This time of year is full of New Year’s resolutions, goal setting, and fresh starts. I love the idea of all of it. Sitting down to plan out my goals for the year and everything I want to do and accomplish. It sounds so dreamy in theory but in reality it actually gives me a little anxiety. In January, I’m not really sure of everything I want to get accomplished 6, 7, 8 months from now. Some weeks I’d just like to get all of my laundry done and put away in a timely manner (i.e. before its time to do laundry again)!
Everywhere you turn there are special planners and systems and habits trackers to help you. I love my paper planner but it’s just that, a simple planner where I write down all of our appointments and other scheduling items and my daily to-do lists…if I remember or have the time to sit and actually think about it. Everything else is just overwhelming to me at this stage of life as a busy mama of two young children with another on the way.
So as I sit looking at the dawn of the New Year I’ve been reflecting on how I can plan and set goals without it being overwhelming.
I am a planner at heart but I am learning that I also want a little freedom in there to change the plan if necessary. This is especially true for me heading into a year where I will have a newborn in a few short months and be thrust into that stage for the third time. I think I’ve finally learned that I need to have more grace for myself in the hard and busy seasons.
The main thing I keep going back to is that I just don’t want the pressure of deciding everything all up front. When I think about it, any day, week, or month really can be a fresh start and a time for setting goals and making plans. So this year I am going to try to commit to setting goals each month. It might be one, maybe 2, or even 3 if I’m feeling ambitious.
I want my goal setting this year to be fluid and flexible so that I can ditch the pressure and potential feelings of failure to work towards goals that are manageable and appropriate for whatever is going on in my life and my family at that moment. I am excited to head into the new year with this new plan and less pressure to “do all the things.” I would love to hear how you set goals and stick to a plan in the busy seasons of motherhood.