The start of a new year can feel hopeful. It’s a chance to try new things, set your goals, adopt healthier habits, and lean into the fresh-start energy the new year brings.

Unlike the end of the year, when you might have been working furiously to complete those last few projects or tasks, January feels different. It’s like a blank journal. There are no entries yet, only possibilities. The story has time to unfold and be written.

Here are some questions to consider as you write your story:

• What will your pages include?

• Do you foresee challenges?

• Are you picturing successes?

• What are you looking forward to?

• What do you want to invite in?  

• What do you want to let go of?

• What projects, plans, travel, or gatherings will be included?

• Will your year bring growth, stability, change, or something else?

Fresh Starts

I’m still working through my year-long planning process, which has evolved over time. Some years it has been more involved than others. Last year, my plan was almost non-existent. I was under a tight deadline from the end of December into January. The project completion overlapped with the time I typically use to review and plan. By the time I came up for air, I opted to forgo the ‘planning gymnastics’ I usually do and simply let go. Instead of intensive reviewing and future-thinking, I let the days flow.

This year, however, I returned to reviewing and planning because I missed doing it. I’m taking note of the more casual process from last year and layering it over this one. I don’t want to make the planning process burdensome or too elaborate, as it has felt in the past.

I’m gifting myself time to review and prepare at a non-pressured pace. The process involves several tasks, which include:

• Review Last Year’s Calendar – This section is complete. I noted workshops given, major projects, day trips and vacations, gatherings hosted, conferences and meetings, learning experiences, volunteer activities, and time with family, friends, and clients.

  What I observed: There was a good balance between work, play, and volunteering, alone and people time, and home and away time.

• Revisit Previous Planning Tools – Already completed. I reviewed my goals and planning materials from past years. It was fun to see what information I captured, whether it was helpful, what goals I set, and which goals were relevant to bring forward. One thing I definitely want for this year is to simplify my process.

  What I observed: There is value in reviewing and capturing those observations in a visual format. It’s also useful to change things up so the process doesn’t feel stale.

• Look at iPhone Photos – With a few projects I worked on at the end of last year, I already did a quick pass through the photo library. However, I want to take a longer look so I can “feel” and understand the year visually.

  What I observed: I love taking photos, as evidenced by the volume of images and videos I have taken. These images capture the sights and sounds of nature, people, places, and events. They also feature saturated color, light, shadow, and many close-up details.

• Read Journal – Reread last year’s entries to identify patterns, significant events, lessons learned, challenges, successes, and the general mood or feeling for the year.

• Three Things Reflection – Fill out the questions adapted from The Compass Journal. This is one of the tools I’ve used for years and didn’t do last year. I missed it, so I’m working through it again this year. I’m partly done, but I want to read my journal first to help me complete this exercise.
  
  

• Select Word or Motto of the Year – This is another exercise I let go of last year. I opted not to choose a word and settled on a motto only. I liked the 2024 motto, “You got this,” so much that I repeated it for 2025. However, for 2026, I want something new. I compiled a list of potential words and motto options. Nothing is quite right yet, so I’ll let those simmer a while longer before I commit. I’m still uncertain whether I’ll choose a word and a motto, or just one.

“Lean into the fresh-start energy the new year brings.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

Young Blooms

Recently, I received a lovely gift—a jar with a hyacinth bulb in water. My friend told me it would thrive indoors as long as I gave it sun and kept it watered. Weeks passed, and finally the milky-white blooms began to open.

It felt quite magical. One day, they were invisible, and the next, they were in full view. Since then, I’ve been enjoying their perfumey fragrance and the unfolding of more blooms.

What a beautiful analogy for this new year. Tend to your garden. Water it. Give it the nourishment it needs. Your blooms will arrive, bringing wonder, joy, and growth.

Welcome Perspectives

One value of embracing a clean slate is the openness it brings. Instead of superimposing your familiar thought patterns, habits, or conventions on the clutter, you have an opportunity to see things in a new way. The vastness gives us space for a different perspective.

