Intentional LivingThis post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our Disclosure Policy.
Happy New Year!!
As usual, I can’t believe I’m already saying that, but here we are in 2017. Wow! I remember when the year 2000 sounded far away, and now almost 20 years have passed. Suddenly, I’m feel very old.
I know New Year’s resolutions aren’t for everyone, but I’m the kind of person who is energized by a clean slate. I love setting goals and envisioning my future, but I’m usually a bit too optimistic about what I can achieve. I tend to set more goals than I can realistically handle, and the next thing I know I feel totally scattered, defeated, and overwhelmed. Unfortunately, last year was no exception.
I’m currently working on a new printable collection all about setting (and most importantly achieving!) goals, and I’m determined to walk a new path in 2017.
I don’t want to spend this year feeling overwhelmed, anxious, scattered, stressed, or disappointed in myself when all is said and done so I decided that my word for 2017 is going to be focus.
I’ve come to the realization that I need to declutter all aspects of my life so I can focus on what’s truly important. Whew… acknowledging that is kind of difficult for some reason.
I can already feel myself struggling with the feelings of possibly disappointing people, wondering if I’m making a mistake, am I choosing to focus on the right things? And my FOMO (fear of missing out) just kicked into high gear!!
The thing I’ve come to realize though is that every time we say, “Yes” to something, we’re ultimately saying no to something else. Our time is so limited, and we really do need to safeguard it from the minutia that will devour it otherwise. So much of my time is currently eaten up by trivial nonsense that’s ultimately getting me nowhere. This is why my goals end up either unaccomplished or taking a lot longer to achieve than they should.
In 2017, I am going to become a fierce protector of my time. I’m going to focus on my top priorities and stop getting distracted by every promising opportunity or interesting thing that comes my way. Trust me, it happens a lot!
If it, whatever “it” is, isn’t aligned with one of my top priorities or goals, it’s getting a big, fat NO! I really hope this is one resolution I can successfully achieve.
I hope to be back next week with more details on my priorities and goals as well as the new goal setting workbook. I think you’re really going to like it, and I hope it helps us have our most successful, focused year yet.
Do you have a word, goal, or resolution for 2017? Please share in the comments below. I’d love to hear all about it.
Let’s make this our best year yet!
Lovely Emily. That really resonated with me 100%. I really need to focus this year…on sooooo many things, so I think I will be joining you and also making my word for 2017 FOCUS! Can’t wait to see the workbook…cause you KNOW I NEED THAT!
Thank you
Nina
The funny thing is that even as I was writing this post and talking about it with my husband I was getting distracted! This might be harder than I thought! lol
Joy
That’s a wonderful word for 2017!
My word is “Less” meaning less is more. I am finding that I will stress less, worry less, own less (give more) . I will also live LESS out of habit and more out of INTENT. Once you need LESS you will have more. Less, talking, less soda, less frowning… etc. You get the idea.
I love that, Tracy! I think so many of us happen to be choosing different words, but we’re working towards the same goals: an intentional life! I hope you are successful beyond your wildest dreams and that 2017 is your best year yet!
Before reading this blog, I thought my word for this year might be CLARITY or PRIORITIZE. After reading this, I believe in order to gain my ‘clarity’ I need to ‘prioritize’ which is another way of saying one should focus on what is most important first. I think we’re completely on the same wavelength! Focusing is a great tool/skill to use for reaching any your goals.
I agree! I think clarity, prioritize, and focus all go hand-in-hand. I’m looking forward to cutting the excess out of my life and spending time on what matters. Happy 2017!
Mindful! I plan to be mindful about 1) what I eat and drink 2) how I spend my time and 3) how I spend my money. I love that you say you will be a fierce protector of your time. I need to do that. As a newer blogger I am constantly saving articles and following people until I’m so overwhelmed I don’t get much work done. No more. I’ve whittled down the list of people to follow to just a few. And you are one of them!
THANK YOU, Daria!! I so appreciate that! And congratulations on your new blog!! I may be biased, but I think you’ve made a fantastic decision. Blogging is the BEST!! (I must be serious… look at all of those exclamation points!) lol I love your blog too 😉
My word is Prioritize. Pretty similar to Focus. It’s hard when there are SO MANY good/great things to choose from, hard to know what is the BEST thing to do at the time.
That’s the trick, isn’t it! It’s definitely hard to know the best thing to do sometimes. I hope it gets a little easier to prioritize this year.
Balance! 🙂
That was my word last year! 🙂
I’m not sure what my word is. I thought is was organized but I am no where near that yet. I feel like am still learning how to be organized. I feel like my biggest problem is even though I may have a schedule, I may not feel motivated to follow through. Then I feel guilty and ashamed that I didn’t.
I have always been a career woman. When to school and held down two jobs. MY husband has a running joke that I was never “domesticated” I was never a good domestic housewife.
I guess I want to create routines that allow me to be more productive. I want to priorities so I get what matters done. I want to get my home in order. I want to be a better housewife.
productivity, priorities, and a functioning happier home.
Do five words count?
Thank you for always listening and sharing.
I can so relate, Rebecca! I have the best of intentions for things, but my follow through is horrible. I’m hoping 2017 will be a turning point for me, and if I find something that works for me I’ll definitely share it.