Gentle Energy in 2024
Going into 2024, I’ve yearned to slow down and approach goals differently than usual. I’m not interested in the hustle culture (pushing ourselves non-stop with high expectations) or vanity metrics (caring about specific measures that indicate to others you’re successful- like the number of social media followers you have or the amount of income you earn) that usually dictate goals. Read my post about how these cultural factors are extremely damaging.
This year, I’ve felt a pull to be gentle with myself, evaluate what really matters and why, and figure out what realistic goals would be in those areas. If there was no hustle culture or vanity metrics, what would still be important for me to focus on for my fulfillment?
I encourage you, as I share my 2024 goals, not to compare your goals or focus. What’s important to each of us is different, even from season to season what is important for a person can shift. The best thing you can do for yourself when determining your goals is to shift your focus internally to what is significant to you. Read my blog post on how to set healthy goals (that aren’t about vanity metrics or trending goals).
Here’s my 2024 Goals video if you prefer video or audio.
My 2024 Goals
Health Goals
- Invest in my health
- Doctor’s appointments
- Advocate for myself with doctors
- Finally figure out what’s been going on with my chronic pain, exhaustion, and infertility
- Fitness class for fun
- Eat more whole foods and fresh foods
PErsonal Goals
- Learn how to cook a handful of recipes really well
- More patience
- More connecting with husband
- Become licensed foster parents
- More self-care
- Build a wardrobe I feel confident in
- Be gentle with myself
Financial Goals
- Pay off my car
- Pay off three student loans
- Spend on experiences more than objects
- No stressing about health costs
- Low spend / no spend challenges
- Budget / track spending
Work Goals
- Less work, more life
- Make work enjoyable again
- Host groups for higher impact and earning with less time
- Build something of my own
Home Goals
- Adjust our home to create a nursery
- Finish or abandon old craft projects
- Dining room to craft room conversion
- Declutter and have more breathing space
- Have approved home study
Business Goals
- Weekly videos
- Write heartfelt blog posts
- Host workshops
- Host a retreat
- Finish business courses
- Take more photos
Fun Goals
- Take trips, explore new places
- Host girly activities
- Move my body in fun ways
- Live for the hope of it all (my all-time favorite Swift lyric, by the way, my personality)
- No perfectionism
- Dream garden- add first rose
- More candles
- Dinner by candlelight
- Gold permanent jewelry
- Flowers/stems indoors
- More laughter
- More nature
- More connection
- Dancing
- Take a cooking class for fun
My 2024 Vision Boards based on my goals
Questions to Ask and Answer to Uncover Your Goals
As I came up with my 2024 goals, here are some things I considered. You can ask yourself these same questions to gain insight on what areas of life you’d like to focus on and nourish when you set goals.
What in my life is causing me significant distress?
Answer- My health concerns, lack of answers for them, and dismissal by doctors about them. My mental health has been poorly impacted by my chronic pain and exhaustion and I want to reconnect with hope. Lack of the work-life ratio I wanted and how stressful work was last year. That I haven’t built the dream business I’ve wanted to build for years.
What in my life is going well and I want to continue to grow it?
Answer- My marriage. My relationships with family and friends. Financial goal progress was on point 2023 (I worked a lot to meet those goals, thus the lack of work-life balance).
How can I get closer to my dream life and lifestyle from where I am now?
Answer- Improve my health. Grow my garden. Add magical moments to everyday life through candles, trying new classes, and having more fun. Pursue foster parenting. Foster continued personal growth.
How do I prioritize these goals and practice grace around the fact that I won’t accomplish them all in one year?
Answer- Health is my primary concern. Both physical health and mental health. I understand that fully pursuing this may take resources (my time, money, and energy) away from my other goal areas. That’s okay.
So that’s my 2024 goals. I hope it’s been helpful for you to read about or hear about my annual goal-setting process. Hopefully, it sparks ideas for what questions or insights you might consider for your goal-setting process. Remember, it’s not my particular goals, rather the consideration and intention behind them that matters. What goals do you have this year?
Love, Laura
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