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About your Goals - June 2022 Progress Check-in

26/6/2022

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We made it through the first six months of 2022. I say this in every goal check-in; it seems like the time is going by very quickly. We have had a mix of great and not-so-great experiences. There is so much that happens in our lives in only six months.
 
In this blog post, we will check in on our progress towards our goals in the first half-year, and I will share an update on my top goals. Check out my other "Her Plan" posts for additional tips and resources to help you accomplish your goals and live your best life.
 
Step 1: Reflect on H1 2022
This is a great point to reflect on the last six months. Remind yourself of your goals for the year and the actions you took towards accomplishing them. I have learned the importance of reflecting on the progress I am making multiple times during the year versus only once a year. 
 
Resource: Check out "10 questions to reflect on your year" for some tips
 
Questions to consider
  • What is one word or phrase that would describe 2022 so far?   
  • Have you taken care of yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually?   
 
Step 2: Celebrate your Accomplishments 
One of the critical activities that we neglect is reflecting on the good that has happened in our lives. There is a lot to be learned from the goals that you have accomplished. Make the time to evaluate the progress you have made towards the goals you set.
 
Resource: Check out "How to start celebrating your accomplishments" for some tips
 
Questions to consider
  • Which of your goals have you made progress on?   
  • What tools, resources, and routines helped you be successful? 
  • What is one of your accomplishments so far in 2022? 
  • How did you celebrate your accomplishments? 
 
Step 3: Reflect on Lowlights and lessons learned 
I am sure you can easily list the things that did not go as planned this year. As you reflect on those things, it is critical to think about the lessons you learned from the experiences. Some of the most valuable lessons that we learn come because we are intentional about reflecting on things that did not work out with the intent of improving ourselves
 
Resource: Check out "How to develop a Growth Mindset" 
for some tips
 
Questions to consider
  • Which of your goals have you not made progress on?  
  • What are three lessons that you learned? 
 
Step 4: Refresh your plan for H2 2022
Now that you have reflected on your accomplishments and lessons learned, it is time to start planning for the next six months of the year. Think about the goals that you want to accomplish and the actions you want to take to make 2022 your best year ever. 
 
Resource: Check out "How to make the next months count" for some tips
 
Questions to consider
  • What do you want to do differently in H2 2022?  
  • What are three things you want to accomplish next quarter or half-year? 
 
Step 5: Commit to taking action 
It is great to set goals and have aspirations for the future that you want to live. However, what brings the results you want are the actions that you take. You have the power and ability to work towards your goals - one step at a time. 
 
Resource: Check out "How to get things done in a very busy world" for some tips
 
Questions to consider
  • How will you track your progress and ensure you are sticking to your goals?
 
 
MC's Journey: Progress update H1 2022
These past six months have been very intense for me. I have been doing a lot in my private and professional life. 
  • Personal: Prioritize self-care and create sustainable routines
    • Highlight: While I was on vacation, I went shopping for myself to renew my summer wardrobe. It had been a while since I did that
    • Lowlight: I did not have enough time for myself. My time for rest, regeneration, and self-care was used for other things that I was responsible for. 
    • What am I planning to do differently?
      • I need to be more intentional about planning time for myself. To do things for me, I need to work on adding them to my calendar. 
  • Family: Make memories and enjoy our time as a family
    • Highlight: Visiting family for the first time in four years (check out my blog post about how I spent my summer)
    • What am I planning to do next?
      • Over the next months, I am looking forward to introducing our son to more social activities that we could not do because of the pandemic
  • Professional: Expand my sphere of influence and lead programs that reach more people
    • Highlight: Becoming a people manager again (check out my blog post about how I am navigating this professional milestone)
    • Lowlight: I have a lot on my plate at work and have been overworking.
    • What am I doing differently?
      • Over the past week, I have been trying to end work by a certain time every day and go to sleep
  • Financial: Set the financial foundation for our next investment projects
    • Highlight: I have given myself the permission to spend some money on things that I enjoy
    • Lowlight: The basic needs in life have gotten very expensive. It is out of my control, so I am learning to accept it
    • What am I planning to do next?
      • There is a lot that I will be learning about our next investment to ensure we make the right decision 
  • Business: Grow our community of women and create helpful content
    • Highlight: I am really proud that I have been able to publish a blog post every week this year. Some weeks were hard, but I did it
    • Lowlight: My YouTube channel is something I plan to restart this year. I have not yet found time to dedicate to it. I am telling myself that the time will come
    • What am I planning to do differently?
      • When the time is right, I want to strategize and plan for the relaunch of my YouTube channel 
  • Learning: develop the skills needed for the next phase of my career 
    • Highlight: I attended my first training and enjoyed being in a learning environment
    • What am I planning to do next?
      • I have scheduled my next training that starts in August
  • Bold Goal: Take the next step higher in my career
    • Current status: I have accomplished my first goal, and I am now envisioning my career long term
 
Final Thoughts
Taking time to reflect on your last six months and plan for the next months is crucial. I am very thankful for all that I have experienced in 2022, and I look forward to the next six months.
 
Call to Action
What are three things that you have enjoyed in the last six months? 
What are you looking forward to over the next six months?
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About your Goals - March 2022 Progress Check-in

15/3/2022

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This year has been going by very quickly. I think I say this every year. However, I still cannot believe it's been three months already. So much has happened in such a little amount of time. It is highly crucial not to lose sight of our goals with everything going on in our lives. A quarterly review is one of the amazing tools to help you stay on track.
 
In this blog post, we will complete a quarterly review with the help of 10 questions, and I will share an update on my top goals. Check out my other "Her Plan" posts for additional tips and resources to help you accomplish your goals and live your best life.
 
10 Questions for your intentional quarterly goals review

Making time to reflect on the past three months will help you accomplish your goals. The exercise will provide you with information on how you're doing and insights on what to focus on for the following months.
 
Some great questions to help you take stock of where you are compared to your plan include the following:
  1. What is one word or phrase that would describe 2022 so far? 
  2. Have you been taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually? 
  3. Which of your goals have you made progress on? 
  4. Which of your goals have you not made progress on?
  5. What is one of your accomplishments so far in 2022?
  6. How did you celebrate your accomplishments?
  7. What are three lessons that you learned?
  8. What do you want to do differently in Q2 2022?
  9. What are three things you want to accomplish next quarter?
  10. How will you recharge and take care of yourself?
 
MCs Journey - Q1 2022 Goals Check-in
2022 has been a very busy year for me so far. Starting this year, I knew that I would have a lot going on in the first six months. However, I did not realize how much I would be juggling and its impact on me.
 
Reflecting on my goals for the year, I have made progress on some and not on others. Generally, I am very thankful for where I am today. This year, I have learned that I need to pace myself not to burn out.
 
Let's check in on my progress towards my top goals for 2022:

  • Personal: Prioritize self-care and create sustainable routines
    • Highlight: One of the new routines I started was going outside with our son almost daily. It feels so great not to be indoors all the time and to see him discover new things.  
    • Lowlight: I have been exhausted over the past weeks, mainly because I do not have enough sleep. I definitely need to take better care of myself.
    • What am I planning to do differently?
      • In order to get more sleep, I need to stop working earlier and ensure I am in bed by 10 pm. 
  • Family: Make memories and enjoy our time as a family
    • Highlight: We have been exploring new places as a family almost every weekend, and we have had a lot of fun. 
    • What am I planning to do next?
      • Over the next months, I am looking forward to a short vacation with my husband and son. 
  • Professional: Expand my sphere of influence and lead programs that reach more people
    • Highlight: 2021 was a great year for me professionally, and 2022 is shaping to be even bigger. I have launched new programs, done great work, and accomplished my professional goals. In addition, I have an incredible team.
    • Lowlight: With all the amazing things that I have been doing, it has caused me to work too many hours and on some weekends. I started the year wanting to avoid overworking.
    • What am I doing differently?
      • Over the past few weeks, I have been trying to end work by a certain time every day. I need to set better boundaries around work.
  • Financial: Set the financial foundation for our next investment projects
    • Highlight: the discipline that I have developed over the years in my finances is paying off. I have been saving towards our goals.
    • What am I planning to do next?
      • There is a lot that I will be learning about our next investment to ensure we make the right decision. 
  • Business: Grow our community of women and create helpful content
    • Highlight: I am proud that I have published a blog post every week. It is very important to me that I do things that I'm passionate about.
    • Lowlight: My YouTube channel is something I planned to restart this year. I have not yet found time to dedicate to it. I am telling myself that the time will come.
    • What am I planning to do differently?
      • When the time is right, I want to strategize and plan for the relaunch of my YouTube channel. 
  • Learning: develop the skills needed for the next phase of my career 
    • Highlight: I have been reading a lot of great books this year and learning a lot.
    • What am I planning to do next?
      • I have scheduled my first training in a long time. I am very excited to be expanding my toolkit. 
  • Bold Goal: Take the next step higher in my career
    • Current status: I am working towards setting the foundation for my next significant career move. It has been an exciting journey, and I have been learning to overcome self-doubt.
 
