How to plan for an intentional 2023
Many people are approaching 2023 with a new outlook and a desire for more. Experiencing a global pandemic has changed the way many people think about their lives, especially those of us who have emerged from the pandemic with a young child and essentially a brand new life…
This year I a committed to being intentional about my time, and I wanted to share some proven ways to plan an intentional year. Being intentional means making deliberate decisions about how we use our time, money, and energy to live the life we desire.
Whether you're looking to make a career change, learn new skills, improve your relationships, or simply live a happier and more fulfilling life, having a clear plan in place can help you stay focused and motivated throughout the year.
One of the first steps in planning out an intentional year is to take stock of your current life. This means understanding and accepting your current situation and looking ahead at the next 12 months to see what you have committed to already, I think you will be surprised to see just how many commitments you already have before February has even arrived!
Step 1: Make a list of all of the scheduled activities for 2023. This should include personal and professional travel, family events and holidays, and other celebrations like weddings and graduations. Consider if there are people in your life you should consult to see if there are commitments they had in mind for you or to reflect on how their lives could impact you. For example, are you becoming an Aunt and don’t want to be out of town around the due date?
An unfortunate reality of adulting is that we don’t necessarily get to control every moment of our lives (BOO). But if we are really adulty we can accept that reality and plan to work around them or get the help me need to make our “wants, coulds and shoulds” happen if we choose.
Step 2: Embrace your “exceptions”. Before we can move forward, we need to also consider the mundane, daily stuff that impacts our planning. Do you have a child that needs to be picked up from school? Does the soon-to-be mama mentioned above help you with that duty, but won’t be able to after the baby arrives? Do you have summer Fridays that you want to maximize? Do you have a weekly gym class you love and never want to miss? Plan it.
Once you have a clear understanding of your current situation, you can start to dive into your “wants, coulds, and shoulds” list. Some people call these resolutions, but if there has been no action taken on them so far, they are wants, coulds, and shoulds! Wants, coulds, and shoulds are the things that pop into your brain and spark your interest. They are the things you see on Tiktok and have a pang of FOMO. They are the things the B* in your head tells you that you should be doing and make you feel bad about yourself. And they are the big dreams you’re afraid to admit to yourself (or your therapist).
Step 3: It probably comes as no surprise that we need to get this information out of our swirly, adulty brains and put them on paper (or screen). After you have emptied the scariest most overwhelming contents of your brain before your eyes, I want you to review every item on the list and ask “is this a want, could, or should?” Wants immediately become goals (that's a topic for another post). Coulds and shoulds get another question: Why are they swirling around your brain and why aren’t they wants? Are they wants which are not priorities now? Are they things other people have imposed on you? Dig Deep here.
You might think you’re going back to the big plan now to add in your wants, but first, I want to add in the most forgotten part of all of the intentional plans out there. Planning for “No Time” to relax, recharge and just say no. If you’re a millennial like me, you have seen plenty of just say no ads in your lifetime, but those ads were telling us to just say no to things that could threaten our health and lives. They forgot to tell us that not saying “No” in itself was hazardous! Be honest with yourself and when you felt most overwhelmed by your calendar in the past, and block off some no days/weeks/weekends/months in your year. These should be treated the same way you wouldn't double book your bffs wedding. If there is a true medical emergency you would change plans, but otherwise, you’re there.
Step 4: Schedule NO TIME.
Step 5: Now is where we plan our wants, which should be action-oriented phases of achieving our goals. Want to look for a job in 2023? When are you going to start figuring out what type of job you want? (cough cough). Expecting a baby in May and want to find a support group for new moms? Put it on the list for March or April. Running a 10k this year? Take a few moments to look at a training plan to see when training season begins and when your life can accommodate that training schedule BEFORE paying for the race!
Planning out an intentional year can be a powerful way to feel empowered in a busy world. It can help you feel more in control and create a sense of purpose and direction in your life. By taking the time now to create an action plan which considers your life’s reality - taking stock of the plans you already have, building in time for rest and rejuvenation, and creating a plan of action - you can stay focused and motivated throughout the year and achieve the life you want.