance Consultant, Personal Leadership Coach and founder of Living Fully Balanced, has been elevating the performance, perspective and peace of mind of high-achieving professionals on the brink of burnout for nearly a decade. Through her Living Fully Balanced™ methodology, she equips her clients with both the self-awareness and planning tools to thrive in our fast-paced, work-driven society. Her inspiring and educational presentations challenge the current hustle culture and offer strategies to prevent burnout and create balance. Lisa is the mastermind behind the transformative Love Your Life Again program. She’s also the author of 7 Days to Loving Your Life Again and the creator of the Living Fully Balanced Life Planner™.