Final Thoughts
Quarterly check-ins are a great opportunity to reflect on the progress you have made, celebrate your accomplishments, and plan for the upcoming months. We have nine more months to have a great 2022. Stay hopeful and take action towards accomplishing your goals.
 
Call to Action
  • Find 1 - 2 hours to reflect on how your first quarter has been
  • Plan a special way to celebrate your accomplishments
  • Refresh and update your goals for the next quarter 
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What I am restarting in 2022

25/1/2022

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Over the past two years, a lot of us have been in "survival mode." We have had to put some things on hold and focus on the basics of living in unprecedented times. It feels like we have been holding our breath for so long and waiting for life to "go back to normal." It is time to start living again while being safe. With that in mind, in 2022, there are some things that I want to do more of that have brought me joy and helped me feel fulfilled in the past.
 
In this blog post, we will discuss some steps to identify what you want to restart this year, as well as the five things I am restarting this year.
 
How to create your restart list 
If you are wondering how to go about creating your list of things you did in the past and want to continue, here are some steps to consider:
  • Think about things you used to do that brought you joy and write them all down 
  • Reflect on why you enjoyed them and how they helped you grow and live a great life
  • Ask yourself why you stopped doing them over the past years
  • Select three to five that you want to restart this year
  • Create a plan for how you will start doing them again
 
MC's Journey: What is on my "Restart List"?
Thinking about my list of things that I wanted to restart made me very excited. I had missed doing them. The five things on my "restart list" are the following:
 
#1: Prioritizing Self-care
Especially with the pandemic and having a baby, I had to stop doing things that were part of my self-care routine. Although some of them are available and safe to do, I found that I did not make time. I remember how good I felt when I prioritized self-care. In this phase of my life, I need to redefine what self-care means to me and plan for it.
 
What is my plan?
To make it happen, I will incorporate more self-care into my daily routine and schedule time once a month for things that take a little longer.
 
Resource
[Blog Post] Make Self-care a priority
 
#2: Doing what I love doing
Working on my passion projects gives me a lot of energy. I really enjoy writing my blog, making videos, speaking at conferences, sharing my knowledge, and connecting with people in my community. Sadly, I stopped doing many of these things over the past two years due to the pandemic and needed to reprioritize my time to care for my son. This year, I have many opportunities to do things that I love again, and I want to seize them.
 
What is my plan?
I really want to reconnect with people on a deeper level in the near term. I am blessed to have so many amazing people around me who I can reconnect with, and I also look forward to meeting new people. 
 
Resource
[Blog Post] How to find or revive your passion
 
#3: Learning and getting inspired
One of my top five strengths is being a learner. I am great at it and have incorporated different learning goals into my yearly planning in the past. In 2021, I was not intentional about learning like I usually do. It has left me with a desire to learn more this year. Over the holidays, I went back to reading books and listening to podcasts. It has been a while since I last read. The inspiration that I get when I learn and discover new ways of thinking has helped propel my life.
 
What is my plan?
I want to continue my new routine of reading every evening and listening to podcasts while doing chores. I also plan to attend at least one virtual event or conference.
 
Resources
[Blog Post] How to be a life-long Learner
 
#4: Planning long term
If you know me personally or have read my blog posts, you know that I am a planner. Creating plans in my personal and professional life brings me a lot of joy. I started creating something I called an orientation plan about ten years ago. It was a 3 - 5 year plan that outlined the high-level things that I wanted to do or achieve in my life. It gave me a sense of direction, and I changed it as I evolved in my life. Over the past two years, I have focused my energy on surviving and living in the present and have missed planning the past year. I am at a pivotal time in my life, and I know that I need my orientation plan again.
 
What is my plan?
The first step is to refresh my 3 -5 year orientation plan. It will take a lot of soul-searching to see what I want to do and who I want to be five years from now.
 
Resource
[Book] The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World by Dorie Clark 
 
#5: Dreaming big and setting bold golds
As I planned for 2022, I started experiencing a strange and familiar fear that comes up when things are going well, and I have big things planned. I was afraid to have too much hope or do new things, so I was not disappointed. As a result, I planned very "safe" goals. I know from past years that when I set bold goals and took risks, I accomplished things that I could never have imagined. I do not want to stunt my growth and possibilities because of self-doubt.
 
What is my plan?
To get back into the mindset of working towards bold goals, I will reflect on my journey and what I have accomplished so far. While I work towards my goals, I will also practice gratitude and not let fear stop me from being brave.
 
Resource
[Book] How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown
 
Final Thoughts
Writing my "restart list" got me thinking of how fortunate we are to do things we love. Some of the things on our list may seem small, but what really matters is their impact on us. Ask yourself if it brings you joy, makes you excited for the future, helps you grow or highlight your strengths. If it does, then the objective has been met. We all deserve to live our best lives and achieve greatness.
 
A Moment to Reflect
  • What are three things you want to restart or start doing this year?
  • How do you plan to make them happen?
  • How will you enjoy and celebrate the process?
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How I am setting myself up for success in 2022

18/1/2022

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As I started planning for 2022, I knew that I needed to do things differently to thrive and accomplish my goals. As a planner, I need a structured approach to this challenge. I believe that to succeed, we need to put systems in place to do things differently and not just let them happen by chance.
 
In this blog post, we will explore the process of identifying what you need to do differently, and I will share three things I plan to do to set myself up for success this year.
 
How to discover the changes you need to make to accomplish your goals
It is essential to think through what you want to do differently as you start the year. Sharing some of the questions you can ask yourself to analyze what you need to put in place to thrive:
  1. In what areas of your life are you struggling the most?
  2. What can you do differently in those areas?
  3. What kind of support would you need to make changes? 
  4. Who is in your community can support you, or do you need new people?
  5. How will you use the new time or resources that you free up?
 
MC's Journey
This is one of my posts where I share something that I am working on in real-time. Although I do not have it all figured out, I would like to share my process with you and hopefully some of the fantastic results down the line.
 
#1: Getting additional support
One of the areas where I realized that I needed help was childcare. Over the past fifteen months, my husband and I have taken care of our son while we were both working full-time jobs. We are very fortunate to have made it work as I primarily worked from home. Our son has also integrated himself perfectly into our lifestyle, and we are a great team. However, as he grows older and wants to explore more, we want to give him the opportunity to keep learning and have some more dedicated care while I get work done.
 
What is my plan?
We just found part-time care for our son. Very early, we knew that when we were ready as a family, we would want to have someone to help out for a few hours in our home. Being a babysitter for many years, even through college, I expected the process to be more straightforward for me. I pushed it out of my mind for as long as I could, and then one night, I decided to face my fears and start the search for a nanny. As I write this, I am very aware of the privilege to have the option available to us. We are willing to make this huge investment to ensure that I do not burn out trying to do too many things at once.
 
I am learning a lot through this process. The biggest lesson is that I need to trust the person and the process. Like others entrusted their children into my care when I was a babysitter, I have to do the same thing now. So far, the transition has been smooth, and our son, who has not been exposed to people due to the pandemic, is adapting very well.
 
