Thanksgiving just wrapped up. Christmas decorations are popping up on neighbors’ houses. And I’m starting to see the Salvation Army folks ringing their bells in front of every store.
It’s official …
we’re in the full swing of December!
If you haven’t started seeing posts on social media about planning for next year, you will soon…
It may seem too early to talk about 2025. But, I believe it’s the perfect time to start thinking about next year if you haven’t already.
The company you work for definitely has a plan in place for the coming year. It was already 80% done by October. (Hi, ex Operations girl in Corporate America here 💁🏾♀️)
So, why not have an annual plan in place for your life? It’s arguably more important than your company’s plan.
Would you agree?
But before you rush to write your goals on paper to declare them to the world on January 1st, I suggest taking a step back.
Ask yourself this crucial question first:
What do I want in life?
I know… that’s a big question. But it’s an important one to ask.
Setting goals without knowing what you want out of your life is like getting in your car and saying you are going on a vacation yet you haven’t decided where to go on this vacation.
It’s a thrilling idea if you have tons of time to waste, are up for an adventure, and are willing to end up wherever.
It’s a not-so-great idea if you have limited time and want to make the most of it.
And as you know, we aren’t on this earth forever.
So would you rather have the intentional trip in mind or have the shoot from the hip end up wherever you end up type of life?
If “What do you want” feels like a question that is too big and scary, think of it this way: if you were fearless and could not fail, what type of life would you create for yourself? Or what kind of life would you NOT create for yourself?
An anti-vision is also a vision.
Before writing your New Year’s resolutions, take some time. Think about what you truly want.
Not what you feel you should want.
Not what society has silently molded you to believe you should want.
Not what your friends say you should want.
Not even what your parents have told you that you should want.
This clarity will make decision-making much simpler for you next year.
Here’s a perfect example of how a vision stops you from wasting time on distractions disguised as opportunities.
I know I want the freedom to live anywhere in the world. This is part of my “what I want” vision.
When an opportunity to become a licensed contractor came up, it seemed exciting. I signed up for the information session. But I didn’t attend the session.
Why?
I asked myself if being a contractor aligned with my desire to live anywhere. It didn’t. In fact, it was in direct contradiction with being able to work from anywhere. So, I avoided spending time, energy, and effort on a path that wouldn’t get me closer to making my life vision a reality.
This month, I’m taking the time to clearly define what I want.
I’ve got my markers, fancy pens, and a journal ready. I’m jotting down thoughts, evaluating how this year went, and reassessing areas where I could have done things differently.
Most importantly, I’m recalibrating my focus on what I truly want. I’m also thinking through practical ways to remind myself of that throughout the coming year so I don’t lose focus.
Have you started thinking through your 2025?
P.S. January 1st is just another day. There’s nothing magical about it. You don’t have to wait till then to start getting things done. Starting now is even better than waiting for 2025.
Do you agree?
