I am quite excited about this new year! I can’t say there’s anything big on the horizon, but I’m keen to use this tranditional transition time to review the last year, iterate, improve, and start some new habits.
Bullet Journal
Late last year I listened to The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll, and loved it. The best part is the philosophy of intentional living, and how the Bullet Journal (Bujo) can support that. In the past I didn’t understand the purpose of all the modules (aka collections) of the Bujo method, so although my journal was sometimes useful to me, it wasn’t optimal. I also got sucked in, and overwhelmed by, the Instagram accounts that show meticulous and gorgeous journal spreads. This resulted in my journal use being sporadic, and often I felt very reactive to life, instead of reflective and responsive.
Now, having listened to the book, I really understand how the collections work together to create a tool that helps you take time for the things that matter to you. Even though I still love a pretty journal spread, and have prepared some already, I am quite content to switch between artistic and utilitarian as time and desire dictates.
24 for 2024 Trifecta
Gretchen Rubin, author, and host of the Happier podcast has three tools she is calling the 24 for 2024 Trifecta. These are a list of 24 things you want to do within the year, a daily challenge, and a word that is your focus for the year.
24 for 2024
Or 24 in 2024 as I’ve put it in my journal. This list can be anything you want to get done or achieve in the year. They’re a bit like resolutions, but better! One reason they’re better is that you don’t have to put any daily tasks on there if you don’t want to (although I have five on my list). I feel that one of the big reasons that resolutions fail is that people commit to doing something daily, and as soon as they don’t do it for a day or two, they feel they have failed and give up completely. I think by keeping this list for the whole year, even if you do drop your daily tasks, the list is incentive to get back on the horse. Another thing that’s great about this list is that the tasks can be small, or big, or a combination, and you can spread the tasks out over the year, tackling them in whichever order you want. That way you can get repeated warm fuzzies of accomplishment (I think Gretchen calls these tadas), and when you feel stuck, or adrift, you can come back to the list to find a little direction.
Write 24 in 2024
Last year the challenge was to go outside 23 minutes a day (23 in 2023); I have actually added 24 minutes a day to my 24 for 2024 list. This year the challenge is write for 2-4 or 24 minutes per day. There are so many ways to do this, including writing a todo list, to writing a novel. I am already committed to writing in my bullet journal daily (preferrably multiple times a day), and I don’t have designs on writing a book right now, so I decided to write out quotes, song lyrics, poems, and possibly write my own poetry and songs. I want to spend a little time each day embracing beauty, wisdom, and understanding .
One-Word Theme
I’ve done this for the last couple of years, I feel like my 2022 word was a bit more effective than 2023, but it’s a hard thing to measure. My word for 2024 is light. It represents a lot of things I want for 2024, and the rest of my life. The most important recognising that Jesus is the light of the world, and allowing God’s word to light my path. Other facets of this idea are to be physically lighter, to have a light heart, an agile mind, to surrender my burdens to Jesus, and to embrace what is bright and colourful about myself.
Whatever your hopes, dreams, and goals for 2024 are, I wish you the best. And know that perfection is the enemy of progress. If you fail one day, get up and keep on trying tomorrow!
