Easy ways to get ready to be better than the year before

New Year is definitely my favorite time of year! Yes, I am a holiday girl, and I thank being the only girl in a big family for that. However, it’s not just the gifts and time with family that gets me excited; it’s that this time of year feels like an unmitigated “Fresh Start.” We get fresh starts throughout the year—like a new month, your birthday, new quarters, and for my spiritual girlies, even the new moon. But there’s nothing like a New Year Fresh Start!

Now, this type of shift is far from new. I’m sure just about every page you follow, blog, podcast, or whatever is talking about the new year, and it can sometimes be overwhelming. What should I actually be planning for? Are New Year’s resolutions still a thing? Is January just the “gimmy” month, and the real year starts in February?

Goal-setting in general can be overwhelming! I want to save more money, eat better, work out, connect more, read more… blah blah BLAH!

It’s just too much!

BUT that’s where UNABRDG comes in (lol).

In the final episode of Season One, my guest Earnest Owens said (not super verbatim):

“I am only ever trying to be better than who I was last year…”

Pause and think about that…

I’m not trying to keep up with my IG lifestyle girlies, my besties, my colleagues, or anyone else. I’m just trying to be better than who I was.

That really hit home for me because it took off so much pressure. It also reminded me—and hopefully, listeners—that your race is your own. The goals you set are for you and no one else! And it doesn’t have to be complicated.

As I mentioned, there are tons of resources and tools out right now to help us plan and hit our resolutions, but it can be tough and a bit overwhelming at times. But here at UNABRDG, we K.I.S.S. :)

Keep it simple, stupid (shout out to Kim Parker, lol).

All that means is you break this New Year Fresh Start into two sections:

1. Reflecting

This aspect is crucial because it’s the "I'm only running my race" part. You must reflect on the year you just completed to recognize what amazing things you’ve done—and how you can build on them.

Questions to consider:

What did I accomplish this year that I’m genuinely proud of? Try an accomplishment dump! No matter how big, small, or even cheesy—what are you proud of yourself for?
What do you wish you had done more of? Not in an accusatory or self-deprecating way, but simply: “I wish I had *blanked* a little more.”
What actions, behaviors, practices (or, shit, people) do I want to carry into the next year?
What things may have blocked you from doing what you wanted? Maybe time, finances, or circumstances?

2. Planning

Now, this may seem easier said than done. However, after reflecting, you can focus solely on what you can build on and how to remove some of those blocks!

One of the biggest things that helps me with planning is focusing on quarters—3 months at a time. For example, instead of obsessing over how much money I want to save by the end of the year (a massive undertaking!), I just outline where I’d like my finances to be by the end of March.

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t dream as big as we want, but goals are achieved by small, consistent steps forward. Goal-setting—and becoming our whole, unedited selves—also means being realistic. I’m not going into next year planning for 1 million subscribers (though I’d love it, and have manifested it). Instead, I’m focusing on getting to my next 20, and most importantly, how to keep them! Why? Because those 20 can bring 40, those 40 can bring 80, and so on, until I reach that goal of 1 million.

So, bust out that journal and start reflecting on how you can be even greater than you were this year!

Reflecting & Planning