Hi all! It’s been a while since I’ve done a blend of a life lately post. I thought this would be a good opportunity with the end of the year to talk about some lessons I learned in 2023, both personally and professionally. There’s been a lot!

I also put together a new podcast episode with some highlights from some of this year’s most amazing guests. So, be sure to check it out here:

Lessons Learned in 2023

Time Blocking Really Does Work

I’ve heard people talk for years about blocking time on your schedule–either breaking it down by day, or within the day. And while I haven’t gone so far as to break down my day into hourly increments, this past year I started assigning basic tasks by day.

Here’s how it looked: Mondays and Tuesdays were set aside for all work and podcast-related tasks. I scheduling guests and interviews for these days; brainstormed ideas; and made work-related phone calls.

Wednesday was my flex day; it shifted depending on the week’s needs. On days when I didn’t have a live podcast, I would schedule personal things. Then, Thursdays and Fridays were all about things I needed to do for the family and me. This could be appointments, lunches or other meetings with work contacts or friends, and me time.

What I learned from “day-blocking” is that I am much less stressed knowing what type of day is ahead of me.

I was able to gain back some much-needed rest and energy on those personal days. It then carried into the new week.

I’ll definitely carry time blocking into the new year. If you’re new to this concept (and a fellow entrepreneur or work-from-home person like me), I’d start by blocking by days off first. Then, getting more detailed and organizing by hour within those days. That way it feels less intimidating, and if you love how it’s going, move into more specific task-blocking.

Sometimes Plans Change, and That’s Okay

I know that sounds generic, and it is. But this is a reminder I needed for myself. This past year I whiffed on some business goals. While I was disappointed, I’ve reached a place of acceptance with it. Sometimes, plans change and we have to re-shape our goals, and that’s okay.

While you’ll never get back the time and money you invest in a failed project, what you do gain are lessons and wisdom to take with you to the next one.

I’m sharing this in hopes that it reminds you that your work and imprint is needed in this world. If it your plans to share your genius don’t work out the first time, find another way to do it. We will inevitably fail at reaching some of our goals. But as I tell my kids, “It’s either a blessing or a lesson.” Sometimes we need the lesson just as much as we think we need the blessing.

Stay on Top of What’s Happening in the World

You probably realize this is a philosophy of mine by this point 😅. I really believe it’s vital to stay on top of news and what’s happening in the world. I do this even when they don’t touch our daily lives.

While I don’t think it’s healthy to live in the “news vortex” (trust me on this one, haha), I do think it’s incumbent upon us to seek out updates on what’s happening in the world. Getting out of “the bubble” has some major benefits–making us more informed citizens and voters, of course; but it also making us more compassionate individuals.

It’s very tempting to bury our heads in the sand, and let’s be honest, it’s not too hard to do these days! But what I learned this past year is that forcing myself to stay on top of current events–even in the most topical and simplest of ways–we also become better parents. Hear me out.

My kids are now 10 (almost 11), 9 and 6, and they’re starting to ask questions about news stories they hear or see in passing. And when they do, I try to tell them in an age-appropriate manner the basics of what’s happening.

While I would never recommend exposing a child to a news story that’s beyond their emotional age, I would recommend answering these questions they have in the most matter-of-fact and age-appropriate way as possible.

Raising informed children is critical in today’s world. There is more than ever for them to process, and having some of these hard conversations with them primes them to understand that there is a world beyond their own, and that it’s okay to ask questions to understand it.

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I’m off to declutter and organize the house some more. There’s no better feeling than a good purge, especially after the new Christmas toys come rolling in! Hope you all have the most wonderful end of 2023, and start to 2024.

What are some lessons you’re taking with you into the new year? I’d love to hear them! Follow me on Instagram for more updates!