If you are anything like me, your inbox is filled right now with emails about planning your year. 

You may have even been told that if you don’t have the perfect plan already in place it is too late.

That you must act now if you are to have a successful 2022.

(The marketing is intense this time of year!!)

Let me be totally honest with you …

All of those statements are complete and utter bullshit.

While the start of a New Year can be a great time to build new habits, let’s be real ….

That date is arbitrary.

You can set goals and make plans anytime.

The best time and way for you to set goals is when they feel in sync with the rhythm of your own body.

And how exactly do you figure out what the rhythm of your body?

First of all, I invite you to listen to how you feel. This means asking:

1. What emotions are coming up for you right now? ie. sadness, anger, irritation, happiness
2. What is your energy like? Do you feel tired, lethargic, ready to go or somewhere in between?

Then, ask yourself “if my emotions and energy were a season, what season would they be?”

I recently asked myself these questions and noticed that I felt agitated and tired with intermittent spikes of anger. I knew that meant that my body needed to really needed to embody winter and ultimately I needed to slow down and rest.

Just like winter is an essential part of the cycle of nature,  rest is an essential part of the cycle of life. 

In nature, winter turns dead matter into fertile soil so that flowers and trees can blossom in the spring. In our lives, rest allows us to reflect on and process all that we’ve done so that we can plant rich and meaningful seeds from which our creativity and abundance can emerge.

Are you also feeling a bit like winter and called to rest?

Here are a few ways to add more intentional rest into your life and your goal setting and planning process:

1. Give yourself at full day off every week.
2. Schedule your rest time with truly restful activities so you don’t get accidentally sucked back into working or being “productive”.
3. Schedule times to rest throughout your year. Maybe monthly, quarterly, or after finishing a major project. Just make sure to plan this ahead so this time doesn’t get usurped by things that feel more important.
4. Allow your goals and plans to emerge on their own timetable. Don’t feel like you have to finish figuring it all out by a specific day.
5. Allow the big picture to emerge before breaking your goals down into action steps. 
6. When defining action steps, allow yourself to consider multiple out-of-the-box possibilities.
7. Choose one action step at a time so you can stay flexible and stay open to new possibilities as they emerge. 

Want some more support in setting new goals for 2022? In my free workshop, Goal Setting for Uncertain Times, you’ll learn how to start with your values, listen to your heart, and to balance your masculine and feminine energy.

Click here for instant access.

Want even more support? Schedule a free l-l Clarity call to see if private coaching is right for you.

Wishing you a fabulous 2022!

Natalie