There’s no better feeling than a brand new year – especially after the two we just experienced. There is a sense of hope in the air as we say goodbye to 2021 and hello to 2022. The opportunity to find new inspiration, identify new goals, adopt new habits, and set new intentions is upon us!
At Day Designer, we’re all about helping you find ways to intentionally live a happier, healthier life. The key to success is primarily in the prep work that you put in, so we’re kicking off the new year with our top tips on setting yourself up for success in 2022.
1. Know what you want and why
When it comes to living a more intentional life, you must know what you want in order to achieve it – and why you want it in order to stay motivated – even on dark, cloudy mornings when it’s easier to stay in your warm, cozy bed!
Dream big and envision what you hope for in the future. Identify what you want your life to communicate and contribute. Consider what is missing that might add more joy, peace, and presence to your life – ultimately leading to whatever kind of success you desire.
It’s important to ensure your goals are clear, instead of vague objectives that you’ll have a hard time reaching. Instead of “get healthy,” for example, you’ll want to ensure that you specify exactly what this means to you. Maybe it means eating better, which would involve looking up some healthy new recipes and shopping for better ingredients. Being specific gives you the framework to be specific in your actions, helping to increase your chances of success.
2. Write down your goals and review them regularly
The physical act of writing helps us not only process our goals but also remember them. Write them in your Day Designer planner or in a separate notebook that you can keep handy for quick reference. (One of these will fit in the front pocket of your Flagship Planner.)
Once your goals are written, decide how often you will review them – at the start of every month, at the start of every week, or at the start of every day?
Reviewing your goals regularly keeps them top of mind as you make more specific plans throughout your months, weeks, and days.
3. Create an environment that helps you reach your goals
Is your home or office set up to help you reach your goals? Organize and clean your space to create an optimal environment for success. Make what you need convenient, and on the flip side, what you don’t need less convenient!
Do you have health-oriented goals on your list? Your pantry might need an overhaul today! Reading goals? Consider the most comfortable spot and best lighting. Professional goals? Declutter your workspace and create a spot to keep your planner open and accessible.
4. Map out the steps to get there
Planning for success is important, but actually making it all happen is where the real work begins!
First and foremost, it’s important that your plans are aligned with your big-picture goals.
Start with your goals and break them into small, doable steps. Many of us find success with breaking goals into micro-projects or tasks that take 20-30 minutes to complete. This strategy offers a chance to (1) get started and (2) make progress without the all-too-common sense of overwhelm – which often prevents us from even starting in the first place!
5. Create weekly routines and daily habits
While your big-picture goals are important, real change happens on a daily basis in tiny, incremental steps. We believe in a simple formula: Yearly Goals + Monthly Actions + Weekly Routines + Daily Habits = Well-Designed Life.
Think through what you do on a weekly and/or daily basis and then ask yourself: Do my routines and habits support my goals for the year ahead?
If not, map out new (or adapted) routines and habits to kick off the year. Each change can be small, such as reviewing your goals at the start of each day or reading for ten minutes before bed.
Build on with additional habits when you’re ready. As you find success, you’ll notice that incorporating more positive habits gets easier. And the best part is: small actions lead to big results!
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Are you ready for 2022? How are kicking off the new year? Share with us in the comments below!