2025 is here!

So it's 2025, and we have a shiny new year to get our teeth into. There's always a different energy as we tick over into a new year, a collective sense of the possibility and the fresh start that January brings.

Gyms fill up, planners fly off the shelves, and social feeds flood with promises of transformation. Resolutions, goals, and big talk about the "new me" take centre stage. But let's be honest, most of these grand declarations and plans people make on January 1st will have fizzled out by February. Most of those resolutions were over-ambitious or unrealistic, more about what they thought they should do than what truly mattered to them.

If you have struggled with taking advantage of the new year in the past, I want to offer you a different way of looking at it that has worked for me.

I ditched resolutions years ago. Instead, I set a "focus" for the year. Think of it as a guiding principle, a single word or theme that acts as a compass. Unlike a list of goals longer than a Leonard Cohen record, a focus doesn't demand perfection or huge overnight change. It simply asks for intentionality. It keeps you grounded and aligned when life gets messy, as it inevitably will.

Choosing a focus means keeping it simple and sensible. Here's how I do it.

I reflect on What Matters:

Before picking a focus, I take some time to think about what worked and what didn't last year. What made me feel alive? What drained me? It's not about dwelling on mistakes but learning from them. The goal is to identify what truly matters and prioritise it. Then, reduce or stop the stuff that drains you and brings your mood down.

I Keep it realistic:

Life is unpredictable. A focus isn't about trying to control every outcome; it's about embracing the process. For me, it's about choosing something achievable. Maybe it's a word like "fitter" "connection," or "growth." Whatever it is, it has to fit with the reality of your life, not some fairytale version of it. Find a word that means something to you, a word that matters.

I Write it down:

Once I've chosen my focus, I write it down where I'll see it daily. It used to be on a sticky note near my desk, but these days, it's on my phone's lock screen. It's important to keep it where you see it regularly, so as most of us are rarely off our phones, it's a great place to have it front and centre. It will help you stay mindful of it. Please don't underestimate the importance of having it written down; miss this step, and you massively reduce your chances of nailing the year.

And finally, I take Small Steps:

A focus isn't about giant leaps; it's about consistent, small steps. It's checking in regularly and asking, "Does this align with my focus?" It's letting that theme influence the choices you make, one at a time.

So, as 2025 begins, keep it simple, no long list of resolutions, no pressure to reinvent yourself. Just have a focus that matters to you. It will keep you grounded and intentional in the year ahead. It's not flashy, but it works.

Remember, it's not about the promises you make on January 1st; it's about the quiet, steady progress you make every day after that.

So, here's to a year of focus, simplicity, and showing up for what really matters.

Happy New Year

GB