As I’m getting ready to crush some goals in 2022, I’m trying to find the best ways to get myself in the right mindset and do a lot more planning. The week between Christmas and New Years I was on vacation from work, and as I was watching YouTube videos and listening to podcasts, one theme kept coming up … review 2021 accomplishments first!
We do this at work when we do our year end reviews, and it’s annoying to complete and stressful as it’s related to how you are rated for the year’s work. However, I found this exercise to be very motivating on a personal accomplishment level, as I forgot all the things I did get done this year. I’m starting to realize how much I beat myself up mentally, thinking there is so much more I should be getting done. I’m going to try to do reviews of accomplishments (sometimes called a Ta Da List) much more as I do want to stay motivated and be kinder to myself of all I can get done.
I used the prompts from Lavendaire on YouTube to complete this exercise:
2021 was the year that I…
- Sent the boys back to school in-person (7th grade, first year of middle school!!!)
- I went back into the office part-time, hybrid schedule (Wed, Thurs, every other Fri)
- Started a new role in the same team I was in – had to self teach myself the role as person left our company
- Completed the Fast Forward program at work
- Got more comfortable in my role as Committee Chair for our Scout Troop
- Started consulting S-Corp business for husband, including payroll
What worked in 2021 …
- Eating out less
- Communicating with teachers and staff at boys’ school
- Getting help when needed, especially for Scout stuff
- Made some time to organize spaces this year – both mine and husband’s closet, started basement
What didn’t work in 2021 …
- Need to eat more healthy, less cheese, wine and fried foods, more veggies
- Need more structure and consistent routines
- Need to work out every day
- Start my work day earlier
- Need a budget that works
What did I learn in 2021 …
- Blogging skills
- Fast Forward program at work taught me more planning skills – need to fully implement
- YouTube videos that help me set goals, plan them and keep me motivated – such as Lavendaire, Angie Bellemare, MuchelleB, and several more! I need to do a YouTube round up post, as well as favorite podcasts
- Starting a business and payroll
How did my life evolve in 2021 …
- Making sure I take time for myself
- Learned to be more patient with the boys and how to help them navigate the increased demands of middle school
What about 2021 am I grateful for …
- Having Tom home and not in Boulder like he was from September 2018 to December 2019
- Beachbody On Demand for home workouts
- Vaccines
And now to celebrate the end of 2021, I had my favorite cocktail, a French 75 (shown here with the first Old Fashioned I ever made for my husband). Here is the recipe:
- 1 shot gin (I used Empress gin for the pretty color)
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- Approx 1 Tbsp simple syrup
- Procecco, champagne or other favorite sparkling wine
Put the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup into a shaker cup filled with ice. Shake and pour into a champagne glass. Top it off with the sparkling wine.
You an use any kind of gin for this recipe, but I used Empress gin, which has a deep indigo color. It turns pinkish or purple when you add any citrus to it. It’s very pretty!!!
Next up for me is to finish planning out 2022 goals and then really deep dive on what I need to accomplish in the first 3 months. I want to do this for both work and personal life and really make some things happen this year. Especially as for the month of January, we are told we can work from home. We’ll see how things are starting February 1st to come back into the office part-time, so no commute this month! I need to make the most of it!!!
How is 2022 planning going for you? Did you do a 2021 recap before planning 2022? What are your favorite resources (blogs, YouTube channels, podcasts) to help you plan and execute on goals?