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Reinvent Your New Year’s Approach

Innovative Alternatives to Traditional Resolutions

Author

Cara Gray
December 30, 2024

Dear Friends,

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. It’s quiet, a little magical, and an excellent time to reflect on the past year and get clear about some goals, wishes and dreams for 2025. I am giving you several alternatives to the traditional idea of setting New Year’s resolutions - which often fall by the wayside. I recommend you spend some time with the technique that resonates the most.

If you are also thinking more about your own third act and planning your next chapter in 2025, this is a great time to be more intentional about that too. And if you want to move forward with a guide through this process, I invite you to book a complimentary 1:1 session with me where I’ll walk you through the process I use with clients, resulting in a custom, curated, Third Act Blueprint that will be your reference for the next stage of your life. Book your session with me today: https://CaraGray.as.me/newsletter

The Power of Intentions

Research shows that a staggering 92% of people fail to achieve their New Year’s resolutions. This isn’t surprising, given that life often presents us with unforeseen challenges that can derail even our best-laid plans. By setting intentions rather than specific goals, we create a flexible framework that can adapt to life’s uncertainties while keeping us aligned with our deeper purpose.

A 5-Step Process to Set Your 2025 Intention

  1. Center Yourself
    Begin by taking a few minutes to quiet your mind. A simple breathing exercise, focusing on the words “just… this…” as you inhale and exhale, can help calm your thoughts and open you up to deeper insights.

  2. Reflect and Journal
    Grab your favorite beverage and spend some time journaling about these key questions: • What areas of personal growth do you want to focus on in 2025? • What experiences do you want to have more of? • What are you ready to let go of, and what new things are you excited to embrace? • How do you want to feel throughout 2025? • What small, daily changes can you make to align with these desires?

  3. Contemplate Your Insights
    Review your journal entries and consider what experiences you’re most passionate about prioritizing in the coming year. Imagine yourself on December 31, 2025 - what experiences would you be most grateful for?

  4. Choose Your Intention Word
    Based on your reflections, select a word or short phrase that encapsulates your desired feelings and experiences for 2025. This could be something like “growth,” “harmony,” “adventure,” or “purpose.” This word will serve as your guiding theme for the year.

  5. Integrate Your Intention Daily
    Make your intention word a part of your daily routine. Consider writing it on a sticky note and placing it somewhere you’ll see it often, like your bathroom mirror or coffee machine. You might also incorporate it into a daily mindfulness practice or contemplative walk.

💡 By setting an intention rather than a resolution, you give yourself the freedom to adapt to life’s unexpected turns while staying true to your deeper purpose. Your intention becomes a compass, guiding your decisions and actions throughout the year, no matter what challenges you may face.

Another Alternative: Bingo Card

Transform your goals into a fun and engaging game with a 2025 Bingo Card. This innovative approach turns goal-setting into an interactive experience that keeps you motivated throughout the year.

Here’s how to create your own:

1. Design Your Card: Create a 5x5 grid with 25 squares. You can do this digitally using tools like Canva or draw it by hand.
2. Set Your Goals: Fill each square with a specific, achievable goal. These can range from personal development tasks to fun activities or career milestones.
3. Make it Visual: Add colors, images, or symbols to make your bingo card visually appealing and inspiring.
4. Track Your Progress: As you accomplish each goal, mark it off on your card. Aim to complete rows, columns, or diagonals to achieve “Bingo”.
5. Reward Yourself: Set rewards for completing a line or the entire card. This could be a special treat, a day trip, or something you’ve been looking forward to.
6. Keep it Visible: Display your bingo card where you’ll see it daily, serving as a constant reminder of your goals.

💡 This approach “gamifies” your goals, making the process of achieving them more engaging and fun. It also allows for flexibility and celebrates small wins along the way, boosting your motivation and self-esteem.

