Megan's Monday Motivation

23 in 2023 List

This post originally appeared in the Monday morning newsletter on 12/26/22.

Last week I looked back on my 22 in 22 list and this week it’s time to look forward to 2023. 

This ‘in-between’ week is one of my favorite times of year. Things are still *mostly* shutdown and there is an accepted “anything goes” mentality in the air. Dessert after breakfast is considered normal. Workouts are delayed in favor of one more cup of coffee and one more chapter of your cozy novel. You have to stop and ask yourself what day it is because you cannot decide if it’s Monday? Or Tuesday? Or even maybe Thursday?! And even if you are working, it is hopefully a quieter and shorter week than normal. 

I love using this time to relax and also prepare to welcome the new year next week. In the absence of my typical day-to-day, I usually find myself with some extra mind space and motivation to think about the year ahead, how I want to approach it and what I want to do. 

It can be daunting to figure out where to start though – which is why I’m so drawn to the idea of annual bucket lists (and why I’ve done one in 20202021 and 2022). Pondering on 23 things I want to do in 2023 – big and small; easy and challenging – doesn’t feel as intimating as stating a New Year’s resolution or intention. As Gretchen Rubin (who I originally got the idea from) writes, “somehow, this approach makes it more pleasant to think about what we want for the new year—it feels more hopeful and helpful.”

Creating your own 23 in 2023 list could be a perfect activity to do during this delicious slowdown week. Sharing mine below in case you are curious and would love to hear if you decide to make one for yourself! 

Here’s to 2023!

My 23 in 2023 List: 

  1. Send New Year’s cards!
  2. Get my eyes checked
  3. Read 40 books
  4. Try Corepower Yoga
  5. Get espresso cups to use with my Nespresso
  6. Visit EUROPE for the first time!!
  7. Limit the amount of time I spend mindlessly on my phone
  8. Add something new to the newsletter 
  9. Visit my company’s NYC office
  10. Save for Christmas shopping in advance
  11. Go on a trip with Matt!
  12. Run my first half marathon (!!)
  13. Call family members at least once a week 
  14. Invest in buying a new iPad or personal computer
  15. Visit San Antonio to meet my friend’s baby
  16. Start wearing a mouth guard at night
  17. Hit a personal savings goal
  18. Make a list of 100 dreams
  19. Find a good card game for two players
  20. Go to the Northwestern-Penn State game with my parents!
  21. Track the clothes I wear to figure out cost-per-wear 
  22. Participate in the packing of brown bag lunches with Old St. Pat’s at least once 
  23. Try doing a weekly “Schultz hour”