Get off and running in 2018!

Wow, 2018! Can you believe it! Time sure does go by fast. The new year is honestly one of my favorite times of the year! I love the newness of a fresh start, goal planning, a chance to get organized, and another chance to make those dreams happen! I've been reading, watching webinars, and journaling in preparation for not only this blog post, but also to prepare for my own goals for 2018.

Many of the tips I'm going to share are not original from me. I'm a huge fan of Ruth Soukup, who wrote Living Well, Spending Less (which I completely recommend!) so some of the tips I share are directly from her webinars. You can check out her blog and website at livingwellspendingless.com. Other information is from Tony Robbins' youtube video about the start of the new year. Honestly anything you can watch or read by him is going to be a game changer for your 2018!

So let's dive right in!

#1 VISION: Let's start with having a vision. So we obviously have to have a reason why we want to accomplish something or why we want to change something. If there's no "why" then there's no point. Imagine in great detail what it is you want your 2018 to look like. The more detail the better. Spend 5 minutes daily just sitting and visualizing your 2018 and how it will look! Improved finances? A career move? A healthier lifestyle? Closer relationships? Picture all of these things in your head clearly and narrow in on the details daily. Bring that vision to life!

#2 REVIEW GOALS DAILY: Start by making a list of the goals you want to meet and the changes you want to implement. I have a morning ritual everyday: I get up at 5:30am, do my personal devotion, read my bible, and have some quiet prayer time. I'm also working to implement a few brief moments of silence and meditation (this is where you can focus on your vision!). Another thing I do is get my journal out and review what my goals for 2018 are. I have them broken into the following areas: spiritual, family, career, health, personal growth, and finances. Next to each area I have specific goals that I want to accomplish this year. For example, my spiritual goals are to focus solely on serving the Lord and raising my children for Him. This is my priority and my daily ritual should reflect that.

#3 RAISE YOUR STANDARDS: So we all desire to be more, do more, and have more right? I'm not just talking about money either. I'm talking about things that truly matter in life: health, relationships, giving back, etc. So it's time to turn our daily rituals into daily victories. We can desire to have, be, or do things this year but unless there is action, there will not be lasting changes. We need to turn our "shoulds" into "musts." I should eat healthy but unless I make a lasting change, it won't happen. I MUST eat healthy because I want to live a long and happy life and to be around for my family. What we do is a reflection of our standards. If we pay our bills late, that is our standard. If we are overweight, that is our standard. Convicting isn't it? I totally understand, I felt a little hot around the collar when learning that too! So let's raise our standards in 2018!

#5 BURN THE BOATS: One of my favorite quotes of all time is "Don't look back, you aren't going that way." I wish I knew who said it. Either way, this has such truth to it! Decide that you are only going forward and focus on lasting change. Burn the boats! Don't give yourself a back door! Progress = Happiness. Not perfection. You are only going to move forward this year! Decide and commit. Burn your boat!

#6 MAKE A PLAN: So now that you are all excited to get healthy, get organized, and promote in your career, what do we do? We make a plan. Set new daily rituals based on what your priorities are.

Here is what mine looks like:

1. Bible/Prayer Time

2. Journaling/Review Goals

3. Mediation and Vision

4. Exercise

5. Work on cleaning and organizing house for 1 hour

6. Make phone calls/follow up for my business

7. Write

8. Dinner Prep/Get Kids from school/errands

9. Family Time/Kids Activities

10. Read before bed

So this is overwhelming to read but I assure you even the busiest people can establish rituals.

I hope I haven't overwhelmed you but inspired you to make some lasting changes!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

-D