20 essential things to do (or stop) to make 2020 your best year yet
It’s a brand new decade and I’ve been reflecting on how to start out on the right foot! I’ve listed the top 10 things to stop doing in 2020 as well as the top 10 things to ensure you find fulfilment and enjoyment in the new year!
The last decade has seen me grow through being 17, bound for University and adventure into a 27 year old woman who is always challenging herself to learn and grow in life and business!
Over the last 10 years I…
struggled through anxiety and healing trauma. Found an amazing therapist, learned about my brain and developed healthier coping mechanisms.
real found love, twice. And realised that love isn’t always enough to make a happy, healthy and thriving relationship.
traveled and eventually moved to the other side of the world.
made my best friends the women who are there for all the big, scary and hard moments - we’ve had our ups and downs as we grew into ourselves and I honestly don’t know where I’d be without them.
learned to love myself. I became sure of myself and confident in my abilities. I’ve learned that I don’t have to compete with everything and everyone around me.
started a business and a marriage and have dedicated everything I am to both.
Taking chances, embracing change, investing in the people and things that actually matter - these are my lessons from 2010-2019.
So without further delay, here is a list of 10 things to stop and 10 things to start in 2020!
THINGS TO STOP IN 2020
1. Not making to do lists
There are several studies out there that indicate that writing things down helps us to remember and commit to tasks, goals and ideas. Not only are you more likely to actually achieve what you write down, but it will also help you prioritise your tasks and help you meet your goals! My favourite part of creating lists is that it helps declutter my brain so I can actually focus.
2. Not being thoughtful about how you spend your time and energy.
Often in business it can be so easy to be busy. We often don’t worry too much about what it is that is actually making us busy and whether or not that time spent is going to be helping us move us toward our goals.
3. Forgetting to take vacations
We give our all to our business endeavours. They are our passions, as well as our livelihoods. Because of this we often neglect taking time to step back, breathe and reflect before we dive back in recharged.
4. Trying to keep up on ALL the social media platforms
Social media can be exhausting. There are so many platforms and they are always changing and evolving. When I first started in business I was trying to use Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and more. In 2020 I deleted my Twitter, stopped focusing on LinkedIn and merged my personal and business Instagram accounts. I decided to spend my time and energy on the platform I actually like (and most of my clients like it too)!
Want some guidance on how to streamline and simplify your efforts on social media?
5. Saying “I can’t”
This one is something I am personally leaving behind. I spent so much of 2019 (hell, even of the last decade) thinking that I couldn’t do something.
I can’t take my business full-time because…
I can’t pay off my student debt that quickly because…
I can’t make new close friends because…
And you know what? I’ve taken my business full-time, I’m on track to be debt-free by this summer, and I have great friends here in NI now.
I was only limiting myself because I was scared. The best things in my life have happened when I took chances.
I joined a sorority and made my two best friends.
I became an au pair and grew into myself.
I traveled the world and met my husband.
In 2020, we should all strive to be brave and take the chances that we know in our gut will make us happy.
6. Perfectionism
That blog post or video is ever going to be perfect! Your business plans are never going to be ‘just right’ before launching. That course you’ve been working on will probably never have 100% of the content be totally error free.
Sometimes ‘good enough’ is the best thing because it allows you to stop procrastinating, put your work out into the world and let other people benefit from what you have to offer!
7. Procrastinating investing in yourself and your business.
Growth happens more quickly when you don’t go it alone or have to learn everything the hard way! What have you been putting off doing that you know will help you get where you want to be?
Hire a coach, invest in some wellness, outsource some tasks, learn a new skill, etc!
When I finally started investing in my business, I learned to take myself and my business more seriously and things started to change for me in a good way.
8. Apologizing for who you are
I spent a lot of the last couple of years trying to fit into Northern Irish culture. I thought that it was respectful to assimilate and not rock the boat (even though that song is always a hit here in NI!)
What I didn’t realise was how much of my loud and boisterous personality I was tamping down and how it was affecting how I ran my life and business.
That said, there were definitely parts of the last decade that I was being a self-involved ass and I am grateful that I had good friends to call me out and remind me to apologise when I needed to!
9. Fixating on your physical appearance
When preparing to write this post I read a journal I’ve been keeping for the last 5 ½ years. The amount of times I commented on my skin or my weight or my appearance in some other way was unsettling. As women we are taught to strive for a certain level of beauty that is set by marketing campaigns that want to sell us everything we need to become who they’ve taught us to be. It starts young and can last a lifetime if we let it.
There’s a line between self-care and fixation of trying to be who we think we ‘should’ be. Remember to be kind to yourself in 2020.