#2: Setting Boundaries around my time
Like many people around the world who have the privilege of working from home, I find myself working very long hours. My workdays consist of caring for our son while running meetings, events or getting project work done. I feel that the times I pause work to feed or care for him needs to be made up for after he goes to bed. However, the truth is that I end up working much longer than I did on regular workdays without a child. I pack my workdays so full and always feel like there is still much more to do. There is a term for what I have been doing; it is overworking.
 
Over the holidays, I reflected and realized that I worked for 10 - 14 hours a day. This is subtracting the time that I spent caring for my son. And that has led to me not getting as much rest as I need.
 
What is my plan?
I will be limiting the time that I spend working every day. It will be hard to walk away from work that I think needs to get done. I will also be eliminating the constant sense of urgency by prioritizing my tasks and setting realistic timelines.
 
#3: Starting new routines
There are things that I want to start and others that I want to stop doing. Knowing myself, the best way to do this would be to develop some new routines. I am a creature of habit, and things are more manageable if I do them in the same way regularly. Although I need to make relatively minor changes, I want them to stick. One of the ways that I am thinking about my new routines is that I need to create space for things that make me feel more efficient, energized, and inspired. The great news is that I have the resources I need to start my new habits, and what I need to do is start.
 
What is my plan?
I have started new habits and routines that are good for me. I want to start a few habits, including reading, going outdoors, and resting more. I need to create the time to do the things that help my mental and physical well-being.
 
Final Thoughts
This year started very busy, and I already have to remind myself of what I committed to doing differently. Writing them down has been an excellent way to keep them top of mind. I am excited to see where this journey takes me and look forward to sharing some of my learnings with you.
 
Time to Reflect 
What are three things that you want to do differently this year?
How will you make sure you take care of yourself this year?
How will you celebrate your progress this year?
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About your Goals - Starting the year right

11/1/2022

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Happy New Year, and Welcome to 2022! I really hope this year brings lots of growth, laughter, and happiness to you and your family.
 
There is something powerful about starting a new year. It often feels like a wonderful opportunity to be hopeful, reset and start new things. We are all truly fortunate to be alive and able to live out our dreams in a new year. Although the last two years have been different and challenging with a global pandemic, I am still extremely optimistic about this new year.
 
At the beginning of every year, I like to share my goals and vision. In this blog post, we will focus on our 2022 goals and how to start the year right. In my other posts in January, we will plan to accomplish our goals.
 
How to start your year right
To have the best year we have ever had, there are crucial actions we can take to achieve our goals. Some of which are listed below.
  • Set your goals: Having an initial set of goals that you want to accomplish will give you a sense of direction as you kick off the year. The goals do not have to be final as you can fine-tune them over time
  • Schedule time for what matters: I have learned that the only way things get done is if I schedule them. I block time on my calendar to make sure I create the space to work towards my goals
  • Start routines and put a support model in place: we often think about setting goals but forget that we need to establish a system that will help us accomplish them
  • Plan for how and when you will check in on your goals: one of the practices that help us successfully accomplish goals is tracking progress and reflecting as a regular cadence. I strongly recommend at least quarterly goal check-ins
  • Find your people: having companions as you work towards your goals increases your success rate. Surround yourself with people who cheer you on, encourage you, hold you accountable and celebrate your accomplishments
  • Take action: while having goals is great, the magic happens when we do the things we planned to do. As you make progress remember to celebrate yourself and continue completing the tasks
 
MC's Journey - My plan for 2022
Goal setting is one of my favorite activities in both my private and professional life. Each year, I set time aside and document goals in all the important aspects of my life. This year, planning was slightly different. My goal list is typically quite long as I seek to accomplish as much as possible. However, as I listed what I wanted to accomplish this year, I kept thinking about the word "sustainably". The thought of accomplishing my goals while avoiding burnout was front and center for me. With that in mind, I decided to have a shorter list of goals and prioritize setting up a support system to make sure I am taking care of myself. I will share more about this in my future posts.
 
Over the past years, I have shared my goals as a way to commit and also have you all as my accountability partners. I am excited about growing and learning how to do things differently in 2022.
 
My theme for 2022 is "be brave to take on great things and take care of myself". Some of the high-level goals that I want to accomplish are:
  • Personal: Prioritize self-care and create sustainable routines
  • Family: Make memories and enjoy our time as a family
  • Professional: Expand my sphere of influence and lead programs that reach more people
  • Financial: Set the financial foundation for our next investment projects
  • Business: Grow our community of women and create helpful content
  • Learning: develop the skills needed for the next phase of my career
  • Bold Goal: Take the next step higher in my career
 
Final Thoughts
Over the past two years, our world and lives have changed significantly. We have had to redefine what is important to us and possible with the resources at our disposal. Now is a great time to reflect on what really matters to you. For me this year, I really want to enjoy life in the process of accomplishing my goals.
 
I would like to invite you on this journey to plan for our best year yet. In the upcoming blog posts, I will share about what I am restarting in 2022 and how I am setting myself up for success.
 
Time to Reflect
  • What do you want to accomplish in 2022?
  • What do you want to do differently this year?
  • What are you excited about the most about this year?
  • What are you concerned about the most this year?
  • How are you going to take care of yourself?
 
Great resources
Check out some of my other posts that will help you start your year right
  • Why are you not achieving your goals?
  • About your goals: How to start planning for 2022
  • How to do something you have been procrastinating
  • How to do things you are afraid of
  • The Power of being Consistent
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2021 Year-end Goals Check-in

14/12/2021

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This year has been great for me. As I reflect on the year, I am amazed and extremely grateful for everything I experienced and accomplished. It was significantly different from the past years. One major change was that we went through the whole year as a family of three and were responsible for caring for a little human.
 
In this blog post, we will reflect on this year, and I will share my 2021 retrospective with you. 
 
How to intentionally reflect on your past year
I would like to invite you to join me as I reflect on my experiences this year. The following five steps will guide you through the process of holistic and intentional reflection.
  1. Block an hour of uninterrupted focus time, find a quiet space, get comfortable and put yourself in a reflective mindset
  2. Remind yourself of the goals you planned to accomplish this past year
  3. Write down what worked well and celebrate your accomplishments
  4. Reflect on the things that did not go as planned and document the lessons you learned from the lowlights
  5. Dream of what you want to do, experience, and be in the new year
 
MC's Journey - 2021 Retrospective
Reflecting on this year, I cannot believe all that has happened in my life and at work. My theme for 2021 was "go big and explore new things." Thinking of what would make me proud at the end of the year, I wrote that "I would be proud that I navigated motherhood, work, and my business like a champ." It feels great to know that they both came true in unexpected ways, and I learned a lot of lessons on the way.
 
Goals: What were the top five things I planned to accomplish in 2021?
Every year, I write down a list of goals that I want to accomplish in different areas of my life. Looking back now, I probably had too many things that I wanted to achieve in a year with major life changes.
  • Family: Rock motherhood and build memories
  • Professional: Find work that fulfills me and has significant impact
  • Personal: Prioritize self-care
  • Finances: Grow my finances by finding new sources of income, invest in properties
  • Business: Create my e-book, relaunch my blog and YouTube channel
 
Highlights: What went well?
  • Juggling full-time work while caring for a baby: I went back to work after my maternity leave in February with a then 3.5-month-old baby. This year, we both found our rhythm and got work done
  • Launching a big program at work: I had the opportunity to design and lead a program that was aligned with my passion and had a tremendous impact
  • Going on our first family vacation: in October, we went on our first road trip in almost two years and had a lot of fun
  • Investing in property: we took steps toward building long-term wealth
  • Adjusting to life in a pandemic: living through year 2 of a global pandemic that affected every aspect of our lives
 
Lowlights: What did not go as planned?
  • Not relaunching my YouTube channel and E-book: I planned to go back to creating videos in October and launch my first e-book, but it was not possible with everything else going on in my life
  • Working long hours: I poured myself into work, and that resulted in me putting in many hours that I could have spent resting
  • Finding time for myself and other passion projects: with everything I was juggling this year, I struggled to find time for self-care and to do things that energized me
  • Neglecting my health: there were times this year where I did not prioritize things that made me feel good physically
  • Unable to see our Family: due to the pandemic, we have not been able to spend time with our extended family
 
Lessons Learned: What did I learn in 2021?
It is crucial for me to reflect on what I learned from experiences that did not go as planned. Some of the lessons I learned include:
  • Acknowledging that things had changed: I acted as if my life was still the same. I had to accept that motherhood changed things significantly
  • Learning not to fill my "plate" too much: I planned to do too many things at once with extremely limited time
  • Accepting that having to deprioritize a goal is not failing: Realizing that I cannot do everything I had planned made me feel very sad
  • Asking for help when I need it: I learned the hard way, as I was almost burned out, that I needed to leverage my support system more
  • Celebrating the small wins: there were so many things that I took for granted because I thought they were easy for me. I learned that all the small wins summed up to even bigger accomplishments
 
What will I be doing differently in 2022?
I like to take action based on the lessons I learned to increase my chances of success in the new year.
  • Establishing new routines: in the past two years, a lot has changed in my life, and I need to adjust my daily, weekly, and monthly routines accordingly.
  • Creating a more robust support community: for all the great things that I plan to accomplish in 2022, I will need to be able to offload some of my relationships
  • Making more time for myself and my passion projects: In 2021, I focused on adjusting to being a working mum and didn't get to do some of the things I really enjoy doing. I am excited to restart some things that have been on pause.
 
