Episode 87: How to Start the New Year Off Right

A new year can bring a lot of pressure around goals and resolutions and then, the inevitable disappointment when they aren’t realized. Did you know only 9% of Americans who make resolutions actually complete them? Why keep hyping this very old way to think about the new year if no one is joining in?

I offer a different way to think about this time of year. Why not start the year with ease instead?

What You’ll Learn:

• Why resolutions and goals aren’t very motivating.
• 4 steps to creating EASE.
• How to evaluate your year without pressure or shame.
• Types of energy and how to protect them.

Now, if you know you need help with sticking to something, then by all means schedule a Discovery Call with me asap. I don’t want you to have to struggle one more minute and think you have to do this all on your own. Let’s partner for 2024 and see what magic we can make together? Having me as your coach is the fastest way to feel more confident and learn to truly believe in yourself.

Hey friend! I’ve created a new training and companion workbook for you that will help you ditch those limiting beliefs that keep you stuck and create the confidence you crave. It’s 22 minutes of pure gold that moves you to the next level of success in your career or business. Go to my website, barbarachurchill.com and click the START HERE tab in the upper right hand corner. Enter your name and email and you’ll have instant access to this life-changing information. It’s that simple!

Transcript

Hello and Happy New Year! It’s 2024 and I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and rang in the new year in style. How are you? Are you glad to be done with 2023?  So many of my clients are because it was a tough year on many fronts and I’m right there with them. 

My holiday season was very different this year and it was tough at times, I’m not going to lie. And I reminded myself that I was in charge of my own experience and wasn’t going to let anyone or anything interfere with my enjoyment of being with my kids and celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve. How did yours go? Did you create a plan on how to handle difficult people and situations prior to all the festivities? I did and I’m so grateful I did. It took all the angst and drama out of it for me so I could be present and have fun.

I always look forward to starting a new year because it feels like I get the opportunity to have a clean slate and hit the reset button. I don’t stress out over resolutions and haven’t for years. But there was a time I bought into all that. A new year can bring a lot of pressure around goals and resolutions and then the inevitable disappointment when they aren’t realized. Did you know only 9% of Americans who make resolutions actually complete them? Why keep hyping this very old was to think about the new year if no one is joining in?

I offer a different way to think about this time of year. Why not start the year with ease instead? Doesn’t that sound so much better? Ease. We just east into a new year instead of rushing or striving or pushing. Ease. It just feels better, right?

I’ve created this acronym for the word ease to help you approach your goals with excitement and give yourself the advantage of starting out with purpose rather than pressure. So here’s what embracing ease means:

E – Evaluate. How often do you sit down and evaluate the year you just finished? If you’re like most people, probably close to never. We are so focused on looking ahead, setting goals, hustle, hustle, hustle toward that next shiny object. I invite you to evaluate 2023 before you start making plans for 2024. Start with what worked well. What did you do that worked well? How did you show up that had a positive impact? Jot down all the amazing things that went really well – small and large. Make that list big! Then review it and be grateful for and marvel at yourself for all you accomplished! Brava!

Then look at what didn’t work, but please be kind to yourself. No judgment please. It’s just good information to know what you tried that didn’t turn out the way you intended so you can skip those mistakes in the future.

Finally, ask yourself what you will do differently moving forward. This is a great question because it provides you with a road map to look back on anytime you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed. 

A – Attention. What do you want to focus your attention on this year? Remember the phrase, “all work and no play makes Jane a dull girl.” By all means focus on your career or work goals, health goals, etc. but also make sure you leave room to turn your attention to having fun, too. Will you travel to places you’ve never been this year? Will you add more spontaneity to your life? Notice where your shoulders are when you’re sitting at your computer. Are they up near your ears? Bring them down. Pay attention to how much you’re on your devices and when. Do you bring your phone with you wherever you go: dinner, bathroom (ewwww), date night? It’s ok to put that thing down and pay attention to the moment you’re in. What you focus on magnifies so make sure your attention is on what you want, rather than what you don’t.

S – Self-care. Are you getting enough sleep? Do you take regular breaks during the day to get up from your desk and walk around, get a snack or step out for some fresh air? How are your boundaries at work and in your personal life? Do they need to be strengthened or maybe even created? How’s your mindset? Do you wake up and instantly feel dread on a workday? These are just some things to contemplate and make changes where needed. Self-care isn’t just about pedicures and getting your haircut. It’s about moving your body, eating nourishing foods so your brain can think better. It’s about unplugging and getting your rest so you have more energy to enjoy the bounty that life has to offer. It’s about making time for friends and laughing until your sides hurt. The care and keeping of you is of the utmost importance. 

E – Energy. This is a two-parter - physical energy and mental energy. How is your physical space? Is it cluttered? Does it reflect your personality? And then let’s look at your body’s physical energy. Are you moving your body, lifting weights to remain strong and coming up with creative ways to move your body like dancing, yoga, belly dancing, Thai Chi, or pickle ball – my new favorite. Make sure your world is esthetically pleasing to you and you are taking care of your beautiful bod. 

Next let’s talk about mental energy. Are you surrounding yourself with people who suck the energy right out of you? If they are at the office, there’s not much you can do to get rid of them, but you can learn to manage how much time you spend with them. If they are people in your personal life, ask yourself what if any value they bring to you. If you can’t come up with much, it may be time to let them go. Watch out for those energy suck people – they are vibrating at a much lower frequency than you will drain your battery quickly. No amount of positivity will change how they behave, so having an exit strategy is a great way to protect energy levels. 

Isn’t this a kinder and gentler way to begin a new year? I like the pace of it – no pressure. You can take all month to do it, there are no rules. Now, if you know you need help with sticking to something, then by all means schedule a Discovery Call with me asap. I don’t want you to have to struggle one more minute and think you have to do this all on your own. Let’s partner for 2024 and see what magic we can make together? Having me as your coach is the fastest way to feel more confident and learn to truly believe in yourself. I’m so ready!

So that’s what I have for you this week. If you want to join me for dinner in the Twin Cities area in the next couple of months, please email me at hello@barbarachurchill.com with the subject line: Invite me to dinner and I’ll make sure you get on the list for all the delicious details. It’s coming up in Q1 and I can’t wait to sit down for some deep connections and conversations. 

Go forth with EASE. And until next time remember:

I believe in you.