5 Powerful Ways to Set Yourself Up for Success This Year

It is imperative to actually have the belief that this year can be your year. That all the dreams you have always dreamed of and held close to your heart can come true!  You can absolutely become the successful woman you have always dreamed of becoming and I believe that it is possible for that to happen this year. 

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Five Tips to Become a Successful Woman This Year

But what do I mean by success? Of course success can mean so many different things to so many different people. But what I am focusing on, and challenging you to focus on as well, is to redefine what success looks like for you in this new year. Focus on cultivating the feeling of happiness, the general feeling of contentment, and not feeling overwhelmed and overly stressed within life.

Defining success as living a life that is successful because we are focused on being intentional with the things we do, the commitments we say yes to, and where we position our hearts in the process. Sharing with you the blueprint on how to become a successful woman this year, so you can feel success and experience it well beyond the physical accolades. 

Five Tips to Become a Successful Woman This Year

In order to help you become a successful woman this year, I have a few different ways, more specifically tips to help set yourself up for success starting in the beginning of the year. FIVE tips that I am going to share with you to give you some suggestions on different things you can do within your day and within your week. The best ways to implement these tips in order to really set yourself up for solid habits. Think of these tips as the stepping stone in order to be able to take action on the things that you are wanting to achieve.

The Importance in Long-Term Goals to Become a Successful Woman

There has been a huge focus on goals over here lately. The importance in setting long-term goals, focused on developing successful habits to reach the specific dreams we have for ourselves. My hope with these specific tips to start your year off successfully is help take all your big dreams, big visions, big hopes, and aspirations and put it into action.  Because I absolutely know that you can do it. My hope here is that you will hear some of these things and feel encouraged and excited to implement these little changes so that you can set yourself up for success right now at the start of the year and really carry that through all year long. 

That you would feel encouragement and the motivation that this is possible. That your dreams and desires to be successful in everything you pursue is possible. I want you to feel empowered to live the life that you have always dreamed of living.  And sometimes that’s not fancy. Sometimes that’s just simply showing up in each moment as the best possible version of yourself. Even if that is mediocre. Even if that is struggling to just show up as you are, because you owe the world that. 

Defining What Success Looks Like as a Young Woman

Now, I want to clarify something very specific. Everybody’s definition of success looks different. And that’s okay! You have to remember, and take into account, the very things that matter the most to you! Whether you are climbing the corporate ladder with the intention of becoming a successful businesswoman, or wanting to obtain the most ideal work-life balance in order to take care of you and everyone around you properly. Whatever your definition of success is – I want you to focus on that. Start there! 

A Different Kind of Success

For me, when I am talking about success, when I’m thinking about living my best life. For me, that’s a feeling of happiness. A general feeling of contentment, of not feeling overwhelmed and overly stressed. And even in the moments when we do feel overwhelmed and we do feel stressed, being able to take a moment to step away and to refocus and to reestablish our gaze on the most important things that matter.

In order to really live a life that is well, because we are focused on being intentional with the things that we do and the commitments that we say yes to and where we position our hearts in the process.  A life that is well, because we acknowledge when things are hard. We understand that we are worth it, and that it’s okay sometimes to simply show up as we need to be in that moment, extending all the grace in the world. 

A life that is free from perfection, free from unnecessary comparison. A life that is excited and enthusiastic for the little moments in each day, and a life that extends endless grace for when we fall short and none of those things happen. That is what success looks like to me! 

Five Tips to Set Up for Success Throughout the Entire Year

Five simple tips to help you become a successful woman. Five tips to set you up for success. A success that will last all year long. Five tips to set yourself up for success at the beginning of the year, with the intention that doing these things now will pay dividends in the long run.

How to Become a Successful Woman Tip #1 – Get rid of your to-do list 

The first step to becoming a successful woman, or successful business owner is to do something that might completely shock you. The very first thing that is needed in order to become more successful is to get rid of your to-do list. Your giant to-do list that you love to write. Yes, the to-do list that brings you SO much joy. The one that you use with your favorite pad of paper and your favorite pen. Get rid of it. 

Get rid of the giant to do list that is hosting crazy and unrealistic expectations. Seriously, this is one of the best ways to unlock your future success. Instead of using a to-do list, focus on the essential things that need to get done. Really focus on how you view your day and how you view your week.  Focus on the major things. 

Focus on Your Top Three to Become a Successful Woman

Now, you can do this as the top three, or top two. I personally love focusing on the top three things as I view my week. Thinking specifically, what are the top three big things that I want to focus my attention to. What specific goals am I wanting to work towards within the week. This is something that can be easily done within your day, or smaller increments of time. As a teacher, I love doing this within my planning period. Identifying the two to three major focuses for that specific time period. 

