New year? Cheers to that!
I have, what I’ve come to understand is, an unpopular opinion. I love New Year’s.
Not the actual holiday, of course. I have zero interest in putting on hard pants to overpay for a mediocre meal or to stuff into a crowded bar for watered down drinks — it’s cheese and Champs in PJs for me, please! But beyond the party, I look forward every year to the collective fresh start that this holiday offers to all of us.
It’s rare we get a do-over in this life, but the changing of the calendar is sort of like our annual chance to reflect on what’s working and make a conscious decision to change what’s not.
Last week I hosted the 2022: Year of You Workshop focused on doing exactly this (recording here for those who missed it). While this might sound a little cliche and even self-absorbed, to me, “Year of You” is more about making sure you’re not so busy and distracted by the demands of life, work, family, and friends, that you forget about you. And what makes you thrive. What lights you up. What matters to you (and what doesn’t!). What you want to create this year. What you want your life to look, feel, sound, be like.
We looked back, we looked forward, and then we wrote new rules that serve us better and get us closer to a life that sometimes seems so out of reach. But we didn’t make resolutions. I don’t believe in them, which might sound weird coming from someone who considers herself a chronic goal-getter. But I did them for years, and never kept them in the long run. Know why? They always came from a place of “should” or “need to” instead of “could” or “want to”. Though it might seem like semantics, the language I used - and the energy that came along with it - made a huge difference in whether I stuck to my commitment or abandoned ship by early February.
So now I set an intention at the beginning of the year, focused on something I “want” and use that as a compass to guide me for the next 300 and some days. What do you want for 2022? If you designed this year based on what you wanted vs. what you think you should be, what would it look like? What would be different? What would be possible?
The workshop was just the beginning. It set the foundation for the work that’s to come. I believe that big shifts come from small tweaks over a longer period of time. So, to complement the workshop, I’m hosting monthly meet-ups to check in with folks on their Year of You. Starting Sunday, January 9th at 7pm CST, we’ll gather on Zoom for our Year of You, Month by Month Meet-ups to set goals for January, learn a coaching tool, and problem-solve anything that’s getting in your way. It’s free, but space is limited. Reserve your spot and invite a friend.
And finally, I created a workbook to help you, step-by-step, make this Year of You better than the last couple… lord knows we need all the help we can get! This guide breaks down the daunting task of planning the whole year into monthly chunks, and also provides space for reflection, goal setting and planning your very own Retreat Day each month. Easy peasy and all in one place. Download your copy. Start working through it, and bring it to the first meet-up next week!
This doesn’t have to be hard, and frankly, I think it can be fun. So join me. I hope to see you there!
Stephanie Kelly is a certified life and career coach who is committed to helping people recover from burnout, reclaim their lives, and recreate a relationship with work that puts their wellness first. As a former workaholic, she helps her clients navigate the unknown, empowering them to move towards their goals with clarity, confidence, and conviction. Stephanie believes that with the right tools and support, harmony between work and life is possible. Interested in working together to create the life you want? Book a free Discovery Call today.
