There is question that hovers towards the end of December: How am I going to make 2023 the best year yet? Reflecting on my New Year’s Eves over the years, I don’t have many crazy midnight toast memories, wild outings with friends, or photos in crazy sequin dresses. I have memories that look more like eating ice cream from the carton while watching a romcom, firework shows put on by Banks, nerf wars with friends visiting the beach, and many New Year’s Eve nights spent reflecting on the previous year and setting intentions for the one upcoming.
Let’s start with three tips for getting in tune with 2023…
TIP 1: Vision board
I constructed my first vision board in college, when I was trying to gain clarity on career direction. As I flipped through old magazines and newspapers for inspiration, I remember looking for images of delicious looking recipes, tailored suits paired with pumps, an apartment view with floor-ceiling windows, and mostly just taking time to discover what a maintainable work-life balance looked for me. I kept this physical vision board on my bedroom wall for three years before remodeling and shifting to a more digital approach.
Both digital and physical vision boards are beneficial in keeping the areas of life in the forefront as you focus on the new year. For example, I like to keep this at on my desktop, as a screensaver, and taped to my bathroom mirror. This way I am seeing it all the time, and subconsciously imagining having all the vision items. I like to make digital vision boards throughout the year and to keep on my phone and computer, while making a physical vision board to hang in the house. This is a good activity to do with friends.
In addition, check at my Instagram Reel about my steps for making it! (scroll to bottom of page for IG Feed)
💡Idea for New Year’s Eve: Invite friends over for a cocktail/mocktail vision board creation night.
TIP 2: Reflection
Reflection is a caveat to vision board making. Through searching images on Pinterest and imputing them into Google Slides, questions and musings will naturally surface. Some will include happy moments and others might be parts of life to leave in 2022.
Reflection requires an in-tune-ness about routines, habits, and healthy relationships but also a vulnerability about what areas of life need some extra attention.
20 Questions to Spark Reflection
- What wisdom has this year provided me?
- What hobbies do I want to spend more time on in 2023?
- How can I improve my relationship with money?
- What are some challenges I have overcome in 2022?
- How will I improve my health in 2023?
- What people leave me feeling better about myself after spending time with them?
- Three biggest lessons in love I have learned this year?
- What experiences leave me feeling energized?
- Are there any relationships that I want to end or rekindle this year?
- What is one habit I want to remove this year?
- What are five non-fiction books I want to read in 2023?
- How will I support my spiritual and emotional health?
- Among words of appreciation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and gifts, which one do I want to receive from my partner the most?
- What am I most proud of from 2022?
- What do I want to be remembered for at the end of this year?
- Three places I want to visit in 2023?
- What are some ways I can give back to my community?
- When was the last time I felt a rush of satisfaction in something I did?
- What are three words I want to be known for this year?
- What traits or qualities do the people I admire most have in common?
And perhaps the biggest question and bridge into the final tip for planning the New Year, spoken by thought and action leader Mel Robbins, “What is one thing I am scared to commit to doing because I don’t think it will happen?”
💡Idea for New Year’s Eve: Write some of these prompts down in a journal and spend time thinking through answers for 2023.
Tip 3: Scripting
Scripting takes vision work a step further. It is a technique used in manifestation where you journal from the perspective of you already having the accomplishments, relationships, and reality you are working towards. It’s like a ‘note to self’ for your dream life. For this exercise to be successful, it’s important to clear the mind, trust the process, and imagine the ideal tomorrow. As you script, remember that this script’s thesis is simple: What do you want most out of life and what does this look like for you?
💡Idea for New Year’s Eve: Go to a place that feels calm and script the life you crave. From large scale and down to the smallest daily details, how can you make this your reality in 2023?
Let’s Talk Resolutions
I surround myself in lists. From recipe lists, shopping lists, daily to-dos, want to-dos-somedays, to questions to ask loved ones, intention lists, and lists regarding who I need to nurture on a weekly basis. Lists keep me on track, help provide lucidity, and give me so much gratification at check off. They also prevent me from ever ever ever feeling bored.
Resolutions and goals are a great form of accountability and another list I keep. They can be all-encompassing and focus on the most important pillars of life. These include foundational categories such as finance, food, fashion, relationships, and hobbies. I reflect on each pillar and this keeps my moral foundation resilient. I often question: How can I revise these to make them stronger? Where do I crave more clarity? What promises can I make to myself, and keep?
This revision process has helped bring to light my wants and needs, maintain and nurture relationships, and increase an overall excitement for life.
How to Make Resolutions for The Best Year Yet:
- Make your goals personal. One way to ensure a resolution sticks throughout 2023 is through habit stacking. I learned about habit stacking and creating habit cues in Charles Duhigg’s book, The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business and since, have found the method to be so helpful. For example. when I wanted to start incorporating yoga and stretching into my early morning routine, I put my yoga mat in front of the bedroom door before going to sleep. Therefore, I would physically have to move the mat out of the way before going down stairs and get my morning coffee. This resulted in me either doing a stretching routine right then, or carrying the mat downstairs to use right after having my morning beverages.
- Plan the ‘when.’ In Daniel H. Pink’s book When: The Scientific Secrets if Perfect Timing, he confirms the importance of not only what and how you perform something, but when. This holds true for 2023 resolutions..
- Get an accountability partner. There is power in voicing the aspects of life that you want to improve. This gives those around you permission to hold you accountable. Let’s say working out three times a week is on your resolution list. This would be a perfect way to use an accountability partner. Choose a consistant time in the morning/evening and ask a friend to meet you for a walk or run. This will not only help you reach your health goals, but also improve friendships and create an inner network of strong support.
(Some of) Allie’s 2023 Resolutions/Goals/To-Dos
-Be more present in the mundane moments
-Consistently post on social media, Allie In Her 20s Blog, and WTL Podcast
-Sell all the clothes I have posted and continue uploading on Depop
-Send lots of (love) letters and gratitude texts to the people in my inner circles
-Read and document annotations for 40 books–physical or audio
-Try new recipes every week and expand the recipe section on Allie In Her 20s and on Pinterest
-Finish Holistic Nutrition Certification and start Culinary Arts School
-Travel to Iceland with brother Cage and NYC for a brand trip and to see family/friends
-Host monthly dinner parties, cocktail parties, themed events
Conclusion
The Allie In Her 20s Blog is focused on beauty, travel, recipes, and relationships, which parallel the pillars expanded upon above. Beauty encompasses skincare, nutrition tips, and daily routines. Travel includes trip itineraries, tips for budgeting, and must-try restaurants. The recipes section of the blog focuses on food’s power to bring loved ones together and cultivate positive relationships with food. And finally, relationships, they are the building blocks for who we become. Mama used to say, “Your greatest influences as you grow up will be the five people you spend the most time with, so choose wisely.” Over the years, I have found this to be true. In all areas of your life during 2023, make this your mantra and choose wisely.
The Best Year Yet
As mentioned in ‘Allie’s Goals for 2023’ above, the Writing The Line (WTL) Podcast is a project I started in 2022 and will continue, with a more consistent schedule, in 2023. There will be new episodes every Thursday that explore topics such as personal life, career setting, love, friendships, and more.
20s are for harnessing the beauty in discomfort. The WTL podcast is a breathing version of what it means to live through a lens of exploration, discipline, celebration.
Cheers to a new year full of documenting and a continued effort to making room for the best version of self in 2023.
xxx
Allie M.
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