Now, of course, are there other things that need to get done? Yes, there are, But those are things that have to get done regardless.Whether or not they are on a to-do list! Find the freedom to not write down every little thing that you are already going to be doing regardless. Instead, focus on the bigger thing. By doing this, it allows yourself to get very focused on that one task and go all in. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by a crazy list of things that need to be done.

Encouragement to Find Freedom From Your To-Do List

I encourage you to try this out. And if it doesn’t work, that’s okay. Just try it out to see what happens. Especially if you are someone that is in a season of life where you are falling towards the trap of comparison or perfectionism. Where your to-do list is actually becoming quiet unhealthy for you and your mental health. Where you feel the need that everything needs to be perfectly clean and in order. To enable you to move forward in the direction of your dreams. But the reality is, that big ambitious, idealized to-do list, isn’t actually getting done. 

Therefore, if you truly are looking for a meaningful change in your life, focus on the top three things. Focus on your top three priorities. Start from there and see the difference that it makes within your everyday life. Take into account how you feel at the end of the day. Do you feel accomplished? Do you feel like you didn’t do enough?  What is your heart feeling? What is your mind feeling? How is your mental health?  Really challenge yourself with this.

What Can Actually Happen When You Say Goodbye to Your To-do List

One of the best ways to really take yourself to the next level, focused on success is to find freedom away from your to-do list. Focus on your top three instead. By doing this, you’ll realize that you no longer feel the disappointment or shame when something doesn’t get accomplished. Because there is more room to grow and evolve and shift your top three from day to day, or week to week. Instead of feeling bound to the approval of a to-do list.

There’s a whole lot of freedom and way more positive self talk that can happen when you separate yourself from your ambitious to do-list. This may challenge you. Great! In order to reach that next level and be the best version of yourself you want to be, challenge is necessary. Trust me. The first time I started to make this little tiny shift, it challenged me as well and made me feel totally uncomfortable. However, I’m a big believer of diving headfirst or being pushed into the zone of discomfort because that is where we grow and that is where we become more solid in who we actually are.

Therefore, a great way to find your own success this year, let yourself let go of your to-do list. And focus on doing the actual things that really matter to draw the needle forward. This is absolutely essential to become successful, and grow into the successful woman you have always dreamed of becoming. 

Tip #2 to Become a Successful Woman – Schedule your must-dos and non-negotiables at the very beginning of the week

The second tip to become a successful woman this year is to take time to schedule your must-dos and non-negotiables at the very beginning of the week. One of the best ways to set yourself up for success is to have a plan and to know when specific things need to get done. Whether you do this during your weekend, in preparation for the week ahead, or first thing Monday morning. It is essential to take the time, with a clear vision, to know exactly what needs to get done in that week. 

Focus on what are the exact things that need to get done in the week. Go ahead and determine when those things are happening at the beginning of the week. It can be overwhelming, when we feel like we create all these unrealistic goals for ourselves. And we don’t know where to even begin. However, with a proper plan in place, those specific goals can become achievable. 

For example, as a current focus of mine is to dedicated more time to working out. Therefore, when I see in my calendar, the specific dates and times that I am going to workout for the week. It becomes that much more possible to get it done. It’s easier to step out of the comfort zone and work towards your long-term goals, when you are looking at the plans laid out directly in front of you! 

Focus on the Most Important Thing to You

This is something that you can do with so many things. Focus on what is the most important to you. What are the things that you absolutely need to pend time doing each week. What do you need in order to build strong relationships, to do the actual things you need to do in order live the best life you desire. Schedule in your family time, your quiet time, your date night. Schedule in those things. 

Schedule in your big projects, appointments, meetings, all those things. Go ahead and write those dates down at the beginning of the week so you know before your week even starts what’s going on. This gives you a lot of clarity. It really allows you to see bigger picture over your week and to understand when things are going to happen. And by doing this, it brings in new perspectives, by reducing the stress and overwhelm. Instead you can really look at things moment by moment, day by day and then of course, week by week.

The most successful people are taking the time to actually schedule in the most important things. Therefore, think through your major must do’s, the major focus points, the things that you really want to get done each week. Your non-negotiables. The time for yourself, the time with your family. Know when you’re going to spend time doing the things that your body and soul need to thrive.

An Important Reminder When Planning Out Your Weeks for Success

Important note: It is okay if those things don’t happen. It’s absolutely okay if it all doesn’t get done. A great way to view this is to learn from what worked and what didn’t work in the previous week. Specifically, what you are doing that is working well, and what are you doing that’s not.  Allow your planner to be a working tool to help you. This is a really powerful way to invite meaningful change in your life and achieve long-term success in your goals and your dreams. 

Tip #3 to Become a Successful Woman – Go to bed earlier & wake up earlier 

One of the best ways to take care of yourself, in order to reach that next level of success, is to prioritize sleep. Therefore, go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. If you take a deep dive exploring the many habits of successful women, one common denominator is the importance of prioritizing sleep. If you are really wanting to set yourself up for success and begin your year strong, shift your sleep cycle a bit to ensure that your body is getting the proper sleep that it needs. 

