 Over the last weeks, I have been in a reflective mood. As I reflect on this year, there were things that I did differently that helped me have a very successful year. The greatest lesson I learned is that we have to do things differently to accomplish our big goals. There is a well-known saying, "what got you here will not get you there." I needed to get comfortable changing how I approached working towards my goals.
In this blog post, I will share the five things I did differently this year. Check out my other "Her Plan" for tips and resources to help you achieve your goals. Focused my energy on one area of my life I typically do an excellent job balancing multiple things and working on many goals simultaneously. However, this year, I knew that I needed to be ultra-focused on work to accomplish my goals. Being a working parent requires you to make lots of choices. This year I had a great opportunity at work, and I knew that it was the right thing for our family for me to prioritize work. Asked for and accepted help Very early this year, I realized that I was overwhelmed with everything I was doing and needed help. For the whole of 2021, I cared for our son and worked. This arrangement had to be changed in 2022, given my increased responsibilities at work. Asking for and getting help is not something that comes easily to me. I opened up and asked for additional help from my husband, hired a nanny, and then found a daycare for our son. Having a support community freed up my time and my mind. I could accomplish as much as I did because I knew our son was in great hands. Spent Money on Fun Experiences In some of my previous posts, I have shared that I have struggled with spending money on myself and fun things. This year, I permitted myself to enjoy the finer things in life a little. I really enjoyed the vacations we went on as well as the freedom I felt by ordering meals, so I wasn't cooking all the time. When I think about my year, I am delighted that we made wonderful memories this year with our family. Accepted that I have to pause working on some of my Goals In 2020 when I had a baby, I took a break from making videos for my YouTube channel. I thought I would get back to creating videos in 2021. After returning, I decided to focus on work and caring for my baby. As I planned for 2022, I wanted to relaunch my channel. However, I was stretched thin with all my responsibilities at work and as a mother. Instead of being hard on myself, I gave myself permission not to work on this goal. It was the first time that I did not progress on a plan I set, and I am totally fine with it. This was the right thing for me to do to thrive this year. Learned from Setbacks Especially when we have a lot of growth, there will be some setbacks. I approached things that went differently than I had planned with an open mind. I was looking for the lessons I could learn from them. My typical reaction would have been to be hard on myself and keep thinking about what I should have done differently to avoid them. I have learned a lot of valuable lessons from this mindset change. Final Thoughts 2022 has been a very long year for a lot of us. As we close out this year, it is crucial to reflect on our growth. The lessons learned from our reflection will improve our lives next year. Time for Reflection What did you do differently this year? What difficult decisions did you need to make this year? What pleasantly surprised you this year?
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 One of the traits that I admire in people is their ability to dream and work toward the things they desire. As life gets serious, it is easy to get caught up with "doing things" and forget to dream about the future. I like to think that the things I dream of today will be my reality someday. It is crucial always to continue dreaming.
In this blog post, we will explore ways to allow ourselves to dream of our desired future. Dream about things no one around you has ever done When I speak to immigrants or first-generation folks, they often share that it is difficult to dream of things you did not see people around you do. The ones who have allowed themselves to be inspired and dream beyond their current environment. have gone ahead and done great things. Many people outside of our circles have done great things and can be an inspiration. I go out of my way to look for inspiring stories and broaden my perspective. Questions to reflect on
Dream about things that you do not yet know how to attain People like me who are planners might need to do more self-work to get comfortable dreaming about things without planning. It is interesting how we sometimes limit ourselves to only dream about things we know how to get or accomplish. Allowing ourselves to dream about something and then later figuring out how to get it would give us more freedom to dream big. One of my coaches encouraged me to write down about 30 things I want and not limit myself to what I think is possible. It sounds very simple, but I still tried to be rational while dreaming. Questions to reflect on
Dream about things that people have told you that you can't accomplish A lot of us grew up in communities where people told us what they thought we could or could not accomplish. Those things translate into limiting beliefs about what we can achieve in life. As I have grown older, I have been working on freeing myself from the words that were said to me as a child. I know now that those words have no hold on my life unless I believe them. Questions to reflect on
Dream about doing things that you are afraid of Fear is a big reason why we do not let ourselves dream and chase those big dreams. At a conference for young women that I attended a while ago, a high school student talked about how being afraid of who she might become held her back. I asked to chat with her after the conference because I wanted to learn more, and she shared that being very successful scared her. Her words resonated with me because I have been afraid of things working out too well. Another fear I know has been holding me back from dreaming is the fear of failure. Questions to reflect on
Encourage your children to dream When I hear kids talk about their dreams for the future, it gives me hope. They are born with the ability to dream, and it is our responsibility to continue to let the flame burn. Refrain from allowing your adult mind that has been trained to only think of what is possible in your current circumstance to limit your ability to dream. Let them talk about their big dreams and hope with them that they come true. Questions to reflect on
Final Thoughts: MC's Reflection Lately, I have been feeling like I have accomplished many things that I dreamed about, for which I am beyond grateful. I now yearn for new dreams and something I can work towards. I have been too busy working towards my goals and have yet to allow myself to take time to dream. I want to confidently respond when someone asks me what my top dreams are. As we wrap up the year, I have made some time over the next weeks to dream, and I hope you do the same too.  As the third quarter of the year comes to an end, it is a great time to check in on our goals and start preparing for next year. There is something powerful about this time of the year, summer is over in the northern hemisphere, the new school year has started, and we are ready for the final months of this year. A few years ago, I started aligning my personal planning timeline to the one I use at work. We kicked off planning for the next year already in August. This gives us enough time to reflect on our progress this year and sufficiently prepare for the next year.