Here are some examples of goals that could be included on a third act-focused bingo card:

Financial Goals
• Review and update retirement savings plan
• Schedule a meeting with your financial advisor
• Pay off a small debt
• Review and optimize tax withholdings

Health and Wellness Goals
• Schedule a comprehensive health check-up
• Try a new fitness activity
• Meditate for 10 minutes daily for a week
• Cook a healthy meal at home
• Go for a nature walk or hike
• Get a full night’s sleep for 7 consecutive days

Personal Development
• Read a book on retirement planning
• Learn a new hobby or skill
• Attend a workshop or class
• Write down three short-term life goals
• Create a bucket list
• Research volunteer opportunities

Social and Family
• Plan a gathering with friends or family
• Join a local club or organization
• Reconnect with an old friend
• Have a “third act talk” with your partner
• Visit or video call grandchildren
• Explore local community events

Practical Preparation
• Declutter one area of your home
• Research third act living options
• Update your will or estate plan
• Organize important documents
• Create a list of home maintenance tasks
• Explore potential part-time work or consulting opportunities

🎯 Remember, the key is to make these goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). By including a mix of these goals on a bingo card, you can create a fun and interactive way to prepare for the next year while celebrating small wins along the way.

Another Alternative: Design a Pinterest Vision Board for 2025

In today’s digital age, Pinterest offers a unique and accessible way to create a vision board for the upcoming year.

Here’s how to craft your 2025 Pinterest vision board:

1. Create a Dedicated Board: Start by creating a new, secret board on Pinterest specifically for your 2025 vision. Name it something inspiring like “My 2025 Vision” or “Dream Life 2025.”
2. Define Your Categories: Before you start pinning, reflect on the areas of your life you want to focus on in 2025. These might include career, relationships, health, travel, personal growth, and finances.
3. Begin Pinning: Search for images, quotes, and ideas that resonate with your goals and aspirations. Pin them to your board. Remember, this is a visual representation of your dreams, so choose pins that truly inspire you.
4. Use Pinterest’s Tools: Take advantage of Pinterest’s organizational features. Create sections within your board for different life areas or goals. This will help you maintain a clear, structured vision.
5. Add Your Own Content: Don’t limit yourself to existing pins. Upload your own images, perhaps of places you want to visit or personal photos that represent your goals.
6. Include Actionable Pins: Look for pins that not only inspire but also provide practical steps towards your goals. This might include workout routines, healthy recipes, or life development tips.
7. Review and Refine: Regularly visit your board to review and refine your pins. As your vision evolves, don’t hesitate to remove pins that no longer resonate and add new ones that do.
8. Make It Accessible: While keeping the board secret during creation, consider making it public once it’s complete. This can help hold you accountable and might inspire others. 9. Engage Daily: Make it a habit to look at your Pinterest vision board daily. This constant visual reminder will help keep your goals at the forefront of your mind

✨ Remember, the power of a Pinterest vision board lies not just in its creation, but in how it inspires you to take action towards your goals. Use it as a tool to stay motivated and focused throughout the year.

If you are into a more “woo-woo”/manifesting approach to the New Year, here’s a TikTok that explains what she calls the “memoir technique”.

@lauragalebe

Time to lock in✨🧙🏻🔮✍🏼

One more bit of inspiration for your 2025 planning: Gift 🎁 article from the Wall Street Journal ⬇️

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2025!

Stay tuned for weekly content about travel, health, relationships, identity, spirituality, doing good and starting a new venture as it relates to your third act/the next chapter in your life ✨

Please subscribe and forward this newsletter to others who are thinking about planning their third act. Thanks for your support 🙏.

Warm regards,

Cara Gray
Third Act Consultant, CPRC, CEPA™️

P.S. If you want to start planning your third act, set up a time on my calendar for a chat: Schedule a Chat with Cara

P.S.S. If you are curious about my consulting work, there are two options to work with me: deep-dive, transformative 1:1 consulting or a 90-minute intensive, quickstart session. Details about both options can be found here.