Hold on to your hats, I’m about to start a blog with the C-word…
We’re halfway to Christmas.
Yep, that’s right – Christmas.
Christmas is the end of the year, which is typically a great time for reflection as we review the previous year and make plans rolling into the next one. But reflection can happen at any point, not just on key calendar dates.
At the end of the year, Spotify will give you a summary of your year ‘wrapped’ and tell you which songs you most listened to. Sainsbury’s will tell you how many portions of fruit and veg you’ve bought throughout the year, and that you’re the number 1 purchaser in your local store of Paw Patrol cupcake mix (true story).
Looking ahead to Christmas and the end of 2024, I thought about my Juggle Struggle year ‘wrapped’ and what that would look like.
I suspect it would be something like this:
Most spoken phrases of 2024
“Be careful!”
“Watch where you’re going…”
Both said to my 5 year old and most frequently heard during the school run.
Hours spent picking up toys
674
Number of TV series’ started but not finished
5
Number of work meetings attended
850 (gah)
Type of food most consumed
Cereal
Average weekly mum-guilt percentage
30% (Down 20% from last year)
Hangovers
2
This got me thinking – what would I actually WANT my 2024 wrapped to look like?
I’ve still got six months to take charge of what my headline stats would be by the end of the year. I’ve still got six months to take action and change what I don’t like.
The same goes for you.
So – where do you want to see yourself at the end of 2024?
Picture yourself at the end of 2024 looking back on what you spent your time and energy on.
What will you be glad you spent time on? What will you wish you had spent less time on?
These can be very concrete things like; “I will wish I had spent less time ironing.” or more conceptual things, like “I will wish I had spent more time being present with my son.”
For me the ideal 2024 ‘wrapped’ would look something like:
Cuddles with my son
Daily
School events attended (assemblies, sports day etc)
100%
Date nights
1 per month
Visits to parents
Average 1 per week
Success rate on trying to get together with friends in person
50%
Working late
Reduced by 50%
Me-time
Increased by 50%!
What do you want your 2024 year ‘wrapped’ to say? I think the smart Juggle Strugglers are the ones who take back control of their time and focus their to-do list on what’s really important to them.
Once you’ve got your ideal 2024 ‘wrapped’ headlines, you can work backwards into figuring out how to get those results.
For example, if you want to spend more time going to exercise classes and less time scrolling on social media – what are the steps you can take to start making that happen? Do you need to take the plunge and pay for a set of classes in one bunch, to encourage you to go? Do you need to put settings on your phone that cut off your social media usage after a certain amount of time?
Have a think about how you can get to your ideal 2024 wrapped. Break down the steps, and start working towards them today.
6 months to Christmas – the countdown is on!
Drop a comment and let me know what you’ll be pleased you spent time on, and how you’re going to make that happen through the rest of 2024.
If someone you know could do with reading this blog – share it and let them know!
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