Final Thoughts
I am very proud of myself this year. It has been a very busy and intense year. I am taking the next three weeks off to recharge, celebrate Christmas with my family, and prepare for an amazing year ahead.
My first 2022 blog post will be published on January 11.
 
A special note to you
Thank you very much for being part of my journey this year. Writing these blog posts is very important to me. It is one way that I stay connected to my community and the people I really care about. Take care of yourself and see you in 2022!
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About your goals: How to start planning for 2022

21/9/2021

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With the summer being over and fall slowly starting for most of us, it is a great time to be introspective and plan for the months ahead. Over the past years, I started a practice of planning my next year in the final quarter of the previous year. When I began my planning early, I realized that I had enough time to reflect, wrap up my current year, and get excited for the next.
 
In this blog post, we will explore five questions that will help us kick-off planning for a great 2022. Check out my other Her plan posts for more tips on setting and achieving your goals.
 
#1: What have you dreamed of doing?
If the last years have taught us anything, we all don't know what the future holds. It is time to stop sitting on your dreams and start living them out. Recently, I read an article that reminded me to go back and think about all the wonderful things that I wanted to accomplish in my life. 
 
Strategies to consider
  • Allow yourself to dream
  • Read, listen, or watch things that excite you
 
#2: What are you afraid of doing?
We all have things that we are afraid of doing but know that we need to do it to get where we want to go. Starting to think about what you have been afraid of doing, will make them less scary. Ask yourself what makes it scary and think about how you would celebrate finally doing it.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Write down what you are afraid of
  • Plan the steps you will take to accomplish it
 
#3: What are you planning to learn?
Learning new skills and gathering knowledge is crucial to living a fulfilled life. Reflect on your personal development goals as you start thinking about what you want to accomplish next year Working on your learning goals will help you continue to grow in your life.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Write down one new skill that you want to acquire in 2022
  • Do research on what it would take to learn the new skill
 
#4: What do you want to stop doing?
There are things that we are doing that don't serve us any longer. This might be a great time to commit to stop doing them. We focus on things that we want to start and often forget that we need to stop others to create space. You might be doing too many things that are distracting you from what you really should be doing.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Write down the things that you do today that are not bringing you joy
  • Decide what you are going to give up
 
#5: How are you going to enjoy your life?
When we look back on our years, we want to feel satisfied with the life that we have lived. To enjoy your life, you have to be intentional about it. Waiting for great things to fall into your lap is not a sustainable strategy. If you want an amazing life, you need to go out and do things that bring you joy.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Reflect on what it means to enjoy your life
  • Plan to do more of the things you enjoy
 
Final Thoughts
When you set your goals early, you give yourself the opportunity to set up your goals more intentionally and be thoughtful. From my experience, I know that your year will be much better than you expected.
 
Time to Reflect
How have you planned your previous years?
How are you celebrating how far you have come?
What are you excited about for 2022? 
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What is on your plate?

27/7/2021

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Knowing what is on your plate is crucial. The word "plate" in this context refers to everything you think about, are responsible for, and do regularly. We all have a lot that we are taking care of simultaneously, and sometimes it feels overwhelming.
 
In this blog post, we will explore how to ensure that your plate is well cared for and not overflowing.
 
#1: Evaluate all that you have on your plate
On any given day, you have a lot on your plate that requires your attention and taps your energy. Taking stock of what is on your plate is very important. You will feel more in control when you know everything that is on your plate. This increases your awareness and helps you see things you did not think you were taking on.
 
Questions to consider
  • What is on your plate?
  • Have you been intentional about what you take on?
 
#2: Take some things off your plate
To avoid overfilling your plate, it is crucial to know and set your boundaries. There are things on your plate that do not belong there. We tend to say yes to too many things, and they end up making us feel overwhelmed. It is essential to de-clutter your plate regularly.
 
Questions to consider
  • What do you have on your plate that does not bring you joy?
  • How are you going to let go and remove them from your plate?
 
#3: Add some things that are important to you
After you have evaluated what is on your plate and removed the things that should not be on there, it is the perfect time to add things that are important to you. After I did this exercise, I noticed that I was not doing anything fun, and we decided as a family to explore new things.
 
Questions to consider
  • What makes you happy that is not yet on your plate?
  • How would you create time for the new things you want to do?
 
#4: Guard your plate
You or other people might be tempted to add things to your plate that should not be there. It is your responsibility to ensure that nothing gets added to your plate if you do not want it to. If you are not intentional about guarding your plate, it will continue getting crowded, and you will be overwhelmed. This is a critical life lesson that I have learned.
 
Questions to consider
  • Can you commit to saying no?
  • How will you ensure no one adds something to your plate?
 
#5: Be kind to yourself
The truth is that you are a hero for doing everything that you are doing. Show yourself some grace and be kind to yourself. Seeing how far you have come and how amazing you are doing will motivate you for the journey ahead.
 
Questions to consider
  • How will you celebrate yourself?
  • What makes you proud of yourself?
 
Final Thoughts: MC's Story
Over the past months, I realized that I had too much on my plate. My initial response was to think that I needed to plan better, and everything would work out. That strategy had worked in the past, but it was not working this time because the things on my plate increased substantially. I had to try something new and respect my "plate" better.
 
Great resources
How to Deal with Constantly Feeling Overwhelmed
Your To-Do List Is, in Fact, Too Long
How to Avoid Burnout and Improve Your Well-Being
7 Tips To Manage Attention and Avoid Overwhelm
11 Things To Do When You Have Too Much On Your Plate
 
Time for Reflection
When last did you feel like you had control of your life?
What were you doing differently then?
What are new things that you want to start doing to help you enjoy your life?
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How to do something you have been procrastinating

13/7/2021

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As I was reflecting on the progress I have made so far in 2021, and I realized that there are some things that I planned to do but have been procrastinating. I know that if I accomplish these things by the end of the year, I would be immensely proud. If you also have a list of things you have been putting off, this post is for you.

In this blog post, we will explore steps to unfreeze and complete a task or goal that we have been procrastinating.

Setting the foundation
Let's start with the definition of procrastinate; it is to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.

#1: Re-evaluate how and why the task or goal is important to you
When you added this task or goal to your list, you had a good reason why. Now that a few months have gone by, it is crucial to remind yourself of the reasons. Take the time to re-evaluate why you wanted to work on it in the first place. Ask yourself what the positive impact will be after you have completed the task. Write what you learned down so that you can remind yourself of the importance when you feel like dropping it again.

Why is this important?
  • Knowing why something is important and how it would contribute to your life makes it worth doing

#2: Think about what has been holding you back
You might have good reasons for procrastinating. It could be that you have had too much on your plate, the timing was not right, you didn't have the resources, or you did not know how to do it. To do this exercise well, you have to be really honest with yourself to uncover all the reasons and move on.

Why is this important?
  • When you know what the barriers are, you can address them and increase your chances to succeed

#3: Plan and break the tasks into smaller chunks
One of the biggest reasons we procrastinate is that we do not know precisely what needs to be done or how to complete a task. Take the time to write down the smaller parts of the task or goals. Your objective is to be able to see what it would take for you to accomplish your goal. Now that you know the tasks, create a plan to complete them.

