Oh, hey December! 👋

Is anyone else feeling that end-of-year overwhelm? From what my clients tell me, most of us are in full "just-get-me-through-this-month" mode rather than "let's-plan-next-year" mode!

But stick with me here, because I actually love this time of year. It's perfect for dreaming about what's possible in the coming 12 months (and let's face it, dreaming is way more fun than tackling that overflowing inbox!).

Here are my tips (plus a free life planning tool you can use) for doing things differently next year…

Step One:  Time for Some Life Marie Kondo-ing! ✨

Sometimes we’re so eager to plan ahead that we forget to look back! So before we start stuffing 2025 full of new goals, let's sort through what we already have.  

Grab your favourite beverage, get comfy, and let's get real about 2024:

• What made you fist-pump the air this year? (List ALL the wins - even the tiny ones!)

• Where did life throw you a curveball?

• What are you ready to let go of? (Permission granted to dramatically wave goodbye!)

• Any "never again" moments?

• What patterns do you notice that kept showing up?

• What surprised you about the year?

Pro tip: Actually write these down. Your future self will thank you!

Step Two: Focus on the fun first!

Here's my slightly unconventional approach (because who needs another boring planning session?):

Plot Those Holidays First!

Yes, really! Before you do ANYTHING else. Holidays are a secret weapon to get you excited and not overwhelmed by big goals. 

Why?

• Well, you can snag those sweet early-bird deals when you know what holidays you have planned and get your friends or whanau on board too.

• Forward planning can help you maximise your public holidays for adventures (with just 3 days of annual leave in April you can get a 10-day stretch of holidays between Good Friday and Anzac weekend!)

• You get to try to organise your deadlines and projects around these dates to take off the stress - and heck you actually get to take breaks (revolutionary, I know, but oh so important for your sanity, energy and creativity!)

• Have something to daydream about during boring meetings! There is nothing like knowing you’ll be on the beach in August to get you through the winter blues!  🏖️

Think about what other key dates might need to fit in your calendar.

What other things might you like to do next year that’s not just work? Maybe it's a meditation retreat, writer's conference, or specific training you are itching to do. Start researching the possibilities and plot them into your calendar (or your performance appraisal professional development discussions now!).

Step Three: The Wheel of Life Reality Check 🎡

Newsflash: You're not just your job title! (shocking, I know!) A spin on the Wheel of Life can help you see which areas in your life are crying out for attention - and what is going well. 

Think of it like a wellness WOF. You check where you are at across various categories like:

• Career/Work (but please, there's more to life!)

• Health (both "gym membership" and "mental sanity")

• Relationships (remember those people you used to see?)

• Wealth (more than just your coffee budget)

• Personal Development (what makes your soul do a little dance?)

• Lifestyle (think where you live, holidays and more)

[Grab your free Wheel of Life check-up here!]

Step Four: Pick Your Power Three!

From your Wheel of Life insights, choose no more than THREE areas to focus on (yes, just three - we're not trying to change everything in a year!). What would make Future You do a happy dance when December 2025 rolls around?

Here's some inspo:

Relationships Goals 

• Actually take that couples' getaway (or solo adventure for the introverts!)

• Monthly date nights

• Invest in a course about learning to communicate better

Career Goals 

• Level up to that management role 

• Finally finish that study 

• Launch that side hustle

Health Goals:

• Get that mole map check you've been putting off

• Start a daily vitamin regime

• Find a new dance class to join and go weekly (life's too short for boring workouts)

• Master the art of meal prep

Step Five: Draw Your Line in the Sand! 🚫

Time to get real about some non-negotiables, aka boundaries. What patterns from 2024 are you done with? Who's the 2025 version of you, and what would they absolutely not put up with?

Need some boundary inspo? Here's what's worked for my clients:

• No work on weekends

• Laptop goes to bed at 6pm

• Slow mornings twice a week

• Monthly date night with your significant other

• Four-week-long holiday block 

• Clear times for "me time" (whatever fills your cup)

Step Six: Design your Ideal Week to Make it ALL Happen

Design Your Ideal Week (Get Specific, Get Results!)

With your non-negotiables and goals in mind, map out what your perfect week looks like. For example:

• Mondays = Zen morning vibes (meditation, journaling, dog walks) + 10am start. Weekly check-in and plan.

• Tuesdays = Team meetings in the office day.

• Wednesdays = Work from home. Early finish for family time and mid-week exercise

• Thursdays = Deep work (no email or meeting day) + learning something new

• Fridays = Planning and reflection + celebrating wins with friends. Finish work by 3pm.

Maybe you can’t make it happen YET, but how can you start incorporating this into next year’s calendar now or having discussions with work or family to make this possible?

Step Seven: Get Your Support Squad Ready 🎉

Having the right people around you to cheer you on is key. 

Share your goals with people who'll actually check in on you - maybe your bestie, your partner, or that colleague who's always weirdly organised. When you declare your intentions out loud, they become real (and harder to wiggle out of!). 

Other ways to add to your Support Squad might include:

• Finding a coach who'll help you stay focused, create a plan and give you accountability (I love the saying “when you pay, you pay attention” - that has always been true for me with my own coach!). Join my waitlist if you are keen for coaching in late 2025.

• Connecting with a mentor who's been there, done that

• Buddying up with that friend who'll drag you to the gym (even when you're giving Oscar-worthy excuses)

• Join (or form) communities or groups aligned with your goals eg how about starting an NGO CEOs anonymous group to share struggles and insights?

• Consider what other support you might need (childcare? house cleaner? meal prep service?)

My plot twist for 2025

Speaking of 2025 plans, I've got some exciting news - I'm expecting a tiny human in February! My goals for next year are really about spending time with my new baby, prioritising self-care and looking after me in the process (I predict not much sleep in my future!) and getting the support to make sure this second round with a baby is a whole lot different to my first!

While this means I'll be swapping coaching sessions for nappy changes for most of 2025, I'd love to stay connected. Join my waitlist if you are keen to explore coaching when I'm back from maternity leave (and I’ll also make sure to send you an email with some great resources to help you in the interim!). 

Need a helping hand with thinking about 2025. Grab my Wheel of Life and end-of-year review resource here. Available free during December only.