In this blog post, we will start dreaming of the year we want to have in 2023 and check the progress we have made toward our goals. Check out my other "Her Plan" posts for additional tips and resources to help you accomplish your goals and live your best life. 5 Questions to kick-off planning for 2023 #1: How will you prioritize your wellbeing? Our physical and mental wellbeing are the solid foundation that is needed to live an amazing life. By knowing what contributes to your wellbeing and then prioritizing it, you will have a great year. Strategies to consider
#2: What memories are you looking forward to creating with your family and friends? We are fortunate to have people we get to experience life with. Being intentional about spending time with the people we care about helps us build the best memories. Strategies to consider
#3: What brave thing do you want to do? You will be proud of being brave when you look back at the year. Challenge yourself to overcome your fears and be brave. There are so many experiences that still await us. Think about something you have always wanted to do and commit to completing in 2023. Strategies to consider
#4: What progress do you want to make at work or in your business? We spend a lot of time at work or in our business. It would be awesome to know that we are also making progress professionally. Being strategic about skills we need to learn and steps we want to take in our careers will yield the desired success. Strategies to consider
#5: What is on your financial vision board? Every step we take toward our financial goals will get us closer to financial independence. In 2023, you will have many opportunities to gain financial freedom and build wealth. Strategies to consider
MC's Journey: Progress update Q3 2022 These past months have gone by very quickly. I feel fortunate to be where I am in my life at the moment, even though I feel tired. Below, I will be reflecting on my goals and the progress I have made.
Final Thoughts As I reflected on my progress toward my goals, I realized that the biggest lesson I learned is to be patient and wait until it is the right time to do certain things. In order to make progress in one area of my life, I have had to accept that other areas will be on hold for a little while. I am learning to be ok with that, not be hard on myself, and celebrate my progress. 2022 has been a great year with lots of hard work, and I am seeing the rewards. Call to Action What are three things that you have enjoyed in the last three months of the year? What are you looking forward to over the next last three months of the year? What type of year would you like 2023 to be?  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
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
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
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
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
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.
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?  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:
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:
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
 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:
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
 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:
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?  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.
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:
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
Great resources Check out some of my other posts that will help you start your year right  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.
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.
Highlights: What went well?
Lowlights: What did not go as planned?
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:
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.
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!  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
#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
#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
#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
#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
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?  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
#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
#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
#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
#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
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?  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?
#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?
#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?
#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?
#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?
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?  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
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
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
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
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
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:
The Lowlights With the progress that I have made, I have also experienced some setbacks
The lessons I learned
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:
Time for Reflection What was one surprising thing you learned or noticed during your review? When is your next review planned?  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
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
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
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
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
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?  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
#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
#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
#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
#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
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.
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?  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
#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
#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
#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
#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
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?  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
#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
#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
#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
#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
Time for Reflection
 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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
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:
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?  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
 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.
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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