Why is this important?
  • Completing smaller tasks will give you more frequent wins which will motivate you to continue working on them

#4: Set a due date and commit to doing it
Now that you know what needs to be done. Set milestones and dates by when you want to complete the task or goal. Be realistic with setting the due date. You want to avoid being discouraged when you miss an unrealistic deadline.

Why is this important?
  • Having a due date gives you something to work towards and committing will make it a reality

#5: Have an accountability partner and get support
There is something powerful about having people who are your companions on your journey to achieving greatness. You want people who could serve as cheerleaders, accountability partners, advisors, or mentors. Surround yourself with people who make you want to accomplish your goals.

Why is this important?
  • Your journey will be more fun with amazing people around you

Final Thoughts: MC's journey
I have been procrastinating creating videos for my YouTube channel. My goal at the beginning of the year was to restart creating videos in March. Looking back, the timeline I set was unrealistic because I had just gone back to work while caring for my little baby, restarting my weekly blogs, and trying to find time for myself.
Although it was and still is an important goal for me, there was no way I could have accomplished it in the first months of this year. Now that things are beginning to settle down and we have a better routine, this is the perfect time for me to get back to refreshing my YouTube channel.
I am committed to restarting my planning process this month and releasing videos before the end of September, which would mark a year from when I took my break to focus on my baby. Look out for my videos coming up this quarter.

Time for Reflection
What goals or tasks have you been procrastinating?
What were some of the barriers, and how can you unblock yourself?
When are you committed to completing it?
How will you celebrate when you complete the task or goal?
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About your Goals - Mid-year Check-in

22/6/2021

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We are approaching the half-point mark of the year, and it is a great time to reflect on your goals and review your plan. I typically start these posts by wondering where all the time has gone. It is the same this time as well. I cannot believe that it is June already. 2021 has been a very fast year. We have all experienced so much in only six months.
 
In this blog post, we will do a six-month retrospective to see the progress we have made and identify what we will do to accomplish our goals this year. In addition, I will also share my retrospective.
 
Review the past six months with the following steps
 
Step #1: Take stock of where you are today compared to your plans
This is the perfect time to review the goals you set for 2021 and the progress that you have made in the past six months. This step is the beginning of the process, and the objective is to help you clearly see where you are now compared to where you want to be at the end of the year.
 
Questions to consider
  • What are your 2021 goals?
  • What were you planning to have accomplished by now?
  • What progress have you made so far?
                                                                                                                                                                        
Step #2: Celebrate your accomplishments
In the previous step, you took stock of your progress and know what you have accomplished. It is time to celebrate the good things that you have achieved in the past months.
 
Questions to consider
  • What have you done in 2021 that you are proud of?
  • How are you going to celebrate your accomplishments?
 
Step #3: Document your learnings from the things that did not go the way you planned
There are a lot of great lessons to learn from the disappointments or setbacks you experienced this year. When you think about the things that did not go well this year, it is important that you do not let them get you down.
 
Questions to consider
  • What have you learned from your experiences this year?
  • What changes are you making based on the lessons you learned?
 
Step #4: Plan for the next six months
When you reviewed your goals, you probably identified things that you want to do more of or new things that you want to do over the next months. Take the opportunity to create your plan for great impact and win in 2021.
 
Questions to consider
  • What do you want to do over the next months?
  • What will help you be more successful in accomplishing your goals?
 
Step #5: Take action
Now that you have reviewed your goals and updated your plan, it is time to take action. Do the activities that will help you make progress towards your goals over the next months.
 
Questions to consider
  • What is one thing that you will start doing?
  • What is one thing that you will stop doing?
 
MC's 2021 Journey so far
As I reflect on the last six months, I am proud of what I have accomplished and have learned many valuable lessons. This year has been an exciting year all around.
 
The Highlights
Reflecting on my goals for 2021, I have made some good progress:
  • Family: our son is growing up healthy and happy
  • Work: I have launched great projects and had good results at work
  • Finances: We invested in an investment property
  • Health: We have been vaccinated and are healthy
  • Business: I have been blogging weekly since I returned from my maternity leave
 
The Lowlights
With the progress that I have made, I have also experienced some setbacks
  • Health: A few months ago, I had to go to the emergency room for a few hours. I had pushed myself so much that my body was literally fighting me. As I was still struggling to get better in the ER, I knew one thing for sure, I didn't want to end up there. What brought me to this point was the fact that I was going too fast. I had all these goals that I wanted to accomplish while taking care of a baby and working full time. I believe in pushing yourself to do things but not close to your breaking point.
  • Business: I was planning to restart my YouTube videos, create an e-book and do some design refresh of my platforms. I had to be realistic and face the fact that my time is limited.
 
The lessons I learned
  • Pace yourself: It is a marathon not a race. To accomplish all the things that I want to accomplish, I need to pace myself and not go too fast
  • Prioritize self-care: You need to take care of yourself even more as a mother. Falling sick when you are taking care of a baby, makes things complicated
 
What I am looking forward to
The rest of the year is going to be exciting for us. I am looking forward to a few exciting things:
  • Building new memories with my boys. We are spending some more time outside our house
  • Restarting my YouTube videos and groups
  • Taking some professional trainings
 
Time for Reflection
What was one surprising thing you learned or noticed during your review?
When is your next review planned?
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How do you feel about the world reopening?

8/6/2021

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When the world started shutting down in March 2020, no one imagined that we will still be in this state sixteen months later. With everything we have all experienced, we have many different feelings. Especially with things slowly reopening or going back to normal, we are facing new emotions, decisions, and thoughts. If you are excited and ready to go fantastic, and if you are like me and need more time to get used to the change, that is perfectly fine too.

In this blog post, I will share the things I am working through that are helping me adjust to the new normal. Hopefully, these will also help you on your journey.

Acknowledge and accept how you are feeling
No matter how you are feeling, it is ok to feel whatever you are feeling. It is normal to feel apprehensive or worried about the changes after living a different life for the past sixteen months. You might be experiencing mixed feelings, including excitement for some things and sadness for others. It is crucial to accept the way you are feeling and not judge yourself.

Questions to consider
  • What feelings do you have towards things reopening?

Ask yourself what you are concerned about
If you feel concerned or worried, there are typically some underlying topics that you may not have explored. Identifying what exactly you are worried about is crucial. It will help you start working through it. I did some soul searching and realized that my main concerns were around adapting to a new post-pandemic life with our son. So many things that would have been easy to organize, such as childcare, are a little more complicated.

Questions to consider
  • What are you worried about the most?

Identify what you do not want to change
Over the past sixteen months, our lives have changed in many ways. We have reshaped our lives and started new routines. There might be some healthy and good things that you started doing over the past months that you want to continue. It is ok to hold on to those routines or new ways of living over the next months. For me, the quality time I spend with my husband and my son is now a major priority in my life, and I do not want to give it up.

Questions to consider
  • What new routines do you want to hold on to?

Start thinking about the future and create "warm-up" plans
There must be something that you have not done in a while that you are looking forward to. Just because you are anxious when you think about all the changes coming your way, it does not mean there are not a few things that excite you. Thinking about those exciting things that you want to do will help you prepare for the change ahead. They could be as simple as getting a pedicure or coffee with a friend.

Questions to consider
  • What are you looking forward to doing?
  • What will help you adapt to the change?

Take care of yourself
To thrive on the new journey ahead, you need to be physically and mentally healthy. If you feel like you need support with your mental health as you transition to your new normal, please get the help you need. Prioritize self-care and make sure you check in with yourself over the next months. You have got this!

Questions to consider
  • How are you going to take care of yourself over the next months?

MC's story
This post is one that I am writing for myself as well. I have been struggling with thinking about the months ahead. As someone who likes to plan, I have been learning to do things a little differently. I am accepting the fact that there are still a lot of unknowns, and we will need to learn as we go. My approach to warming up towards our new normal is to take small steps. Over this past weekend, I got my first professional haircut since February 2020. It was one of my first steps back into the world.

