My Favorite Year-End Activity

Your Best Year is Around the Corner.

For our last Substack of the year, I wanted to make this post free to all our subscribers since I’m sharing one of my favorite activities between Christmas and New Year, creating my annual Vision Board.

I started my first board as I came out of a dark chapter in my life, as a way to keep me on track. And now, it's become a much-loved ritual to prepare for the New Year.

I pick a day between Christmas and New Year, my favorite week of the year since the world is collectively unplugged. I don't feel the overwhelming need to be productive or responsive. And I tuck away into a corner of the house. I might put a movie on, listen to music, get a treat and a cup of something warm, and think about how I want to build out my year.

I'm a Sagittarius, so I am optimistic about things, often to a ridiculous degree, especially about fresh starts and new beginnings.

Some people call this manifesting or visualization. 

I look at my Vision Board as a way to stay on task, as a visual of my dreams, goals, morals, and standards. I use it not only to stay motivated but this might sound silly; it helps remind me of who I am. 

So I can gather my things, get comfy, and I'll ask:

What did I like about the year ending?

What could be better?

Where did I go off course? Why?

What am I working towards?

What can I add?

How do I want to feel leaving 2024?

Then, I spend a few hours looking for images online representing my goals.

You can do this the old-fashioned way, with some glue and a poster board, or digitally with design software; I made mine with Canva.

Above is my 2023 board. I recommend including images representing the feelings and vibes you want to create and specific metrics you want to hit.

This year was about establishing new routines and rhythms for myself and my family, planting seeds for my business, and building toward a future nearer than I can wrap my head around. 

I made my board my screensaver on my phone and laptop, so I saw it multiple times a day. I will also print it out for the coming year and keep it in my closet so I have one more touch point with it.

One of my goals this year was sticking to a healthy morning and nighttime routine to bookend my day with something nourishing. Did I do it every day? No, but having my board visible reminded me to get back on track.

Same with my steps and fitness, I didn't master the plan, but it stayed top of mind, making me more inclined to pick back up if I had a few days or weeks off.

Things I did well? 

I maintained my yoga practice at least once a week, even when I felt like my schedule was on fire; I got a session in; I drank my green juice every morning (I highly recommend AG1; it's worth the hype); I saw my girlfriends a lot, and that made a world of difference in almost every aspect of my life, and I poured everything I had into creating bonds with my kids. 

Not a bad list of accomplishments. ;)

For privacy reasons, I removed the numbers of my financial goals, but it's essential to be super specific. I ended up accomplishing most of them.

And even though I just missed a few, I feel real momentum going into the New Year.

My next board will be my fourth, and this year, I'm going to help my teenagers create their own for the first time.

My oldest will be a senior (if I think about this too long, I can't function), and my middle will be a freshman in high school in 2024, such important and exciting years. I can’t wait to show them a tool they can use to map out their big dreams and create the life experience they want, and see what they put on theirs.

I hope you consider doing a version of this too!

And as we wrap up the year, this will be my last Substack of 2023. These last few months writing on Substack has been so unexpected and fun. I have plans to build out this space even more into the New Year, so thank you so much for being part of it from the very beginning. Your support means the world to me.

Wishing you and your’s a Wonderful Holiday Season and the Happiest New Year.
XX,
Meg