Happy New Year!
Wait a moment, it isn’t January! Why am I celebrating the new year? Well, for me as a parent September feels like the start of a new year as we prepare for the new school year ahead. I find myself planning as though it is a new year and setting out strategies and goals that I want to achieve. For instance, last September I set out to be less rushed in the mornings by better prepping lunches ahead of time. This is one goal I stuck to last year and prepped grab and go containers of fruits, veggies, hummus, yogurt, crackers, cheese, granola bars, etc. on Sunday night so through the week our child could grab items out of the fridge and load his own lunch kit. This year he will help prep the containers!
My goal this September is to be more present and not get swept away in the rush of the school year routine. As the days grow shorter and colder, I plan to be present in the moment and stick to my goals for the year ahead. I am going to use Friday’s as my visioning days as I always have a ton of positive energy on Friday. I will use Sunday’s as my planning days to ensure I am moving forward and not being derailed by weekly events. By staying laser focused on my goals they will remain present in my mind and not forgotten or put on the back burner.
What goals do you set for yourself at the start of a new school year? As a parent or student, how will you use last year’s learnings to move yourself closer to your goals?
As a parent I ask myself regularly what will our son’s memory of school and childhood be like? And what do I need to do to create the space for him to have a childhood full of adventure, creativity and opportunity to be the person he wants to be?
Thinking forward to the future in order to be more present today is one way to get clear on what you need to do to achieve your vision and goals. Think about your child’s high school graduation or your retirement. Sit in that moment and reflect on what your ideal life would have been like. Now come back to the present and think about what you need to do NOW to make those dreams come true!
Drop me a line or head on over to www.forwardfocuscoaching.ca to learn more about how I can support you to get clear on your vision and design the life of your dreams. It all starts with a little focus and one small step forward.
Karen Ward is a Certified Executive Coach supporting personal and team development. She dwells in possibility.