As I sit here thinking about 2024, I am so grateful.
For many reasons.
If I were to just think about 2024, without looking over my quarterly tracking, in many ways I could think this year wasn’t that great.
I didn’t build my business as much as I had wanted to.
Despite monthly/weekly blogs, I didn’t write as much as I wanted to. Or rather in the format that I had as a goal.
But man - there were so many other amazing things that happened.
I was more social than I had been in the past five-plus years.
I got out and networked more. Met so many new and amazing contacts.
I have a new book that I’m working on/writing..
I’m rebranding/refocusing my business (more to come in 2025).
I read over 70 books, and listened to 26.
I haven’t read that much in the past ten years combined.
Focusing on being more curious and less judgemental.
Things I thought were important in 2023, and made goals for 2024, just don’t hold the same weight as they used to.
I needed to add “ways to celebrate” and “intentionally creating joy” in 2023.
Both are still a hard area for me.
I currently have it set up that I pick a way to celebrate at the beginning of each quarter, and if I meet my goals, then I ‘celebrate.’
I’ve realized that many of my goals are not just dependent on me, therefore they can be hard to accomplish.
And, even more importantly, I acknowledge the smaller goals/wins more often. I don’t always celebrate them, but I do take a moment to say ‘good job, Sarah’, and not just cross it off my list of goals and move on to the next thing.
Feeling a sense of accomplishment is still difficult, but I’m realizing that is related to neurodiversity.
Intentionally creating joy. Wow - I had no idea how hard that would be for me. I was still in such recovery and detoxing from corporate trauma that I couldn’t think of what brought me joy - besides pup and morning coffee.
2024 proved to a year of ‘glimmers’ and joys. I found joy in smaller things, like picking up a physical book from the library. Or trivia night at a local brewery with a food truck for dinner, and spending time with friends. I still very much find joy with my pup, now with morning walks, and coffee.
One thing I’ve learned about yearly goals/preparing for the next year is I need to revisit goals quarterly and shift as needed.
I’ve also learned to separate goals, projects, tasks, and wants/needs.
When I first started this work years ago, I confused all four of those and felt like I was doing a lot/crossing things off lists, but I didn’t have any real forward movement.
I also realized I needed to look at 3-,5-,10-year goals. Ask myself the question - what am I working towards? Why am I working towards THESE particular goals?
Reflecting on the current year has been extremely helpful in figuring out goals for for the following year
As I’m writing this, I haven’t done the deep dive reflection and preparation yet, however I do have a couple of goals I’m declaring.
- My business is shifting to focus on neurodivergent/AuDHD coaching and emotional intelligence coaching (and this opens to door for many projects for me, such as revamping my website. Oy - that’s a big one).
- I’m writing a book. Websites have been purchased with the book's name (more to come). I’m not sure if it will be completed in 2025 - but it’s a great goal to have.
- I plan on continuing monthly get-togethers with different groups of friends (after 2024 they are no longer ‘new friends’) as much as possible.
- Continue to read, but very happy not to have a ‘number of books read’ goal. I want to read because I love reading (again).
- Continue to work on mental, physical, and emotional health. (I will get clearer on what this looks like as I start to document 2025 goals, etc).
If you want to work with a(n) (accountability) coach with setting your own goals and reflections, please reach out.
Doing this work has changed not only my professional life but my personal life. I would not have been as successful doing this work if I had been operating solo.
Wishing you all the best in 2025!
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