Time for Reflection
What are you feeling?
What are your top three fears or concerns?
How are you going to make sure you are doing well through the transition?
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How to make time for things that matter

25/5/2021

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Our time is a very precious and limited resource. When you are feeling overwhelmed, one of the tools that can help is -managing your time. I like knowing that there are things that I can do to get back up. Let us have a conversation about some strategies that I leverage to make time for things that matter to me. 
 
In this blog post, we will explore five things you can do to manage your time.
 
#1: Reclaim your time
What we spend our time on will determine how happy or unhappy we are. As with everything that impacts your life significantly, you need to be in control of how you spend your time. Remember that your time is precious. Realizing that I needed to own how I spent my time changed my life for the better. I am now very intentional about what I invest my time in and know that I need to reevaluate and adjust when I am overwhelmed. I want to be able to look back and say that I spent my time on things that mattered to me.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Remind yourself of the value of your time
  • Take control of managing your time
 
#2: Set and communicate your boundaries
We guard things that we care about. This principle should also apply to your time. Especially as I have progressed to a new phase in my life, I know how important it is to set boundaries around my time. Letting people know how much time you are willing to spend on a particular commitment is crucial. Communicate your boundaries at work, with your family and friends.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Set boundaries around how much of your time you spend with friends, work, chores, and other things
  • Be vocal about what your boundaries are with people around you
 
#3: Start new habits and have a routine
Applying measures that save your time or increase the impact of how you spend your time is life changing. Two things that have helped me accomplish the things, I care about are, having good habits and a routine. Having a process by which you do things routinely will save you time and make time for you to focus on what really matters. My morning and evening routines are consistent, and they help me save time.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Set routines and habits you want to adapt to save your time
  • Identify the habits that waste your time, and you want to stop
 
#4: Have a plan and set priorities
As we progress in our lives, multiple things are competing for our time. To ensure we are spending time on the important things we need to set priorities. Once you know your top priorities, you want to create a plan and carve out time for them. As your priorities might change more often, it is crucial to get into a planning routine to revisit your priorities and make time for them.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Plan out your days and week
  • Set the top 3 things you want to accomplish on a daily or weekly basis
 
#5: Track how you are spending your time
Knowing how you spend one of the most valuable resources - your time - is essential to managing your time.  Use tools such as calendars to plan and track how you are spending your time. This will help you identify what is wasting your time and make changes to help you have more time for your priorities.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Review what you did in the last week
  • Actively eliminate things that are wasting your time
 
Great Resources
Check out some of my previous blog posts with more helpful tips and resources to help you take charge of your time and accomplish more.
  • How to get things done in a very busy world
  • Set priorities and make time for things that matter
  • Video: How to make the most of your time
  • Manage procrastination and achieve more
  • The Importance of Living Intentionally
 
Time for Reflection
How are you spending your time?
What would you like to do if you could find some time to?
How could you make time for what you really want to do?
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How to get things done in a very busy world

20/4/2021

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Let us start by acknowledging that we are juggling many things in our lives. Being able to make progress is something that motivates me to get things done. The principles that I will share below have helped me take care of my six-month-old baby while working full-time.
 
In this blog post, I will share the five principles that help me accomplish important things.
 
#1: Commit to completing your tasks
I strongly believe that getting things done starts with your mindset. Really wanting to do something is the first step to success. In addition, if you are going to accomplish great things, you will need to commit to act. When we hold ourselves accountable to take action, we are more likely to progress on things that matter to us.
 
Questions to consider
  • What is your mindset towards getting things done?
  • Do you hold yourself accountable to take action?
 
#2: Prepare ahead of time and have a routine
In my experience, preparation is one of my secret strategies to getting things done. If you know a significant life event is about to happen, getting ready for it will help you ensure that you get things done. Knowing that I have the things that I need to complete a task makes it much more manageable. Implementing a routine where you do things repeatedly also helps you be more efficient.

Questions to consider
  • What preparation tasks will help you complete your top tasks?
  • What new routines do you want to implement to help you get things done?
 
#3: Track your progress
Knowing that you are making progress is an integral part of getting things done. When I get swamped and feel like I am not making progress, I go back and look at the tasks that I have completed. Tracking my tasks provides me with a place to look when I start getting discouraged about making progress. About a year ago, I started writing down what I accomplished over the weekend, including resting and having fun. This helps give me a sense of satisfaction when I think about how I am spending my time.
 
Questions to consider
  • How are you tracking your progress?
  • How will you celebrate the progress that you are making?
 
#4: Delegate tasks to others
Assigning tasks to others or outsourcing is something that I have been learning to do recently. Sometimes, to make progress, you have to assign tasks to someone else or ask for help. The outcome is what matters, not necessarily who gets it done. For example, I used to put pressure on myself to do all the household chores myself and now I have learned to ask for or hire help. I had to overcome the sense that I was failing because I was not doing everything on my own. Also, I now realize that my time is valuable, and the investment in things that save me time is priceless.
 
Questions to consider
  • What tasks can you delegate to others?
  • Who can you delegate tasks to or hire?
 
#5: Being kind to yourself
As we navigate everyday life, there will be things that either take us much longer to do or that we don't get to do at all. It is important to be gracious to yourself and not beat yourself up. Coming to terms with the realities of what we can do is sometimes extremely difficult to do. I recently went through a stressful period and realized that I was putting myself under a lot of pressure. Now, when I catch myself trying to be perfect in everything, I remind myself to be kind to myself.
 
Questions to consider
  • In what areas have you been putting yourself under pressure?
  • How are you going to be kind to yourself moving forward?
 
Final Thoughts
We are all working hard and doing a lot. Now is an excellent time for us to ensure we are doing things that are important to us.
 
Time for Reflection
What helps you get things done? 
What is one principle that you want to start applying to get things done?
How are you going to celebrate the progress you are making?
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5 Things You Should Do Today to Accomplish Your 2021 Goals

16/3/2021

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It is mid-March and an excellent time for your first quarterly goals review. A time to reflect on your goals and review your plan. Let me start by saying this, if you are already feeling like you are not making enough progress this year, do not be discouraged. This time of reflection is your opportunity to make necessary changes to turn things around and start making progress. And if you are making progress, that is awesome. You can set up sustainable practices to continue the momentum.
 
In this blog post, I will share five things you can do during your reviews to accomplish your goals in 2021. Check out my blog post on "Why are you not achieving your goals?."
 
Starting point: Why should you do regular goals reviews?
One of the planning tools that have helped me accomplish my goals is regular reviews. I have made it a routine to do monthly and quarterly reviews. During your reviews, you reflect on the past months and plan for the coming months. The reviews’ primary objective is to ensure that you know where you stand today compared to where you want to be. I have found it very helpful to block out two hours of my time, sit in a very comfortable place and take out my notebook. Making time and getting into my zone helps me focus on the task at hand. Having regular reviews has helped me stay on track and accomplish my big goals.
 
#1: Take stock of where you are compared to where you want to be
We are three months through the year and have nine more months to go. This is a great time to check on the progress you have made towards your goals. The advantage of taking stock of where you are is that you learn about how far you have come, and you can start thinking about the changes you need to make. As you reflect on where you are, you want to be honest with yourself and evaluate your actual progress. This is a very important step if you are going to start or continue making great progress.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Write down your goals and document the status of each of them
  • Write down where you wanted to be at this time in the year
  • Identify what you want to focus on over the next months
 
#2: Celebrate the progress you have made
Reflecting on what has been going well so far will help give you a boost for the rest of the year. Think about the small, medium, and big things that you have accomplished so far. This exercise is not always easy because we tend to focus on only big wins or areas where we have not made progress. Starting with your accomplishments shows you that you have made some progress this year. Even if you are making slower progress than you planned, remember that you have made progress and know how to make progress.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Write down your accomplishments for each of your goals
  • Do something special for yourself to celebrate the great things you have accomplished
  • Share your accomplishments with your support community
 
#3: Explore areas where you have not made progress
We still have nine months this year to make progress on our goals. This is a great time to reassess your priorities, actions you took, challenges that you faced. Knowing where you did not make as much progress is important. You can start by asking yourself why you think you did not make progress. Some of the reasons could be that the goals are not really important to you or that you did not have access to the resources needed to accomplish the goal.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Highlight the areas where you feel like you did not make progress
  • Write down the challenges you faced or obstacles that were in the way
  • Ask yourself if you are working on the right goals for you
 
#4: Adjust your plan for action
Now that you have reflected on where you are, celebrated your wins, explored areas where you have not made progress, you can now make adjustments to your plan. Focus on thinking about the activities that you want to work on over the next months and what you need to complete them. I recommend focusing on detailed planning for the next three months before your next review. This is also the best time to think about new goals that you might want to work on.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Make changes to the plans you have
  • Detail out tasks that you want to work on over the next three months
  • Think about new goals that you may want to work on
 
#5: Recommit to your goals and take action
There is something powerful about reminding yourself of your goals and actively recommitting to work on them. Personally, I have found that I leave my reviews feeling energized about the next months and the progress that I will be making towards accomplishing my goals. Remind yourself that reviews are a tool to help you refocus on what really matters. If you realized that you needed to change things, now is the time where you start making changes.
 