Especially if you’ve been feeling stuck or overwhelmed, having space to see things in a new way is helpful. You can sort things out on your own or ask a trusted source for help.

Several weeks ago, Todd Henry posed this question, which I thought could be helpful for you. He asked,

“What problem are you wrestling with solo that would benefit from outside input or perspective this week?”

Design the year you envision. And if you’re stuck, reach out for help. You don’t have to go this alone.

What Will Your New Year Be Like?

There are many ways to make the most of the new year. I shared a few ways to craft your year. Do any of these resonate with you? What is your process for designing your year? Are you doing anything differently this year?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, disorganized, or stressed? Would you like to make changes this year? I’m here to help! Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s connect! I’m easy to reach.

• Schedule a Discovery Call

• Fill out the Contact form

• Email me at linda@ohsorganized.com or

• Call 914-271-5673

Getting organized and making changes are possible, especially with support.

We constantly receive internal and external messages. Do they help or hurt you? Have you heard of the 5:1 magic ratio? Research suggests that to counteract the sticky Velcro-like negativity bias, it takes approximately five positive encounters, thoughts, or experiences for every negative one.

Consider fortifying your Personal Positivity Bank by making regular deposits. Here are a few ways to build your reserves:

• Create a “Feel Good” file with positive emails, notes, or letters you received from family, friends, clients, or colleagues:

• Keep an ongoing gratitude list

• Connect with nature

• Prioritize self-care

• Spend time with people who energize and uplift rather than drain you

• Display positive reminders in your environment

Today, I am focusing on that last one, the visible messages you see every day. I’m sharing several of my favorites below. I’ve written before about the fidget bowl on my desk. This fun collection of miniature objects combines word reminders, trinkets from places visited, old toys, and visual and tactile delights. Playing with the tiny pieces while I’m in meetings helps me focus. Having uplifting messages front and center enhances my well-being. What encouraging messages will you surround yourself with?

7 Ways the Reminders You Display Will Help You Each Day

1. Bloom Where You’re Planted

Bloom where you’re planted encourages me to embrace the growth mindset anywhere, anytime. Every encounter, action, observation, experience, success, and failure are opportunities to learn, expand, and blossom.

2. Head & Heart

Navigating life’s hiccups and choices can be stressful. “Head & Heart” reminds me to use my cognitive and sensing gifts to support positive decisions and outcomes. While not included in this purple pin, my gut is another guiding element. When I listen, it leads me with a distinct “yes” or “no.”

3. Nourish

My Word of the Year is nourish. This essential encourages me to feed my heart, mind, and body so they feel nurtured, positive, and supported to thrive. My heart wants connection. My mind needs stimulation, and my body wants loving care.

4. You Are Here

While these words are often found to locate yourself on a map, to me, they embody presence. Especially when my mind is racing, and even when it’s not, this message prompts me to pause, notice, and ground myself with where I am, what I’m doing, what I’m feeling, and what I’m experiencing. When distracted, I use these words to gently bring me back, reset, and move on.

“Fortify your Personal Positivity Bank by making regular deposits.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

5. Oy Vey!

Years ago, I gave my dad this blue “Oy Vey!” computer key. It became a favorite inside joke between us, and one of the many things that connected us was our shared sense of humor. This message reminds me that things in life have the potential to go sideways. However, my sense of humor can bring a brighter perspective and allow me to laugh at myself during difficult situations.

6. Radiate Positivity

According to the CliftonStrengths assessment, one of my top strengths is Positivity. Seeing the “Radiate Positivity” button helps me with several things:

• It reminds me to continuously develop and live from my strengths.

• My natural inclination towards positivity helps me be resilient and growth-oriented.

• Positivity is ‘catching,’ so my mood can have an encouraging effect on others.

7. Exhale the Bullshit

This new pin has quickly become a favorite. We all experience life ‘stuff’ (aka difficult situations, conflicts, threats, bullshit). During those challenging encounters, you can experience emotional hijacking. Stress triggers are sent to the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for emotional processing. Your automatic warning system goes on high alert, and your body wants to protect you. Your heart races, your palms sweat, your face flushes, and your breathing turns rapid or shallow.

