3 Steps to Planning Your Year

Entering a new year can be overwhelming. Just like an artist’s empty canvas or a writer’s blank sheet of paper, it’s hard to know where to begin. But remember, starting fresh also offers an abundance of opportunity. Now is the time to take your year by the horns and steer it in the right direction.

Don’t know where to begin? The following 3 steps are a great place to start:

Step 1: Setting Intentions

Setting your intentions at the beginning of the year is like making a map. Without them, how will you know where you’re going? Or, more importantly, how will you know when you get there? It’s hard to find the “X” that marks the spot if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

Okay, pirate lingo aside, it’s important to lockdown your annual goals at the beginning of the year. These intentions will help you stay on track whenever you’re feeling lost.

TIP: Write them down in a planner, on a Word document, or even in the notes app on your phone. Make sure your intentions are documented somewhere so you can always refer to them.

Step 2: Creating SMART Goals

Do you have your intentions in mind? Great! Now, let’s dig a little deeper.

We want to turn these intentions into SMART goals. This is an acronym meaning goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. Adding these parameters will provide clarity for your objectives and help you achieve the future you desire.

Goals that are specific and measurable help you narrow your intentions and track your progress (that way you know whether you’ve reached your milestones or not.) Next, be sure to set goals that are achievable and realistic. There’s nothing more discouraging than setting a goal that you secretly know you won’t achieve. And lastly, make sure you can reach these objectives within the year.

Now your 2023 is REALLY starting to take shape!

Step 3: Choosing Your “Word” for the Year

While we believe in the power of setting future goals, that may not be for everybody. Instead, consider a word for the year.

Think about your intentions for the year and narrow them down to a single word or phrase. No need for something fancy. How about—inspire? Or maybe reset? Choose something that you would consider meaningful for your year to come. The book One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jimmy Page & Dan Britton covers this idea in detail, so consider giving it a read as you establish your word for the year!

Have we turned you into a goal-getter yet?

Don’t forget that setting real estate goals is an important part of planning your year. If your real estate goals for 2023 involve buying, selling, or investing in a home, please text or call me at 402-980-4233 or send an email to realtor@JenniferWaxberg.com.