It's OK to Tip-Toe Into the New Year // Dreams, etc.

We’re a week into January and I already feel overwhelmed. Anyone else? No, not overwhelmed by my goals. (I’m slowly, but surely thinking about what I’d like to accomplish in the next week/month.) No, I’m overwhelmed by everything I feel like I should have done.

Here’s the thing. It appears as though everyone knows exactly what they’re going to do and accomplish this year… or, at least, everything they want to do and accomplish. I’ve seen so many photos, videos, and posts about beautifully decorated planners or BuJo spreads. And it was all done before 2019 even started. Everyone was ready to jump into 2019 with both feet and I’m here tip-toeing in.

Some people can jump right into their goals for the new year, others need to tip-toe in. And that's okay., // dreams-etc.com

I love reading everyone’s goals and their word/phrase for the year. (I do have some guiding words for my year, which you might have seen in my Insta Stories if you follow me on Instagram.) I love seeing everyone dive into the year. But I’m not ready to do that. And even though logically I know I’m not, I’m still overwhelmed by the feeling that I should dive into the year, too.

Instead, I need to take baby steps. 2018 was an incredibly productive year. I worked a lot. I went on some vacations (which were wonderful), and spent time with family (also wonderful), but other than that (and through vacations, actually) I worked. In December I was able to take a step back and get some rest, so I did. That’s what I needed after such a busy and work-filled year. I wasn’t ready to prep a 2019 bullet journal. I wasn’t ready to make a grand list of goals. I needed to catch up on sleep. I needed to relax and read a few books.

I was able to take a step back and get some rest, so I did. That’s what I needed after such a busy and work-filled year. I wasn’t ready to prep a 2019 bullet journal. I wasn’t ready to make a grand list of goals. I needed to catch up on sleep. I needed to relax and read a few books.

So here I am a week into 2019 creating a plan for my month with my coach and sending my first writing goal for the year to my critique partner (and being pestered with details like “how are you going to break this Q1 goal down?” 😂😉). Here I am thinking tonight is probably the night to crack open that new bullet journal so that I have a place to plan my week. Here I am taking baby steps into the new year.

And I know I’m not alone. I know that because I’ve talked to others who also feel overwhelmed, because society tells us that we needed to start hustling to achieve our goals on January 1st.

If you’re someone who has your year planned out and you can jump right in and keep up the pace, that’s awesome! You do you.

But if you, like me, need to tip-toe into 2019 and take baby steps as you introduce new habits or routines or goals into your life, that’s awesome, too. You do you.

There isn’t a “right way” to start a year. There’s just doing things to make you a happier, healthier you.