Strategies to consider
  • Implement frequent checkpoints
  • Commit and take action on areas where you want to make more progress over the next month
  • Stay positive and do not be discouraged
 
Time for Reflection
  • What have you done in 2021 that you are proud of?
  • What was one surprising thing you learned or noticed during your review?
  • What is one thing that you will start doing this week?
  • What is one thing that you will stop doing?
  • When is your next review planned?
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Why are you not achieving your goals?

23/2/2021

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At the beginning of the year, most people think about their goals for the year. However, this year, some people have decided not to set goals or set small ones because they want to avoid being disappointed when they do not accomplish their goals. Lately, I have been reflecting and talking to people about the barriers we face as we work on our goals. When we know what it is standing in the way of us accomplishing our goals, we can address them and be successful.

In this blog post, I will share the top ten reasons why we are not achieving our goals and living the lives we desire. At the end of this year, I want all of us to have accomplished all we planned to.

#1: We don't have a deep reason why we want to accomplish them
When we think about our goals, we should know why we want to accomplish them. Often, we set goals because we either feel that it is what we are expected to achieve or someone else has those goals. If you do not have a deep reason for why certain goals are important to you, it will be hard to work on them. The motivation that you need to accomplish your goals comes from you really wanting to accomplish them.

Questions to consider
  • Are you setting a goal because everyone else has accomplished it or because you really want to accomplish it?
  • How is your goal tied to your purpose in life?

#2: We set goals and do not plan activities to do every day towards accomplishing those goals
At the beginning of the year, we set these huge goals and then at the end of the year we expect to have accomplished them. We will be more successful if we plan activities and make time to work on them. Breaking down your goals into small tasks that you work on every day will help you accomplish your big goals.

Questions to consider
  • What activities are necessary to accomplish your goals?
  • What activities are you going to work on each day to make progress?

#3: We lack a good planning and review process
If you set goals at the beginning of the year and then abandon them, you will most likely not accomplish anything. It is crucial to have a plan for how you will work towards your goals. In addition, as you go through the year you want to make time to review your goals, reflect on the progress you have made and plan your next activities.

Questions to consider
  • How often are you going to review your goals and the progress you are making?
  • What are three things that you will do during your reviews?

#4: We take on too much and do not prioritize
Knowing the number and size of goals you can work on without feeling too overwhelmed and quitting is essential. While it is good to stretch yourself and try new things, there are some limits that you need to be aware of. Check in with yourself when you set goals to avoid doing too much at once. Setting good priorities is a great way to filter your list of goals and make time for the most important ones.

Questions to consider
  • Do you have the time, energy, and resources to work on the goals you set?
  • Are you working on the most important ones first?

#5: We do not celebrate our wins (including the small ones)
Working on goals throughout the year can be an exhausting process. Especially when you are working on big goals, it is particularly important to celebrate your wins. Being intentional about measuring your progress and celebrating your successes will give you the energy you need to accomplish your goals. I keep an accomplishments log that I can go to when I start feeling discouraged. Seeing how far I have come gives me hope for the future and keeps me going.

Questions to consider
  • Do you write down your accomplishments?
  • How will you celebrate your accomplishments this year?

#6: We have not equipped ourselves with the right tools
Thankfully, we live in a time when some great tools and resources can help us work on our goals. Personally, I ensure that I identify the tools that I need to be successful when I set my goals. One of the tools I use the most is my calendar. Now that I know how important seeing progress is for me, I make sure that I use the tools at my disposal.

Questions to consider
  • What tools do you need to accomplish your goals?
  • Do you have the needed tools at your disposal, or do you need to acquire them?

#7: We try to do it all on our own
Especially if you are working on big goals, it can feel isolating. Think about the people in your life who help you thrive. Over the past years, I have come to value my support community a lot. The support of women I trust to give me feedback and celebrate my progress has been pivotal. Surrounding yourself with people you can talk to about your goals and hold you accountable for taking action will help you accomplish more

Questions to consider
  • Who is part of your support network?
  • How will you get support from your community?

#8: We do not set goals for important parts of our lives
As humans, there are many facets and areas of our lives. To achieve balance in life, you need to set goals in all areas of your life where you want to make progress. I started feeling more accomplished when I set goals in all aspects of my life such as family, professional, finances, learning, and others.

Questions to consider
  • Do you set goals in all important aspects of your life?
  • What new area will you set a goal in for the year?

#9: We let setbacks stop us from trying new things
It is hard to continue doing something when you feel like you are repeatedly failing at it. Personally, I believe that when things do not go as planned, there is a message for me. It either teaches me some valuable lessons or is a signal for a change that I need to make. It is crucial to understand exactly what a setback means, pick yourself back up and continue working towards your goals.

Questions to consider
  • What lesson did you learn from the last setback you experienced?
  • How did you get back up and move on?

#10: We set small goals and limit ourselves
If you want to accomplish big things in your life, you need to start setting bold goals. Thinking about those goals might seem scary. However, when you write them down and start taking small steps, you will start to believe that you can accomplish them. I have made more progress on big goals when I commit to taking small actions one step at a time.

Questions to consider
  • What big goals do you want to accomplish in 2021?
  • How will you motivate yourself?

Great Resources
I really enjoy sharing knowledge about setting and accomplishing your goals. Check out some of my other blog posts that provide tips and tricks to help you thrive this year:
  • Do you dare to do something great?
  • How to do a Mid-year Goals Review
  • Manage procrastination and achieve more
  • Build your support community
  • How to start celebrating your accomplishments

Time to reflect
Which two mistakes have you been making with regards to your goals?
What are you committing to do differently this year to set yourself up for success?
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What I am looking forward to in 2021

16/2/2021

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2021 is well underway, and we are already seven weeks into the year. Now is an excellent time to remind ourselves of what we are excited about and looking forward to experiencing. Having a positive outlook and plan will make great things happen in your life.
 
In this blog post, I will share five things that I am looking forward to this year.
 
Starting point: how I came up with my list
As I reflected on 2020 and prepared for 2021, I asked myself what would make me happy this year. At the end of 2021, I want to feel fulfilled and accomplished. Thinking about where I want to be will serve as a guiding light throughout the year. Some of the things that I am excited about include the following.
 
#1: Doing things that I did not do much of in 2020
With how unexpected things were in 2020, I noticed that I stopped doing some things that I love and help me make progress. It was important to me to restart some of those things. On my list so far, I want to do more of the following: listen to podcasts, read books, host mastermind groups, attend events virtually, coach, and connect with other women. I am looking forward to being energized again.
 
#2: Celebrating huge milestones
One of the things that I am looking to do more of in 2021 is celebrating my accomplishments. This year, I have many opportunities to reflect on my journey so far and appreciate how far I have come. In 2021, I will be celebrating two significant milestones. Firstly, 20 years of living abroad in 4 countries, 6 cities and a lot of learnings. Secondly, it will be three years of following my dream to launch my blog and two years of my YouTube channel. I have so much to be thankful for.
 
#3: Embarking on a New Journey
The birth of my son marked the start of a new journey for me. I am looking forward to exploring Motherhood and learning a lot. We all go through some significant life changes, and this is one of those changes for me. Watching my son grow and blossom will definitely bring me joy this year. I plan to enjoy all the moments with my family.
 
