What I am restarting in 2022
Over the past two years, a lot of us have been in "survival mode." We have had to put some things on hold and focus on the basics of living in unprecedented times. It feels like we have been holding our breath for so long and waiting for life to "go back to normal." It is time to start living again while being safe. With that in mind, in 2022, there are some things that I want to do more of that have brought me joy and helped me feel fulfilled in the past.
In this blog post, we will discuss some steps to identify what you want to restart this year, as well as the five things I am restarting this year.
How to create your restart list
If you are wondering how to go about creating your list of things you did in the past and want to continue, here are some steps to consider:
Think about things you used to do that brought you joy and write them all down
Reflect on why you enjoyed them and how they helped you grow and live a great life
Ask yourself why you stopped doing them over the past years
Select three to five that you want to restart this year
Create a plan for how you will start doing them again
MC's Journey: What is on my "Restart List"?
Thinking about my list of things that I wanted to restart made me very excited. I had missed doing them. The five things on my "restart list" are the following:
#1: Prioritizing Self-care
Especially with the pandemic and having a baby, I had to stop doing things that were part of my self-care routine. Although some of them are available and safe to do, I found that I did not make time. I remember how good I felt when I prioritized self-care. In this phase of my life, I need to redefine what self-care means to me and plan for it.
What is my plan?
To make it happen, I will incorporate more self-care into my daily routine and schedule time once a month for things that take a little longer.
Resource
[Blog Post] Make Self-care a priority
#2: Doing what I love doing
Working on my passion projects gives me a lot of energy. I really enjoy writing my blog, making videos, speaking at conferences, sharing my knowledge, and connecting with people in my community. Sadly, I stopped doing many of these things over the past two years due to the pandemic and needed to reprioritize my time to care for my son. This year, I have many opportunities to do things that I love again, and I want to seize them.
What is my plan?
I really want to reconnect with people on a deeper level in the near term. I am blessed to have so many amazing people around me who I can reconnect with, and I also look forward to meeting new people.
Resource
[Blog Post] How to find or revive your passion
#3: Learning and getting inspired
One of my top five strengths is being a learner. I am great at it and have incorporated different learning goals into my yearly planning in the past. In 2021, I was not intentional about learning like I usually do. It has left me with a desire to learn more this year. Over the holidays, I went back to reading books and listening to podcasts. It has been a while since I last read. The inspiration that I get when I learn and discover new ways of thinking has helped propel my life.
What is my plan?
I want to continue my new routine of reading every evening and listening to podcasts while doing chores. I also plan to attend at least one virtual event or conference.
Resources
[Blog Post] How to be a life-long Learner
#4: Planning long term
If you know me personally or have read my blog posts, you know that I am a planner. Creating plans in my personal and professional life brings me a lot of joy. I started creating something I called an orientation plan about ten years ago. It was a 3 - 5 year plan that outlined the high-level things that I wanted to do or achieve in my life. It gave me a sense of direction, and I changed it as I evolved in my life. Over the past two years, I have focused my energy on surviving and living in the present and have missed planning the past year. I am at a pivotal time in my life, and I know that I need my orientation plan again.
What is my plan?
The first step is to refresh my 3 -5 year orientation plan. It will take a lot of soul-searching to see what I want to do and who I want to be five years from now.
Resource
[Book] The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World by Dorie Clark
#5: Dreaming big and setting bold golds
As I planned for 2022, I started experiencing a strange and familiar fear that comes up when things are going well, and I have big things planned. I was afraid to have too much hope or do new things, so I was not disappointed. As a result, I planned very "safe" goals. I know from past years that when I set bold goals and took risks, I accomplished things that I could never have imagined. I do not want to stunt my growth and possibilities because of self-doubt.
What is my plan?
To get back into the mindset of working towards bold goals, I will reflect on my journey and what I have accomplished so far. While I work towards my goals, I will also practice gratitude and not let fear stop me from being brave.
Resource
[Book] How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown
Final Thoughts
Writing my "restart list" got me thinking of how fortunate we are to do things we love. Some of the things on our list may seem small, but what really matters is their impact on us. Ask yourself if it brings you joy, makes you excited for the future, helps you grow or highlight your strengths. If it does, then the objective has been met. We all deserve to live our best lives and achieve greatness.
A Moment to Reflect
What are three things you want to restart or start doing this year?
How do you plan to make them happen?
How will you enjoy and celebrate the process?