As the year winds down and we reflect on what we did or didn’t accomplish over the last 12 months, I want to remind you to give yourself a bit of grace. For one, I believe dates on a calendar should not determine when we can shift our activities and behaviors to reach our goals. And I also don’t think we’ve failed if we don’t achieve our goal by the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day.

Did you set out in 2022 to advance your career, read 12 books or lose 20 pounds? Did you succeed? If your goals didn’t come to fruition, I don’t think it necessarily equates to failure. Giving ourselves the grace to refocus and think through what we DID do, can help keep us moving forward. Did you read six more books than the year before? Maybe the scale didn’t move as much as you hoped, but did you get to the gym more frequently than you did in the past?

Our daily behaviors and habits drive our lives and our successes. And remember, success means different things to different people. You have to decide what your definition of success truly is. For some, it’s a corner office leading a large team; for others, it’s building a life with the flexibility to pick the kids up from school every day.

Think about your daily routine. What positive, healthy or productive activities can you layer into your everyday life that will get you closer to your goals? What are less than productive activities (I’m looking at you, TikTok scroller – unless you’re watching our videos, LOL) that could be minimized to accommodate for more fruitful endeavors?

Can you read 20 to 30 minutes a day; get 30 minutes of physical activity a day; or set aside time to meditate, set your intentions or give gratitude? Can you learn a new skill or embrace a new challenge in your professional setting?

And remember, imperfect starts are 100% ok. You will not be perfect every day, and by recognizing that, you can give yourself permission to mess up and move on. Don’t dwell on it, don’t beat yourself up, get up and do better the next day. Remember, the habits we develop over time will drive our results.

From The Carden Group to you, here’s to a very Happy Holiday Season. We are grateful for each and every one of our clients and followers and hope we bring value to your work and life.

Cheers.