Start Fresh January 2015

New Beginnings

We are now well into the new year with the opportunity to start fresh in 2015. I love this time of year because it represents new beginnings, a time of reflection, and forming new dreams and goals. It’s also my birthday month so it personally represents growth for me, the passage of chronological time, and a time to celebrate.

January also represents a fresh start for your business and it’s the perfect time to look at the past year and see how well you hit your goals and reflect on the changes you need to incorporate to make 2015 your best year ever.

Everyone is talking about new years resolutions and goal setting and how to best accomplish them and I wanted to share what I am doing and also other ideas that resonated with me. Ideally you started your planning in December but it is never too late to get moving on this.

Let’s Get Clear

First, it is really important to get clear about what you really want, not what others tell you that you should want, but what will make YOU happy. We only go around once in this life and we are each unique with special gifts and talents and passions. But it is so easy to get stuck on the treadmill of life just getting through each day, as we all have plenty of obligations and responsibilities. Do you ever feel like your life is on autopilot, just like when your subconscious mind takes over when you are driving and you don’t reach your destination but instead end up somewhere else? We moved last February and when my mind was on auto pilot driving I would end up at our old home! The point is, to get a fresh start in 2015, you need to get really clear on what you want, both personally and professionally, and be intentional about it. You can’t just focus on business goals, but need to take a close look at all areas of your life because each impacts the others.

The main areas most people are concerned with are:

• Health
• Relationships
• Financial goals
• Spiritual life
• Business goals

Over the next few weeks I will be blogging about each of these and how they will set you up for personal and business success in 2015. The first thing you have to do to accomplish growth in any of these areas is to get the proper mindset and be clear on what you want. Without this clarity you won’t succeed in accomplishing your goals and will fall victim like so many do to starting out with big exciting plans and finding your energy and excitement peters out as each week goes by. This has happened to me multiple times in the past and I still struggle with it!

Do The Work

Getting a fresh start and clear on what you want takes work! You can’t avoid it if you want to succeed and be happy. We often avoid this kind of introspection, perhaps afraid of what we will find out about ourselves. Or maybe we were trained from an early age not to sit and think and dream. I can remember from my own childhood being told to get up and get busy and not sit around and “contemplate my navel.” Although well intentioned advice, the trouble is I was to get busy fulfilling someone elses dreams for me, not my own. Once you know exactly what you want to accomplish then the magic happens as you set action steps and a strategic plan to accomplish them.

Here are some ideas that might work for you that I am using to start my day on a positive note, get clear on my goals and have the right mindset every day. Reading The Miracle Morning got me started on this path and I highly recommend it.

1. You need to carve out some private time so you can make your plans and review the action steps you outlined and record how well you did. I recommend getting up an hour earlier every morning. I know….this can be hard because you may already feel you don’t have enough hours in the day as it is…but the rewards are tremendous. Make the time. As you get better at this it will take less time to accomplish the same thing.
2. Find a special, quiet place to spend this time alone where you won’t be disturbed. For me it is a comfy loveseat in our sun room. I like to raise the shades so the sunlight can come in (once the sun is up) and I can glance up while working and see nature outside, the birds at the feeder and hear the bubbling fountain. Like Colin Firth, in the movie Love Actually, who sits outside overlooking a lake to write his novel, this is what works for me. Others might prefer a cocooning dark place without outside distractions. Perhaps a seat in front of a blazing fire in your fireplace. Pick and choose what works for you. This is your “happy place” to start your day off right.
3. Keep the materials you need nearby to use during this time. Notepad, pens, calendar, highlighters, journal, the Bible or motivational book, vision board, etc. I have a set of wicker drawers next to the loveseat that holds everything I need. Or you can keep a basket nearby that holds these items and nothing else. If your preferred spot is your desk have a drawer for the items you need and your online tools easily accessible and a special folder set up for all your notes on your computer. The point is to have everything you need and not have it cluttered with anything else.
4. Last but not least I have my favorite morning beverage in reach and I am ready to get to work.

Next post I will cover the initial work that needs to get done to make 2015 your best year ever. Please comment and share below if you start your day in a similar way or any ideas you have on what works for you. Would love to hear what you think. 🙂