Each new year is like hitting one big refresh button – and the right new year’s resolution can help the driven mama make the most of the possibilities ahead.
A resolution on its own is quite ambiguous. You can sit and make a list of all the nice-to-haves you want or set a number of big goals for the year to see what sticks. However, the reality is that even just the feeling of not making progress can discourage many and eventually lead to giving up. A study found that as much as 80% of individuals abandon their new year’s resolutions by February. But this doesn’t mean a new year’s resolution is doomed to fail from the outset. Instead, take a more proactive approach to your goals for the year – focus less on quantity and more on quality.
How?
Start by choosing just one resolution – one that you can work towards completing in the year. By making sure each resolution you choose has actionable steps – like having a monthly, weekly, and daily plan to get there – you will be able to stay on track and monitor your progress.
Let’s take theory and apply them to real-life scenarios. And to make it a little dynamic, let’s create a 3-way track (because we are high-achieving moms, after all!) – one for your personal life, one for your work life, and one for your family life.
Let’s say your resolutions are as follows:
Personal life – Add more creativity to your life
Work-life – Expand your networking circle so you can 10x your opportunities
Family life – Take a 2-week international vacation with your family
Now, let’s work backward! Usually, as coaches, we don’t give you the blueprint for how to achieve your goals. These are simply suggestions based on common themes and goals we find our Mamas working with.
What to do daily
PERSONAL: One way to add more creativity to your life is to start with something easy like a daily practice of coloring – yes, adult coloring books are a thing and they are amazing! Set aside even just 15 min a day to work on a project (read: no need to pressure yourself to finish coloring an entire image in one sitting). This will build momentum in sharpening your skills as you get more comfortable coloring.
WORK: Building your network is a numbers game. There’s no guarantee the people you want in your network will all agree. That’s why creating a list of networking prospects is important. Spend 10-15 mins a day researching profiles on professional platforms like LinkedIn to discover more like-minded individuals who can potentially add value to your network.
FAMILY: Moms know there’s just no winging it during family trips, but coming up with a full itinerary doesn’t have to be a stressful ordeal if you just pace yourself. Creating a Pinterest board and spending 15-20 min a day researching and pinning locations, activities, rates, etc., goes a long way toward creating an itinerary down the line filled with fun activities everyone can enjoy.
What to do weekly
PERSONAL: They say practice makes perfect, but practice for the sake of practicing does not necessarily lead to an expert or prodigy-level talent. It’s how you practice that actually matters. Studies have found that it takes “deliberate practice”, along with natural ability, to master a skill. Focusing on one or two techniques a week can help you take your creativity to the next level. Better yet, why not take a course with weekly classes to improve your technique?
WORK: Now that you’ve curated a list of the people you want to connect with, it’s time to start reaching out. Set aside some time during the week to send a message to these individuals with an invitation to connect – and don’t forget to follow up with those you’ve already gotten in touch with.
FAMILY: Planning a vacation is not just about what will happen when you get there – part of it also involves how things will continue running smoothly in the office. Delegating work and/or training others to handle certain tasks while you’re away can help you spend less time on your computer or your phone and allow you to be fully present for those precious bonding moments with your family. Set aside some time weekly to create SOPs with details on things you’ll need done while you’re away.
What to do monthly
PERSONAL: Creating art requires a combination of vision and technique. If you’ve wanted to work on a particular type of artwork for a while, here’s an idea: Apply the skills you’ve learned throughout your art journey when creating or recreating the artwork in your vision. This allows you to learn more about combining techniques, hone your skills further as you apply them, track your improvement, and maybe even discover your own style!
WORK: Networking has been a vital component of entrepreneurial success for 78% percent of startups, and 80% of individuals believe that networking plays an important role in career growth. But is sending a message or making a call enough? Nearly 100% of people believe that face-to-face meetings help build deeper, stronger relationships with the people in your network. Consider scheduling meetings at least once a month to get to know people you’ve begun connecting with on a more personal level, even if it’s a virtual coffee chat.
FAMILY: Let’s face it, vacation funds don’t grow on trees, and saving up for it doesn’t usually happen overnight. With your itinerary slowly being ironed out and a game plan to help you enjoy your vacation to the fullest coming together, setting aside X amount monthly can help ensure you will have the funds ready to cover your expenses.
At the end of the day, it’s all about planning. Think of new year’s resolutions as projects – only with YOU as your client. Similar to how you plan for the execution of your client’s projects to help ensure a successful outcome, planning for how you can achieve your goals can lead you to become a better version of yourself by the year’s end – maybe even sooner!
If you’re still on the fence about what new year’s resolution to make or which ones to focus on, The Driven Mama can help guide you towards your own unique path – and continue to support you throughout your journey. Book your free 30-minute consultation today to get started on winning 2023.
