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 2024. 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 2024.
Tips on How to Set Yourself up for Success
1. Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone
Staying in our comfort zone feels safe, but true growth often happens when we venture outside of it. It's when we push our boundaries that we discover new strengths and capabilities we didn't know we had. Seek out new experiences, meet new people, or try activities that might initially scare you. Each time you challenge yourself, you'll build confidence and resilience, qualities that will serve you well on your journey to success.
2. Stay Current and Expand Your Skills
In a rapidly changing world, staying updated and continuously learning is crucial. Whether it's advancements in your industry, new technological tools, or personal development areas, make it a habit to expand your knowledge base. Attend workshops, take online courses, or simply read books related to your field. By constantly updating your skills and being proactive about your learning, you ensure that you're always at the forefront of your field, giving you a competitive edge and setting you up for success.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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!
7. 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.
8. Change Your Mindset
Success doesn't just stem from your actions but from your beliefs and thoughts as well. It's essential to adopt a growth mindset, where challenges become opportunities for growth rather than barriers. Remember, it's not about what happens to you, but how you react to it. Start by reframing negative thoughts and focusing on the lessons you can learn. By making a conscious effort to shift your perspective, you set the foundation for achieving your goals and living a more fulfilling life.
9. Engage Your Curiosity and Imagination
Sometimes our best intentions and hard work do not pay off - we hit a wall with a business goal or personal wish. This is not necessarily a failure, but a learning. Ask yourself why a goal was unattainable. Perhaps it requires a different approach. Or you need to ask for help. Maybe the goal itself was not well defined, or misaligned with your lifestyle. Opening your mind to all the possibilities can help you find a solution - or release from something that was not meant to be in the first place.
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!