#4: Growing things that I built
Building a community of women who support one another has always been my dream. In 2020, with everything going on globally, I had to put many of the plans I had on hold. This year, I am committed to continue what I started and make new connections. I want to find new ways to bring together amazing women and celebrate their greatness. I am looking forward to helping women build the lives they desire.
 
#5: Doing new things that I have been afraid to do
When I set goals, I intend to set big ones. However, I find myself setting "safe goals" that I think I can achieve to avoid disappointment. This year I want to work on big goals that I have been too scared to commit to. I know that a lot of my growth this year will come from stretching myself and exploring things that I have not done before. I will be pushing myself to tell new parts of my story, offer new services in my business, work on new projects, and make bolder financial moves. At the end of the year, I want to say that I accomplished big things.
 
Final Thoughts

We have the opportunity to accomplish great things every new day or year that we are alive. As you go through the year, find those moments that give you hope and enjoy them.
As you accompany me on my journey this year, I would also like to be your companion on yours. Please share your plans and experiences with me.
 
Time for Reflection
  • What are you looking forward to in 2021?
  • What did you stop doing that you plan to restart in 2021?
  • What are you planning to do differently in 2021?
  • What new things are you going to start doing in 2021?
  • How will you celebrate your accomplishments in 2021?
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Reflecting on 2020

9/2/2021

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2020 was a year that we will all remember forever. At the beginning of 2020, I had no idea how the year will be for me personally and could not have imagined the changes in our world. A lot of people talk about wanting to forget everything about last year. Before we file the year away, I would like to take a short moment to reflect and highlight the learnings that I will be leveraging in 2021.

In this blog post, I will be sharing the top five lessons that I learned in 2020.

2020 in summary
Let me start with some things that happened in my life in 2020 - Global Pandemic, pregnancy, becoming a mother, US election, and advancing at work.
If you asked me to summarize 2020 in three phrases, I would say - unexpected experiences, great gifts, and constant change.

Lesson #1: About plans - they are essential even during chaotic times
Having a positive attitude when your plans change is crucial. I always thought that I did not like change. Something that I learned about myself is that I actually like change when I have a plan. Let me explain what I mean by that. If I have a plan and it changes, I can adapt quicker. However, if I do not have a plan, adapting to change amid chaos is extremely difficult. Now that I know that about myself, I adjust my plan and continue making progress when things change in my life. 2020 was filled with plan changes starting from canceling planned time with family, working from home, being pregnant, and living through a pandemic.

Lesson #2: About relationships - value them and make an effort to stay connected
Especially with everything going on last year, the people in my life became even more important. I reconnected with people and made more effort to connect virtually with them. My family and friends helped me thrive and navigate being pregnant and having a baby in a pandemic. 2020 highlighted the importance of my support community. We navigated the uncertainty together, talked about our concerns, and encouraged each other.

Lesson #3: About my mindset and outlook on life - being positive is hard work, but it is worth it
Having a positive outlook on life kept me in a good place mentally over the past year. Being optimistic provides the fuel you need to keep going when you are faced with uncertainty and adversity. As I observed everything going on in the world, I needed to remind myself of how fortunate I was. I focused more on the good things that were happening in my life. This helped me enjoy life despite all the unexpected changes in the world.

Lesson #4: About my inner strength- there is deep resilience that I did not know I had
The hardships that I faced in different phases of my life prepared me for an unexpected year like 2020. I leveraged a lot of what I had learned through those experiences. Being able to pivot and try new things when things do not work out is a skill that I learned, especially when I just moved to Germany. The plans that I had for my life changed a lot, and many things were out of my control. With everything that happened in 2020, I recovered quickly and was strong when I had to do a lot on my own.

Lesson #5: About gratitude- we have a lot to be grateful for
With everything that happened in 2020, I came out feeling very thankful. Amid the chaos in the world, great things happened in my life. I have a baby boy, a loving relationship with my husband, a job where I can continue working at home, I am healthy, and my family is doing well. Sometimes it is really hard to see all the good that is happening around us because the bad things are clouding our sight. I am now very intentional about counting my blessings and celebrating the good in my life.

Final Thoughts
As I wrapped up 2020, I compared what I had planned versus what really happened. Somethings that I planned came true, and others did not. This reflection exercise helped me see the progress that I made and realize what I wanted to focus on in 2021.
  • Personal Life: my family grew
  • Career: I got a promotion that I had been working on for a long time
  • Finances: I did not grow my money or create new revenue streams
  • Business: I did not grow our community of women as I planned
  • Family: we did not get to spend time with our extended family

In my next blog post, I will be sharing what I'm looking forward to in 2021.

Time for reflection
What did you learn in 2020?
What do you want to do differently in 2021?
What are you excited about in 2021?
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Starting 2020 Right

7/1/2020

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Welcome to 2020! Congratulations, we made it to a new year and a new century.
 
Thanks for checking out my first blog post of the year. I am glad to be back online after a few weeks off. I spent some time catching up on life, doing things I have not done in a while, resting and bonding with family. Taking some time during the last weeks of the year for myself is a tradition that I really value and would not trade for anything.
 
In this blog post, we will be discussing some things that will help us start this year right and have the best year we have ever had. Let's explore how to define our theme for the year, things we won't be doing , and other things we will be doing this year.
 
What is the theme for your year?
Last year, I started a new tradition of defining a theme for the year. The inspiration came from the Happier Podcasts - One Word Theme for the Year.  I adjusted this a little for myself and decided to define a phrase or sentence as my theme instead of just one word.
Some of the things I keep in mind when I define my theme for the year are the following:
  • What would be great motivation for my year?
  • What new mindset will help me achieve my goals and thrive in the new year?
  • How do I want to do this year that will push me out of my comfort zone?
 
What will we stop doing in 2020?
A new year provides us with an opportunity for a fresh start. I like the idea of being intentional about what we want to stop doing in the new year. Think of the things that held you back last year that you want to do differently this year.
  • Letting self-doubt win or underestimating your skills and talents
  • Letting your fear and insecurities stop you from taking bold steps
  • Not speaking out and using your voice
  • Neglecting your needs and continually putting others first
  • Not knowing your worth and asking for what you deserve
 
What are some things to do in 2020?
To make the most of this new year, we can start or continue doing the following in 2020:
  • Dreaming big and working towards your goals: Working towards your dreams and goals with everything you have
  • Being confident: celebrating who you are, your skills and talents
  • Seizing opportunities: Saying yes to things that scare you and keeping an eye out for the new opportunities
  • Using our unique voice: Sharing your message with the world around you and speaking up for causes
  • Celebrating your accomplishments: Appreciating and talking about your achievements more
  • Prioritizing things you care about: Making time to do things that will improve your life
  • Building and maintaining our community: Surrounding yourself with people who contribute positively to your life
  • Building wealth: making smart financial decisions and growing your finances
  • Thriving in your Career and Business: finding joy in the things you do professionally and in your business.
  • Giving back: helping others around you grow and thrive
 
MC's Journey
I am really excited about this new year. There is something special about the year 2020. Growing up, I remember big companies and countries having their 2020 Agenda. This year is going to be amazing for me.
 
Where was I ten years ago?
As we start a new decade, I've been reflecting on all that has happened in my life over the past ten years. I was graduating from University in 2010 and my life was about to take me in many unexpected directions. The past ten years brought new jobs, relationships, realized dreams, personal growth and discovering myself. I can't wait to see what the next decade will bring.
 
My 2020 Theme: Putting myself out there
As I have been reflecting on my journey, I realized that I have been holding myself back. It's time for me to be very intentional about using my voice and being open to taking on new opportunities.
 
My mindset for 2020
As I prepare for this year, I will have the following attitude:
  • Hopeful for the future
  • Appreciating the great opportunities
  • Learning from the past
  • Being open to the unknown
  • Celebrating opportunities to give back
 
Final Thoughts
We are all alive and have the opportunity to make this year what we want it to be.
 
Call to Action
What have you been wanting to do but haven't done yet? This year is the perfect year for you to do those things.
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    Marie-Christin Anthony
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