New Year, Not So Different Me?

As the clock strikes midnight, there’s always discussion around resolutions, new goals, a word of the year, and all of the big life changes we have planned for the upcoming year.  I’m no stranger to this- While I no longer set a New Year’s Resolution, I definitely have goals for the year, quarter, and even month. I’ve also set a Word of the Year– My word for 2024 is Intentional.

But what if we want to keep some things the same? I’ve used the same planner lineup for the last few years, with a minor change here and there. While the content creator in me feels like it’s probably boring, the planner in me knows what works for my needs. There are constantly new planner brands and styles being released, and that urge to try new layouts definitely strikes. For 2024, I’ve added a MakseLife Daily (which I started in 2023), and a Planner Envy Signature Planner. The Planner Envy is unlike any other planner I’ve seen, but I don’t see it replacing any of my current planners- It’s just one that I’ll be playing around a bit with throughout the year to see how it works for me.

2023 was a year of big life changes for me. I bought my home in June, which came with a lot of changes- financial, routines, social interactions, and more. Now that I’ve lived here for six months, I’m starting to get the urge to change things. For example, the way I originally unpacked my kitchen is no longer working for my needs. I have an entire cabinet dedicated to tumblers and mugs, while I really only use a few. My pantry is too small, and it’s time to reorganize and make the space in my kitchen better suited for the way I live. While I don’t anticipate any major life changes in 2024, my goal is to be more intentional with my physical environment, the way I organize my home, and reducing the number of items I have while limiting new purchases.

I’ve done a lot of work on myself this year- The home-buying process was one of the most stressful time periods I’ve ever experienced. I had a ton of self doubt, anxiety, and fear. It was worth it! The nerves I felt about living in a larger space on my own, questioning whether I was making the right decision, and committing to something longer than a 1-year lease were nearly crippling. There was also a lot of financial anxiety- On paper, the numbers made sense. I knew I could afford the mortgage, taxes, HOA- All of which were much more expensive than my rent. But committing to such a higher monthly cost of living wasn’t easy. Six months in, I’m thrilled that all of those fears have subsided. I’m proud of myself for working through the emotional challenges that not only were a result of moving, but also personal relationships. I’ve grown a lot in 2023, and I want to take that growth and carry it into the new year.

Setting goals and being intentional with my time is healthy for me- It gives me something to work towards, to strive for, and feel a sense of accomplishment. While I set goals for 2024 in all areas of my life, I still think it’s important to nurture the changes that I made in 2023. There’s a lot I’m excited about in the new year- more travel, finding a sense of community in my new town, an upcoming project that I can’t wait to share more about, and settling into my home. I also plan to bring changes to my YouTube channel, Patreon community, and Instagram.

Lastly, I want to thank you for your support in 2023. I’m forever grateful to have a platform where I can share my life authentically and unfiltered. Wishing you a happy, healthy, and wonderful new year ahead!