How To Get Your Shit Together For A Fresh Start (& more crochet time)

January is a time when many of us, including myself, choose to refresh our souls, declutter our homes and minds, and envision the amazing future we desire for ourselves. It's a chance to begin a brand-new chapter.

As I grow older, I've learned that setting strict resolutions isn't the key. Instead, it's about embracing new experiences and enriching our lives, without unnecessary restrictions.

Let's embrace the possibilities!

““Life is a gift and it gives us the privilege, opportunity and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.”

— Tony Robbins

That’s why I feel excited that my word of the year this year is ‘fresh’.

Taking action and refreshing is key to an exciting journey of growth. You know the saying, "Keep doing what you're doing and you'll keep getting what you've got".

It's important to pause, declutter, and embrace the transformative power of refreshing different aspects of our lives.

What exactly is a life refresh?

For me, it's all about taking a step back and evaluating how you're living, then making changes to improve your life and bring more happiness and less stress into it.

It's about embracing creativity, finding inspiration, and setting yourself up for success. It's about taking control and experiencing the thrill of change.

Refreshing: where do you start?

In the past, my success with “refreshing” has been a mixed bag. Sometimes, hitting the mark but often falling short.

So, last year, I decided to switch things up a bit.

Rather than listing out all the things I wanted to do, I identified a significant word that encapsulated the feelings I aimed to experience.

This simple change transformed my entire year.

The issue with setting goals is that it’s difficult to predict your emotional response to them in the future. Unforeseen circumstances may arise that de-prioritize our initial goal. But, when we plan our future based on desired feelings, it provides us with some much-needed flexibility.

Moreover, reaching a goal doesn’t always guarantee happiness.

As we chase our ambitions, there always seems to be a loftier, more enticing goal on the horizon.

We all know the drill.

• You shed some pounds, yet confidence still eludes you.

• Your income increases, but you feel as trapped as ever.

• Even acquiring that thought after car doesn’t ease your feelings of inadequacy.

It’s a perpetual cycle of dissatisfaction.

Re-ignite that excitement

Danielle LaPorte, author of “The Desire Map,” recommends reevaluating your goals from a different perspective. Rather than focusing on what you wish to achieve or do, consider how you want to feel once you’ve reached your goal. By reshaping your goals around these desired emotions, you get a more profound and comprehensive viewpoint, she asserts.

So, my goal last year was to infuse a sense of excitement into all aspects of my life.

I yearned for every endeavour to spark excitement within me.

If something felt merely acceptable or a bit off, it served as an indicator that it wasn’t good enough for me.
This perspective offered me a clearer assessment of my professional pursuits and social interactions.

I would question whether these aspects contributed to my desired feeling of excitement. If they fell short of generating this feeling, it was a clear sign that change was necessary in that area of my life.

How do you select your word?

My approach resembles the process of creating a vision board.

You can start by gathering magazines and cutting out images that captivate you. Don’t overanalyze their appeal, just start the process.

Online alternatives could be Pinterest boards or saving Instagram posts. Once you’ve a large selection, observe and record the emotions these pictures evoke within you.

Emotions could range from excitement and comfort to pleasure. Regardless, of what they are, jot them down to create a list.

From this list, choose the words that you want as your guiding emotions for the upcoming year. Don’t hesitate to revise your choices or introduce new words until you’re left with a refined list that feels right.

Once you’ve selected your words, take some time to contemplate how they could influence your year.

Let’s say one of the words you chose is ‘joy’.

Reflect on whether your professional life currently brings you joy.

• If you aim to experience joy throughout the year, what modifications would be necessary in your work?

• Is it time to explore new job opportunities or perhaps delegate more tasks?

You may find yourself setting a few tangible goals, which is perfectly acceptable as long as they align with your desired emotions.

The aim is to ensure that you engage in activities that uplift your spirits and give you joy.

Get started overview:

1.     Embrace Your Desires: Consider how you wish to feel within your lifestyle, wellness, relationships, and social interactions. Write down your thoughts in a free-flowing manner for each category.

2.   Identify Recurring Themes: Spot repeated words or emerging patterns within these lists.

3.    Pick one word: Delve deeper into your emotions. For example, perhaps what you perceive as “success” is truly about freedom, love, or creativity.

4.   Self-Reflection: Ask yourself, what actions, possessions, or experiences are necessary to foster your core desired feelings.

The aim is that the next time you set your goals, you do things because they make you feel good — and there is no better motivation to stick to them than that.

How to refresh your home

Now, that you picked your word for the year. Let’s refresh your home.

Let's be real, clutter has a sneaky way of creeping into our lives, especially if you have kids!

But it's time to take control and declutter.

Marie Kondo said, "The space in which we live should be about the person we are becoming now, not the person we were in the past."

Let that sink in for a moment.

• Is your home a reflection of your current self?

• Are your walls adorned with motivational art?

• Do the colors around you inspire and uplift you?

Decluttering and getting organized can help us imagine a positive future, according to Kelly McGonigal, a health psychologist at Stanford University. I absolutely love this idea!

Reigniting your entrepreneurial spirit: is it time to monetize your crochet?

It's never too late to start a business - just look at all the amazing women who have done it before us!

We all spend so much time at work, so it's crucial to regularly reassess our goals and aspirations.

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For an in depth look at how to sell your crochet items, check out this blog post: How To Start Selling Your Crochet Products

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We can start a business at any age and in any circumstance - many women have already done it.

Think about how much time we spend at work. It's essential to regularly reassess what we truly want from our working lives.

Let's be honest: if you're not doing something you're genuinely passionate about, you're just wasting time.

Why not embark on new adventures?

They're out there, waiting for you.

Imagine the difference it would make if you replaced just one hour a week of scrolling through social media with reading an inspiring blog post or book. The possibilities are immense. What do you have to lose?

The habit refresh

As women, we often put ourselves last on our to-do lists. But it's time to change that. Let's focus on creating habits that prioritize self-care and self-growth, rather than just our external appearance.

What can help you live a happier and healthier life?

Maybe it's choosing the outdoors over screen time, surrounding yourself with positive people, making more time for your crochet projects, getting more active, or remembering to take your vitamins. Whatever it is, let's put it on display.

Surround yourself with reminders of what matters most to keep you motivated and moving forward. Together, let's make healthy habits a beautiful part of our everyday lives.

Take small steps every week towards your goal. Each one brings you closer and is a positive move. Embrace change and uncertainty, and don't let them derail you.

My fellow Austrian, Arnold Schwarzenegger says: "Winners aren't those who never fail, but those who never give up."

So, on that note - Stay motivated and keep going!

Here’s to ambitious goals, fun adventure, and achievement.

Here’s to a year filled with potential and promise.

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