Happy New Year!
Well, 2021 has arrived and there does seem to be some tentative light at the end of this obstacle course. It has been challenging, for sure, but I have chosen not to write of the past year, but rather to grow and learn from it. Call me a dreamer, but I truly believe life is too short for wishing time away and regretting anything that has passed.
It’s only a century ago since the first World War, and despite all of the death and destruction, we also gained so much. New photography methods, medical innovations, and trousers for women, were all borne out of hardship during the war…and I for one am certainly glad that we’re now allowed to wear trousers, especially with Irish weather being what it is!!
Word for the year
So, I would love to be able to recap on what my word was for last year, and how it radically changed my outlook…but honestly, despite my best efforts I can’t remember what it was!! All I know is that whatever it was, it wouldn’t have prepared me for the year that was ahead of us!!
This year I have chosen the word simplicity. I actually started thinking of this term last Summer when I chose to take a month off work. Between trying to keep the kids amused during lockdown, starting a new fitness and eating regime with Joe Wicks, and managing all the usual household stuff, I just couldn’t squeeze any more into my day.
The problem was that I was over-complicating everything.
Simplicity.
Instead of trying to have a different healthy, nutritious, and tasty meal every day, it’s okay to make one big pot to last for 3 days. Rather than trying to keep every room of the house tidy all of the time, let the kids look after their own rooms, and just clean up the rest when I can (it’s not like anyone can visit anyway!).
I’m also applying simplicity to my work. In this email for example…I could have spent hours choosing a beautiful template, selecting a photo that was somehow linked to what I was writing, and of course making sure that I included all the right brand colours!! Instead, I just started writing. And the photo…well, it’s just a cool photo (no pun intended!!).
Plans for the year
Last year I spent a lot of time learning within my business. I invested in an amazing Instagram course, I took a couple of classes on Photoshop, I attended several webinars on website design. All of which were great, but I know that I’m prone to get lost in the learning process. So this year is going to be all ‘doing’. Keeping simplicity in mind, of course!
November and December last year were crazy busy with orders so I’m hopeful that by the same time this year, I will be able to hire my first part-time employee. This will be a huge step for me, as an introvert I’m much happier working alone, but keeping things simple also means not working 15 hours a day!!
I hope to have a few new products too, including a digital workbook and a new set of prompt cards. Topics yet to be decided!!
Next month I will be working on a website overhaul which will link in with the three main things I hope to improve on this year…more consistent email newsletters, more presence on Instagram, and at least 1 blog post a month (rather than 1 a year as it has been lately!!). So if you have any ideas on things you’d like to see, please do let me know!
For you
I have created a set of sheets for you to work on finding your own word for the year. It’s about finding a way you want your year to feel, how you want to feel, and it’s a handy way of keeping yourself on track. Sometimes when we’re faced with decisions, it can help to have a compass to point us in the right direction, and that’s how I think of my word, it’s both a baseline and a target.
I hope you enjoy the process and I would love to hear which word you have chosen. Just comment below, or you can DM me over on Instagram.
