Why do we treat January 1st like it’s the only day we can start fresh? After years of rushing into the new year with half-formed plans and limited motivation, I’ve learned an important lesson: the best way to start strong is to start early. And here’s the good news—your fresh start doesn’t have to wait for January 1st.

I used to be that person who spent hours searching for the perfect planner, stickers, and making an endless list of goals for New Year’s Day and beyond. I’d map out what I thought would be “my” year and feel so motivated…only to let my normal routine take over January 2nd. Sound familiar? The problem wasn’t my excitement or my list of goals—it was that I didn’t have a system to carry that energy forward.

In my corporate career, planning ahead is a must. As a leader, you make sure to forecast goals, create strategies, and ensure systems are in place to execute effectively. It finally clicked for me last year—why wasn’t I doing the same in my personal life? That’s when everything changed.

Think about the year you just had: What went well? What didn’t? What changes do you want to make? Reflection is the first step to creating a life of balance, confidence, and joy. But you can’t stop there. You need a game plan.

Here’s How to Start Now:

I encourage you to take some time BEFORE January 1st and create a game plan. Set aside 20-30 minutes and reflect on this past year and what you hope to accomplish in the next. To help you jumpstart your progress, I’ve created a free worksheet. It’s packed with prompts and tools to help you reflect, set goals, and build habits before January even begins.

I know it can seem tempting to just wait until the holidays are over, but don’t wait until January 1st to start living intentionally. Download your free guide now and take the first step towards a new year filled with purpose and clarity.