“Exhale the Bullshit” reminds me to take a deep breath through my nose and a longer exhale through my mouth. Repeating that several times, I soothe my system, access the rational part of my brain, and am better equipped to respond calmly to the circumstance.

How does having positive visual reminders help and influence your day? What helpful messages are in your view? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

There are numerous sources you can use to create a vision for your New Year. Several weeks ago, I wrote about five ways to make the most of your fresh start. One idea was to select a Word of the Year, providing you with an overarching theme to bring clarity and focus to your year. Some 2022 word choices from my friends and colleagues include intentional, shine, slower, purpose, alignment, determination, consistency, integrity, growth, present, soar, and focus. Have you selected a 2022 word? My 2022 word is flourishing.

Choosing one word can be helpful, along with other possibilities. This past week, I had the opportunity to experiment with compiling one simple visual, a vision board, which incorporated all of my ideas onto a single page. I accomplished this by having some uninterrupted time and writing in my journal. I also participated in an evening retreat led by my friend and life coach, Yota Schneider, and a vision board creating session led by Executive Mom Nest founder, Marcy Stout.

I hope you discover something in my process that will be helpful for you. 

3 Quick Ways to Create Your Vision for a Powerful Fresh Start

1. Ponder/Wander Time

When we think about creating a vision, plans, or goals, the keyword is ‘think.’ It’s essential to secure some quiet, undisturbed time for your mind to settle enough to feel and hear your heart and thoughts. I use meditation, yoga, walking, and showering as ways to calm my body and mind. In a relaxed state, my ideas flow. Even if I’m not ready to write or discuss them, ponderings begin percolating.

During Yota’s The Way Ahead retreat, I meditated, wrote, and discussed. When our evening together ended, I left with the confidence to take the time and space to create my path forward. Calm, patience, and curiosity will guide me.

2. Journaling Time

Throughout the year, I write in my personal and meditation journals. The meditation journal has daily entries, is typically about my thoughts on the meditations, and sometimes includes life challenges, successes, or discoveries. Writing in my personal journal is less frequent, but the entries are more extensive. They capture significant happenings, feelings, and thoughts throughout my year.

To prepare more thoroughly for 2022, I will reread my 2021 journal entries. I’ll be on the hunt for lessons and ah-has that will help me make sense of this past year and identify ideas I might want to work on or bring forward for this current year. 

“The quiet focus of other people working was magical.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO™

3. Vision Board Time

I’ve never been a vision board maker, which is sort of funny, being how visually oriented I am. However, this year, I was encouraged to make one during an Executive Mom Nest meeting. We had a choice of going to one of three Zoom breakout rooms. I selected the “Shhhh” room to work on our vision boards while everyone was muted. 

What a productive 45-minutes! I had no expectations but came prepared with some blank paper, markers, highlighter pens, my personal journal, and an idea to somehow capture the essence of what I envisioned for 2022. 

The quiet focus of other people working was magical. I kicked into hyper-focus mode and created a vision board, which included the following elements:

• The year

• My word of the year and a definition

• My intention/guiding principle for the year

• Lessons/discoveries/ah-has from 2021 – I didn’t list the actual discoveries. Instead, I wrote down the sources I wanted to review and created a second page to capture the information.

• Three significant areas I want to focus on (Well-Being, Relationships, Professional) along with goals for each area

While I still need to do my 2021 deep dive, with this vision board in view, I feel clear about my big picture and confident with the changes I’ve already set into motion. Instead of feeling confused, I feel excited and motivated to reflect and plan.

Have you created a vision board? What was your experience like? How did it influence your year? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

If you’re feeling stuck with creating your vision for the New Year, I’m here to help. Let’s schedule a virtual organizing session to make your 2022 the best year ever. Email or call me at linda@ohsoorganized.com or 914-271-5673.