Ditch 2022 Resolutions. Try These 5 Motivating Things Instead

 1. Vision Board

Vision boards are popular and successful because it is a project where we are engaged and focused and the result is a tangible item filled with images which our memory retains better than just reading or listening. Around the same time I started my personal growth journey I opened my mind and attended my first Vision Board workshop. I found the whole process fascinating, and little did I know creating it was the tip of the iceberg. The idea is that you cut out images from magazines or newspapers (remember those?) or even from the internet that resonates with you. You then glue them to your poster board and if you focus and believe in those images, it will manifest your ideal life. I find that at the end of every year it is enlightening to see how my visions manifested, often different than expected, but most will in some shape or form as long as you keep your goals in your field of vision, believe in them and work at them. My colleague Lynzie Moore  is currently scheduling Vision Board sessions: 1:1,  group of 4+ available and large group rates available for 10+ and public sessions resume in Feb/Mar 2022. Contact Lynzie here www.artwithlynzie.com 

2. Word Of The Year

Definitely not as time consuming as a Vision Board, I immediately loved the idea of a Word of the Year (WOTY) the minute I read about it. My first word of the year was implemented on New Year’s Day 2018. 2022 will be my fifth year choosing one. This idea intrigued me and I could see how it was more simple than resolutions. It would keep me motivated and focused for the new year, and throughout the year as an easy to remember, meaningful (to me) word. I first heard of the concept WOTY (not to be confused with Woman of the Year #woty) by Christine Kane* Founder of  UpLevel You.  As a writer I immediately fell in love with the idea because it’s a word, and I love words! This seemed like a much more focused, inspiring idea to me instead of the weight of Resolutions that we carry for January, then feel guilty about in February, and then once March hits its “maybe next year.” But picking just one word? Totally doable.
While it’s only one word, each year I do feel the importance of it to be of great significance. This one word would inspire and motivate me in making decisions whenever I was worried, scared, anxious, happy, proud. As an additional step, it’s fun to get a sign, a T-shirt, a ring or bracelet with your word on it. For some context, these are the words I’ve picked over the past five years and how they manifested:

2018 – Fearless (little did i know that January I would start this blog in November)
2019 – Vulnerability (I had to put myself out there in my work & make a life in a new state)

2020 – Persevere (little did I know in January what would become of 2020, so appropriate)

2021  – Shine (I put my original quotes from the blog into a quote journal named When The Clock Strikes Midlife…It’s YOUR Time to Shine. I truly did not choose Shine in the title consciously)

2022  – Communicate (here we are in January and I chose this because I feel I could communicate better, which is a challenge for me because I am hard of hearing even with hearing aids)

*If you are looking to lead your business with your heart, I highly recommend Christine Kane’s first book that was recently  launched  “The Soul Sourced Entrepreneur” 

3. Journaling 

Journaling is a popular practice because writing something down makes it more concrete and not just ideas floating in your head. Journaling may sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. As a year end/new year ritual, you may journal a number of ways. The simplest way is bullet journaling. It’s just asking yourself a question, and answer in short words or sentences. For example, you may ask yourself: 3 things I am grateful for; 3 things that helped me grow this past year; 3 things I want to manifest in the coming year; 3 ways I can nurture those manifestations. Writing these down with short answers will get it out of your head, onto paper, and before your eyes. Did you know in academia that using the most senses when learning something will have you retain the information easier? When my kids were learning the multiplication table we had them hop on one foot, or do other physical movements which helped them retain and recall more easily.

4. Blessings Jar

I learned this from a friend and did some research on it. This practice is cool in so many ways. You don’t have any beginning of the year work to do because the work is throughout the year. The way my friend’s family does this is they start with an empty jar or box at the beginning of the year and put a pad and pen near it. Every time a family member has a good thing happen or they did a good deed, they write it and put it in. At the end of the year, they go through the jar and recall all of the blessings of the year. I love this idea because so many of us get stuck in the woe is me, when in reality good things happen way more than bad and we need to be reminded of that.

5, Adventure Board

Another friend of mine does another simple, fun ritual (I have such creative friends and colleagues!) . She has a chalkboard in her kitchen and she writes all of the adventures she wants to go on and erases them as she does them. It can be anything from going on a cruise to trying a new cafe down the street. I included this idea in my midlife quote journal as another tool to inspire women to care for themselves by including fun and joy in their lives. When we take care of everyone else besides ourselves, we are no good to ourselves or anyone else. We must bring this way of life back into American culture.