Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors: Shatter Limiting Beliefs - Redefine Success - Chase Big Dreams

Setting Goals and Finding Motivation during the Holidays

• Erica Rooney

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With Thanksgiving behind us and the new year or rapidly approaching. I want to ask you a question. What are you doing for your 2023 this year? The goals. We still have, I don't know, a month left. So do you plan on just coasting through the rest of the year, eating some bond bonds, some candy canes and wearing your comfy pants? While sitting by the fire, or do you plan on doing whatever needs to be done to get you closer to your goals? Now for me. I'll be setting myself up for both. And I'm going to teach you in this episode, how you can do the same. Because I want to enjoy my holiday season. I want moments of laziness and rest, but I also don't want to lose momentum. And y'all, if you haven't figured it out by now, I am not so extreme that I am not going to enjoy my holiday treats. But I'm also not going to let myself fall so far off the wagon that come January. I'm looking around wondering what the hell happened. So, if that sounds like a plan for you, you are in the right place. We are going to be that middle of the road, mama, who has the best time during the holidays, but it's also focused on growth goals and abundance. You are listening to the podcast from now to next. The podcast that empowers women to get seen, get heard and get promoted. I'm your host, Eric Rooney, and I've made it my mission to help you break free from the sticky floors. Those limiting beliefs and toxic behaviors to bust through the glass ceiling. I'm obsessed with all things growth and abundance. And I'm here to talk you through the tried and true secrets to get you to level up your career. And your life. We talk about the hard stuff here. Imposter syndrome, perfectionism, fear and burnout. So pull up a seat, popping into earbud and let's dive in. So let's talk about year end. This is the time of year. So many people just get so comfortable. They get, shall we say complacent? They settle into the treats and the cookies. And they start hibernating. Oh, like a damn bear. It is cold outside. There are no leaves on the trees at least. Not here in North Carolina and everyone. I mean, everyone. Has treats galore everywhere. Hairstylists got treats, teachers got treats, grocery store, more treats. So. This time of year is usually arrest time for me. At time to slow down. Uh, time to hunker down and really just breathe. But if you're not careful that rest and hunker downtime, it can become detrimental to the momentum. You have worked so hard to build. Over the past 11 months. And we are not about to do that. So this is my game plan. I've put it together. I've been thinking ahead so that we can all stay on track together, but still enjoy the holiday season. So first up. I'm going to be grateful. I am going to reflect on the spirit of Thanksgiving and the importance of gratitude. And I have done some episodes on gratitude just a couple of weeks ago. So if you want more on gratitude, head back and listen to those because gratitude is so, so, so important and so powerful in setting new goals and new Heights. And it can be really powerful when it comes to staying on track. So take a moment. Ground yourself daily and be grateful for where you are in this very moment. Next up, we're going to create some meaningful and achievable goals for the remainder of the year. So I'm sure that you have heard that all goals need to be smart goals, right? Specific measurable attainable. SMA are realistic and T timetable. I had to think about that for a minute. Now I like to stick to that 99% of the time. But during this last month of the year, it's a little bit different. So we are all super busy with everything holiday related, trying to wrap up the year. We've got year ends goals at work. We've got all the holiday stuff like shopping and gift wrapping and cooking and family in town. And our lives are just so crazy busy. So again, this time of year, it's just different, at least for me. So I like my goals to match my energy, which is quite honestly. A little more toned down, a little more focused on the R and R rest and relaxation. Than anything else. And I've got a formula that it's going to keep you on track. Are you ready for it? I take whatever my usual goal is. For example, if I want to read for 20 minutes a day or walk three miles every day. Instead of being that smart goal, instead of them being specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, blah, blah, blah. I make them less so, and you might be like, Erica, what the hell? That is so counterintuitive. It is against everything that I have learned. But I want you to hear me out. Instead of your goals being so specific. That when, you know, you might not meet those goals, you just toss them all in the trash and fall all the way down, make them more generalized. And what I mean by that is. Typically. During this season of life, my goal is to read on most days. My goal is to get movement on most days, my goal to eat healthy most of the time. And again, this isn't something that I would recommend all year long, but during this time, or any time where you want to intentionally slow down, but also stay on track. This is the formula. To do it. So you're moving away from their smart goals and you're moving more towards generalized goals. And I will tell you this works every single time to keep me on track. While allowing grace. It allows the time for the rest. It allows the time for flexibility for hunkering down, which is 100% what I am looking for this season. So again, if this is something that works for you, do it. If you want to stick to the main goals that you can do that too. But if you are like me and you want to slow down during this last month of the year without losing momentum. I guarantee you giving yourself the grace and the flexibility. That's how you do it. Now, the second thing that I want you to do is plan ahead. So if you have some target dates or deliverables, that must happen and cannot change plan for it. Prime example, I put out two podcasts a week every week. I don't want to have to worry about any of that during my hibernation period. So I'm doing them all ahead of time. Yes, it means I'm going to have to do a little extra work now, but it sets me up to enjoy my time later. This is actually what they say is this, you know, the sign of what makes a person successful. Someone who can delay gratification in the present to enjoy the future. That's what I need you to do. Now another tip for keeping yourself from backsliding and losing momentum is making it a family affair. Get your kids, your partner, your extended family. Get them all involved in the fun. You can do family walks or outside activities, maybe do reading hour with a kid. It doesn't have to be crazy, but it can be done. And I have found that my kids usually just want to be with me. So it doesn't matter if we're reading or outside going for a bike ride. Do whatever you gotta do. But my last tip that is going to keep you marching forward is actually to take a look back. Reflection is so powerful. You are not where you were six months ago. And certainly not where you were a year ago. And if you are someone that keeps a journal or a goal planner, I want you to go back in time to January of last year and look at your goals. How far have you come? What have you accomplished? When I think back on January of 20, 23. I had not written a book that was about to be published. I stayed true to my goal of two podcast episodes per week, which gets me in at over 100 podcasts by the end of the year. I've multiplied my thought leadership on LinkedIn and made so many true friends and connections. And. Damn y'all. I'm gonna pat myself on the back because I have come so far. And when you look back. How far have you come? How much have you accomplished? If you take the time and you reflect back, you will feel so inspired by your own damn self. And that is going to give you the momentum to keep ongoing during this hibernation period. Now friends, I want you to hit January 1st of 20, 24 strong. I want you to hit new year's day, just ready to go. And I want you to take the time during the holidays to also rest, to slow down, to enjoy and be present. Without backsliding. So do what you gotta do. Listen to this episode again, if you need to just, don't forget to enjoy the moment now. I hope you have the best holiday season, but you know, I'll be around next week. So stop by and we can keep each other on track as we go. And guys, thank you so much for being here. I am just so grateful for you, and I'm grateful that you continue to show up and listen to these episodes. If you enjoyed this one please do me a favor and rate review and subscribe and you know what leave me a review it truly helps it land in the hands of the person who may just need to hear the message today

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Erica Anderson Rooney

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