Tag / #newyearsresolutions

by caitlyncallahan14

setting goals for 2021 after the dumpster fire of 2020

It’s no surprise that the majority of humans are ready to leave 2020 behind.

Not that on January 1 the world is magically going to be a better place, the pandemic will be gone, everyone has their jobs back and life is back to normal. But just that the year where so many terrible things happened is left behind and we can literally turn the page.

2020 was a rough year for many, including myself. I was furloughed for three month, I was (and still am) anxious for family members who are healthcare heroes and work on the front lines, I had family members and friends get the virus, and people close to me lost loved ones. I struggled with not being able to see friends and live our normal, outgoing and busy lives. I was scared, angry, sad and sometimes lonely. Between the pandemic (and everything that came with it), celebrity deaths, wild fires, BLM movement, protests, the election, murder hornets, and more, this year was a lot.

But 2020 was also one of the best years I can remember. I bought a house, got a puppy, went back to my job and now work from home (which I’ve always wanted), went on a mother-daughter vacation that we’ve talked about for years but never made time for, fell back in love with writing and my side-hustle work, read dozens of books, continued building my business and brought on new clients, realized the value of friendship more than ever, slowed down and enjoyed life like I’ve never done before… and without some of the bad, I never would have had the opportunity for some of this good.

Every year, I write “resolutions” or goals for myself and my business. With 2021 just a few days away, I sat down to think about what I want to accomplish next year. Going into 2020, I had some very specific and S.M.A.R.T. growth and opportunity goals. In 2021, I’m going in a different direction.

Here are a few of my goals (personal and professional) for 2021:

  • Read. Read at least two books per month (fun or professional development… doesn’t matter!)
  • Learn. Earn three certifications in something I’m interested in and can help me in my life/career.
  • Build. Continue to nurture relationships with my clients and provide outstanding, exceptional work. Keep my eyes open for potential new jobs/clients, with less emphasis on the “quantity” of clients and more emphasis on the “quality.”
  • Enjoy. Be intentional with any time I get to spend with family, friends or coworkers. Take advantage of any experiences I get to share with loved ones, and stay in the moment to enjoy every second possible.
  • Improve. 2020 was a huge year for learning about myself, my passions, my work ethic, what I want in a career and future. Next year, I want to continue to improve myself personally and professionally. While I don’t know exactly what that looks like, I want to be intentional about recognizing when I have opportunities to do so.
  • Travel. Whether it’s somewhere distant for a week, another state for a weekend or to the park down the street for a few hours, spend more time outdoors and creating and embracing experiences and memories.

While these look different than any other annual goals I’ve ever set for myself, I am more passionate about them and excited to take them on.

If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to think back on 2020, remember the positive things that happened, and take that momentum into 2021. Build on it, grow, continue to embrace what’s really important, be intentional and stay in the moment, and don’t take work, love, family and friendship for granted. Set goals for yourself that make you happy and will improve your life. We’ve all learned a lot this year, and it’s time to make ourselves and the world better next year!

by caitlyncallahan14

new year’s resolutions

Yes, I’m one of the millions of people who makes New Year’s resolutions each year.

I’m also one of the millions who usually gives up on those goals one, three or six months into the year.

I don’t go crazy with my resolutions. Like, instead of saying I want to lose 30 lbs., I instead say I want to eat healthier, get in the habit of exercising, and feel better about myself. I try to keep them general to help increase my chances of success. (I recognize that’s the opposite of what they teach you about setting goals, but in this scenario it seems to work better for me.)

A lot of people look at the new year as a fresh start.

#newyearnewme

In just a couple of days, we will be entering a new decade. And I can feel big, great things coming my way.

2019 was rough. It certainly had it’s ups, but it also had some of the lowest downs I think I’ll ever feel. And I’m determined to take everything I’ve felt and learned right into 2020 and make it one of the best years yet.

A few of my 2020 professional-bucket goals include:

  • Five consistent freelance clients throughout the year.
  • Complete fulfillment (and perhaps a promotion) at my existing job.
  • Re-focus building my business with the ability to be solely reliant by 2022.
  • Build my blog and brand, and continue providing timely, exceptional work for my clients.
  • Earn at least two certifications in a marketing field.
  • Become more educated in business ownership, finances and accounting.

I’ve already begun planning my content calendar and social media post calendars for myself and my clients, and committing to building my client list as much as I can handle. I’ve already set several personal and professional goals for myself, and written out my plan for accomplishment.

  • Submit 10 proposals per week for clients.
  • Have three consistent freelance clients by March 31.
  • Have five consistent freelance clients by June 30.
  • Commit one hour per day to my business – whether it’s for myself or a client.
  • Finish one certification by April 30.
  • Finish second certification by November 30.

I also want to commit to journaling at least one time per week, reading at least one book per month, and setting daily intentions. These are all things I have done in the past and have fallen out of habit, and I strive to re-commit to them next year.

For a few months, I fell out of love with my business and my work. But recently, I’ve fallen back. I thrive when I’m writing. I glean excitement from working with prospective and existing clients. I feel accomplished and proud when I complete an assignment. It’s a different kind of fulfillment the I get from my day-to-day job, and something I want to continue feeling for a long time. It’s also something I want to re-focus on building and creating in 2020.

2020 will be my year. It will be a year for my business and brand, my clients, and my success. What personal or professional goals are you setting in 2020? Share in the comments!