The start of a new year always feels full of possibility. Clean calendars, fresh energy, and the smell of a new diary! But if I'm being honest, there's also the tiniest pressure to get it right.
But you know what? There’s no “right” way to kick off your year. What works for someone else might not work for you, and that’s okay.
Resolutions? Never worked for me.
But setting goals somehow did (I know, they're the same thing).
Before I took goal-setting seriously, I used to feel melancholy whenever a new year (or birthday for that matter) rolled around. I’d look back at the year and feel… inadequate. It felt like I hadn’t done anything noteworthy or achieved anything significant. It was just another year of existence.
That’s when I realised something had to change. The problem wasn’t that I wasn’t doing enough. It was that I wasn’t being intentional. I wasn’t giving myself credit for the wins or creating a clear sense of direction for what I wanted to achieve.
Now, I approach the new year and birthdays differently, using two methods that bring purpose and clarity without the pressure.
Here’s what works for me:
I love choosing a single word as my theme for the year. It’s like having a North Star. It's simple, flexible, and deeply personal.
Take 2024, for example.
My word was “relationships.” It wasn’t just a vague concept. Instead, it became the lens through which I saw everything.
I focused on creating meaningful memories with people I love, letting go of relationships that no longer served me, and deepening the most important relationship of all, the one with myself.
From that single word, I found clarity.
I planned coffee dates with friends.
I reconnected with old friends.
I reached out to ones who I lost touch with.
I planned holidays with my mum.
I organised weekend getaways with friends.
I invested in myself.
Don't get me wrong, though. I had some tough moments where I felt let down.
So I journaled through tough moments, and learned to set boundaries where they were needed.
That one theme shaped the year in ways I couldn’t have imagined, simply by keeping me focused on what truly mattered.
2024: I'm proud of how I lived it.
Now, if you’re more of a “write it all down and make it happen” type, goal setting might be your jam. It’s the classic New Year’s method for a reason - it works.
And it did for me before.
But here’s the trick: your goals need to feel like yours. Not someone else's desire to run 100km in 6 months :)
For me, goal setting is less about a giant list of things to check off and more about aligning with what I care about. Some years, my goals are ambitious, like launching a big project or tackling a new challenge.
Like running a 12km fun-run before I turned 40.
Other years, they’re quieter, like committing to reading more books or learning to say yes (I'm too comfortable saying no).
What makes this process meaningful isn’t just writing down the goal but it’s breaking it into smaller, manageable steps that feel doable. That way, it’s not just some lofty idea sitting on your desk all year. It’s something you’re actively working toward.
I don't think we need to pick just one method. Variety is the spice of life, right?
Maybe you're a theme word person this year and a goal-setter the next. Maybe you're a bit of both right now - I know I am.
Whatever feels right for you is the right way to start your year.
The key is to approach it with curiosity and a sense of fun.
Because whether you’re choosing a word, setting goals, or even just coasting into the new year without a plan (been there), it’s all part of the ride.
How do you like to kick off the new year?
Are you a goal setter, a theme word enthusiast, or do you have your own unique approach? I’d love to hear what works for you so send me a note.
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