One of the best ways to do that is by going to bed earlier. Because when you go to bed earlier, you’re able to get better quality sleep. It also makes it so much easier to wake up earlier in the morning. Especially if you are in a season where the only way to focus on quality time for yourself, which is important, or quality time working out is in the morning.

The Easiest Way to Get More Sleep

This is the easiest way to get that to happen. By going to bed earlier and waking up earlier. Therefore, if you are really truly wanting to set yourself up for success throughout the whole year, one of the best ways to do so is by prioritizing healthier sleep habits. This is a great place to start, simply by becoming more aware of how much sleep you’re actually getting. 

Being aware of when you’re going to bed, what time that is. Specifically, what are you doing right before going to bed? Is it helping you fall asleep, or is it delaying your sleep? What are you doing first thing in the morning? Just by being more aware of the little things that are happening prior to bedtime and first thing in the morning, are going to provide you with more insight into being more successful. And when you prioritize getting better sleep, you are taking one big step forward into becoming more successful. 

Tip #4 to Become a Successful Woman – Get rid of excess stuff

Another really great way to become a successful woman, and set yourself up for success at the beginning of the year is to get rid of excess stuff.  It can be so hard to function with excess stuff and clutter. Whether that’s paper clutter in your workspace, or classroom. Or, the electronic files in your digital space, too many clothes in your closet, or just too many things constantly in your way as you move from your day to day.

One of the most effective ways to set yourself up for success at the beginning of the year is to take the time to get rid of the unnecessary things. Allow yourself to just clean. Allow yourself to shed off the excess and only focus on the things that truly matter.

Important Questions to Consider When Decluttering

Think and ask yourself these questions:

• Do I really use this? 
• Is this serving a real purpose in our home? 
• Could someone else get better use of this than I currently am? 
• Are there things that are broken, half used, or incomplete that are just lying around that could easily be thrown out?

For me, I’m thinking of all of the solo socks that are missing their partners that just sit in the different drawers of the different dressers in our home.  And it’s funny, there’s like this crazy determined part of me that when I do laundry, believes one day I will find every matching pair. Therefore, I hold on to them when instead why don’t I just eliminate the clutter and through them out? This is only going to make things a lot more neat and tidy.  

Additionally, I think of Tupperware.The mismatched tubs and lids. All the pens and markers that don’t really work, but are taking up extra space and cluttering the space where we work. The space where we live and breathe.  This is such a good way to set yourself up for success.

The Beauty of Decluttering and Simplifying

If you haven’t really opened the door of decluttering and simplifying, fair warning, it’s addicting.  When you start to go down this path of wanting to be more minimalist, having more clear space to be able to think better, and be more creative. More space to be open to new ideas and change. When we can remove all the extra physical things that are surrounding us and have that open space, it really allows our mind, our bodies, to just thrive and grow in that moment.

Tip #5 to Become a Successful Woman – Devote specific week each week as family time

The fifth and final tip needed in order to become a successful woman this year is to devote specific time each week as family time. One of the best things you can do in order to be successful is to take the time to connect with the people who mean the most! This is the time where you are fully engaged, fully connected and fully present without your phone.

Put your phone away and emphasize time soaking up sweet family time. Allow yourself to fully be present with the people that mean the most. The truth is, these are the moments that matter the most. More than crushing all our goals, climbing the corporate ladder, growing our social media presence. The most important thing is spending the intentional and meaningful time with our family. 

Focus on Honoring the Commitment to the People Who Mean the Most

If we can focus on that, if we can cultivate a greater commitment to treasuring and soaking up the time spent with our family and with our people. Intentional moments spent with our community. Fully allowing ourselves to be present in that moment, that in itself is a huge gift that not only are we giving ourselves, but we also are giving the people around us.

This is a really a great thing to do. To help make this actually happen, schedule it in within your week. When you use your planner and schedule out your week, be sure to schedule in time to spend time with family.  Know exactly when the quality time is going to happen, and then when you show up to that moment, be fully present in it! Don’t allow yourself to be focused or concerned about what else needs to get done. Nor concerned about what is going on elsewhere. Instead, put your phone away and fully connect and be present in that moment.

Your Successful Year Ahead

Looking for More Inspiration to Reach Your Goals and Achieve Your Dreams?

Ready to take that next step and move forward with purpose towards becoming a successful woman? Sharing the essential steps necessary to establish solid habits that actually work! Looking for ways to make the most of your workday? Look no further – your complete guide to a successful day of work is right here!

Looking for the best advice on planning out your goals at the start of the new year – check out our goal planning guide. And finally, the six productivity tips you need for your most overwhelming moments! I hope these additional resources can help you as you work to move closer to your dreams and live the successful life you desire!