5 Ways to Prepare Your Heart for the new year

Oh, what a year 2020 has been. I think we all can safely agree that 2020 has been rough. Emotionally, physically, mentally. Just overall an exhausting year in all the ways. Well, I think it is safe to say that celebrating the new year is going to be much anticipated by so many. Why not get the conversation started by sharing 5 things you can be doing now to plan ahead for 2021. Specifically, 5 things to help ensure that the next year is in fact the best year yet!

How to Plan Ahead for the New Year

I hope I am not the only one who spends too much time picking out her planner for a new year. Well, it’s only October, and I already have my heart set on my Southworth (linked to website) 2021 planner. There is something about a notebook full of blank pages, open spaces and a whole lot of life left to live freely. And I am so, SO excited to fill my Southworth planner with all the hopes and dreams a new year brings, and that can start as early as TODAY!

Southworth Planner

5 Things to be Doing Now to Plan Ahead for the New Year

1. Focus on one word

The first thing you can be doing NOW to go ahead and plan ahead for a happy new year is to start focusing in on one specific word. Search your heart, dive through your soul, search the indexes of your mind and settle in on one word that makes your heart come ALIVE. The last few years, I have always chosen a word instead of a new year resolution and I just love the entire intent behind focusing in on one word to define a year. My year for 2020 is cultivate. Despite the hardship and struggles the past threw our way, I firmly believe that word still holds true. Therefore, step one for making a plan to look ahead at 2021, focus in on one specific word.

2. plan ahead for the new year by Cultivating your top three

Second on the list of preparing your heart, mind, and soul for the next year is to cultivate your top three. Focus in on the three areas of your heart that you want to focus on cultivating for the next year. Do you want to focus on quiet time, rest, intentionality, or maybe even community? Or how about consistency? Focus in on your desires and dreams and carve out three specific areas to focus on and cultivate a pattern for. Once you have your top three, I encourage you to work through your  planner and create spaces each week and month to check in on your top three

3. Take note of the big moments.

Next on the list is to take specific note of the big moments. Have an anniversary, or a special memory you want to recollect and connect to? Go through your planner and journal in special moments and dates so you pre-plan all the reasons to celebrate and smile big throughout the year. Include birthdays, anniversaries, personal milestones, and the changing of seasons. This task may seem small and insignificant, yet it has the potential to fuel desire and passion of the heart as you plan ahead in a celebratory spirit. Believe me, we all need to focus on the things to celebrate a little more.

4, Reflect on the past

Before we can move ahead, we have to sit and work through the past. What better time to do that as we make our plans for the next year? I believe that in order to fully prepare for the things to come, we have to work through the struggles and sore spots of the past. I would encourage you to journal and reflect. Take note on your areas of strength, moments of weakness, and all the elements of surprise and humanity in between.

5. Dream for the Future

Finally, on to the item that we all are most likely the most excited about. One of the most exciting parts of looking ahead to a new year is dreaming big for the future. And this is where I love to spend time with my 2021 Southworth planner NOW, in the last few months of 2020, truly dreaming and believing in the future year.

What goals do you hope to accomplish? Where do you want your heart to be? How do you want to feel? What types of memories do you want to create? Build a vision in your heart and mind and write that in all throughout the year. Looking for more inspiration on how to spend time planning ahead for the New Year? Sharing FIVE more things for you to to be prepared to say hello to a new year!