10. Getting distracted by the newest trends
There’s always going to be something new and shiny! Using what is tried and true is often the best solution.
This is true in life and business.
In life, we see people buying more second-hand, growing more of their own food, creating more community-based shopping, preserving and buying things that are meant to last as opposed to buying whatever is new on the market.
In business, it is important to be true to yourself and your brand. No matter what the latest trend, colour or tool is.
THINGS TO START IN 2020
1. Getting organised & creating systems
Declutter! Be mindful of your time and energy. Use what you have to truly make headway on your goals and plans!
TOP TIPS FOR SPENDING YOUR TIME BETTER:
Make lists (see above).
Connect your tools and software with integrations or something like Zapier.
Outsource
Document your systems and processes
Create templates - for your emails, invoices, payment reminders and more.
2. Be accountable
Another way to really ensure you are heading in the right direction and actually working toward your priorities is to build in some accountability. So… write down your goals, hire a coach, find a business bestie, or whatever best suits you!
3. Learn a new skill set
2020 is looking a little bleak in some ways. We are probably headed for a recession and nobody knows what Brexit will bring - future-proof your business by learning skills that will keep you in demand AND help you raise your prices.
For example, I’m currently learning HTML and CSS to help me better serve my clients when I build their Squarespace websites, email templates and more!
4. Spend more time journaling
Mel Wiggins, my business coach, recently helped introduce me to what she calls my ‘inner mentor’. One thing I want to do in 2020 to stay connected to who I am and where I want to go is to journal.
Journaling forces you to slow down, to be mindful and to look inward. This can be so beneficial both personally and professionally. If I’d done more of this in 2019, I probably would have realised how unhappy I’d become in employed life and gone full-time with Calibrated Concepts sooner!
Also, journaling consistently can help you to see and appreciate your journey. As I said, I recently read a journal I’ve been keeping off and on for the last 5 ½ years and it was so weird and wonderful to be reminded of who I used to be, what emotions I experienced during both difficult and exciting times and it helped me to be extra grateful for where I am today.
5. Making time for yourself
Whether it be booking a holiday, taking a walk, or spending some time crafting. Spend some time enjoying yourself! Carve it out, put it in your calendar and don’t change it for anything short of an emergency. You’ll thank me later!
6. Being open and honest with your priorities in life
My word for 2020 is kindness. One of the (many) ways I intend to explore this is to be open about my values and priorities. This means being truthful about what I don’t see as a priority at this time as well. It might mean turning down event invites, not spending money on niceties, and potentially stepping away from certain relationships.
I don’t have it all figured out yet, but I intend to spend some time to ensure I serve my goals, my family and my business in the best way.
7. Practicing gratitude
By nature I look for things to stress or worry about. I am always trying to solve problems even if they don’t exist. Sometimes I would even lean towards pessimism.
This year I started receiving Itty Bitty Book Co’s Happy Mail and each time a sheet comes reminding me to write down 3 things I’m grateful for each day. It’s been so good to spend more time thinking about what is so fantastic in my life.
To continue this, I bought myself a Ponderlilly Planner to help me with gratitude and goal setting in 2020.
8. Putting your health as a priority… whatever that means for you.
We are busy as bees sometimes! Sometimes our focus on health both physically and mentally can fall by the wayside. So whatever you are neglecting - take care of it. Book in with your GP, get the referral you need for a specialist, find a walking buddy, or see a therapist. Your body and mind are the most important things you have - without both of them being looked after life can be so much less enjoyable.
Honestly, seeing a therapist for a good while, was one of the best things I did for myself in the past decade.
9. Mix it up!
I am a creature of habit. I love my time blocking and my routines - I find them reassuring and comfortable. From time to time, it’s important for our energy, our creativity and our drive to try something new. Try a new restaurant, a new holiday location, a new genre of books, or a new recipe. You never know who you’ll meet, what type of inspiration it will bring you or what great story you’ll get out of it!
10. Spend more time in nature
One of the things I still miss most about my other home in Oregon is the spirit of the outdoors that exists. I think the reason I miss it here is that I don’t have as many people or experiences pulling me to spend time outside!
Being in nature can be so grounding and even meditative. It’s proven to be great for your physical and mental wellbeing. So I guess what I’m saying is… anyone in N. Ireland want to be my hiking and outdoor adventure buddy?
I think most of these can apply to each of us! However, the most important thing about 2020 is going to be being true to who you are, what you love and what you want to achieve. I truly believe that starting and stopping these 20 things in 2020 will help you get there!
