Embracing 2024: A Year of Intentionality
As we step into 2024, it's natural to reflect on the past and contemplate the future. The new year often sparks a desire for change, growth, and a updated perspective. This year, I find myself drawn to the concept of intentionality — a deliberate and purposeful approach to every aspect of life.
In the realm of business, the arrival of a new year prompts a reevaluation of strategies and goals. It's a moment to reassess where we stand, identify areas for improvement, and set a course for success. Instead of relying on grand resolutions that often fizzle out, the wisdom from "Atomic Habits" by James Clear has been enlightening since it encourages making large change by little 1% type of actions.
I started the book a few weeks ago, and I’m not really one for the self-help kind of books. But this one I’m digging. Because it’s providing good insight into the power of small actions and how they can compound over time to shape our habits, and consequently, our lives. The significance of tiny changes resonates deeply, especially as I envision a year of growth beyond building the “big stuff.” I need to do a bit more fine-tuning on the littler and often overlooked things - starting with managing my calendar and time better- past Katie needs to tell future Katie what she should be doing. So that I can find some progress in previously overlooked gap spaces. I tend to think I’ve found myself in a rut, and I need to challenge myself because challenge breeds achievement. And I’d like SESTIVA to be bigger and better than ever this year. But I need a to-do list. And schedule blocked my calendar on repeat is how it’ll get done.
By making small, consistent improvements in various areas, I tend to believe that the cumulative effect can be transformative. Whether it's streamlining or refining processes/interactions (or simply blogging more consistently again), the commitment to continuous improvement can become a powerful driver of success. It did when I started this little company.
I find myself contemplating not only professional strategies but also personal development. The book discusses how our habits shape our identity and the impact they have on our overall well-being. The habit makes the person. Not the other way around. I became a self-employed business owner because by taking the small steps every single day in 2020 to build it. You just have to start somewhere, and more often than not: it’s starting small. So the book is resonating with me.
So my 2024 mantra has finally been decided a few days ago (better late than never!): BE INTENTIONAL. Intentionality extends beyond the work life. I want to be more conscious how I spend my time, what I consume (media and food alike), as well as what deserves my outward energy (strengthening my body and surrounding myself with people who pour back into me). The principle of intentionality hopefully will guide my choices to contribute positively to my overall well-being and growth.
Being intentional with energy expenditure is something I want to be more mindful of. Time is a finite resource and I want to be smart as possible with my time here while earthside. I hope by being more intentional that I’ll mindlessly scroll less. I’ll create more. I’ll be dragged from here to there less often and also rest more. The intentional use of my energy hopefully will ensure more meaningful results, creating a sense of more fulfillment and more accomplishment. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy that feeling of climbing the big hill and realizing you finally made it to the top. But you need to take that first step. And as James Clear explained to me, that sometimes that first step is actually more about putting your shoes on. Or having clean socks in the drawer. Overcoming the littler hurdles to help you achieve the bigger ones. Small 1% changes can have a big impact. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
