Monday, 12/19/22: Talking about a recap of my 22 in 2022 list
Happy Monday!
It’s a new week, which means it’s time for your next Monday motivation newsletter.
Read on below for some steps to a happier Monday, a short story and a roundup of positive thoughts to get your week started.
Three Steps to a Happier Monday
Each newsletter starts with three prompts to inspire gratitude and simple intention setting. Take a moment and jot down answers to these three questions. To give an example, I share my answers below.
Step 1: What are three things I appreciated from the weekend?
Step 2: What is one thing I can be excited about today?
Step 3: What is my intention for this week?
GRATITUDE: I’m thankful for a fun and meaningful gift exchange, safe and easy travels home on Saturday and being able to spend the day with my mom on Sunday!
TODAY: I’m most excited to run outside! It’s been so cold and gray in Chicago, but I’m home in Florida now, so I’m very excited to soak up the sun on my run this morning.
INTENTION: My intention this week is to try to stay present and enjoy the festivity of the week. I’m working a few days but then it’s Christmastime!!
Okay, your turn! And if you want to share your three steps, I am all ears. 🙂
Meaningful Musings: 22 in 2022 Recap
Recapping my 22 in 2022 list today!!
For the last couple of years (after initially getting the idea from Gretchen Rubin), I’ve made annual bucket list, with a twist based on the year. In 2020, I made a list of 20 things to do and in 2021, I made a list of 21 things to do.
At the beginning of this year, I introduced my 22 in 2022 list. In re-reading what I wrote, I was reminded of the following passage from a journal I was using at the time:
“Set achievable goals. A year is a long time, but if you don’t take advantage of it, those months can roll by without you accomplishing any of the things you are hoping to do. To keep yourself accountable, write down your goals for this year on the following pages. Start with big-picture goals and then add smaller, more achievable goals that will get you to that accomplishment later this year.”
It’s so true! Time passes one way or another, but one of my favorite things about these annual bucket lists is that they prompt me to think about the things I really want to do – and – having the things down on paper makes me much more likely to complete them.
Sometimes goal setting can feel intimating and overwhelming. Where do you start? But something about just making a “list of things” (big and small; enjoyable and challenging) you want to achieve over the course of the year feels more doable.
I’ve been working on my 23 in 2023 list and I can’t wait to share it next Monday. But for today, sharing a final recap on my 22 in 2022 list.
I only accomplished 13, but what a fun way to recap the year!
22 in 2022 List Recap:
- Subscribe to a Sunday paper. Well, I did get a digital subscription to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, but I haven’t gotten into the habit of reading the “Sunday paper.”
Use one “screen” at a time. Yeah! I do think having this ambition in the back of my mind has helped me limit mindless scrolling on my phone while watching TV, etc. (to an extent). Wahoo!Clean out my apartment quarterly.- Buy a new mattress. Nope. Prioritized other big purchases and that’s okay! Maybe next year…
Write 12 “monthly recaps” to remember all the little things that happen over the course of a month. Yes!- Participate in the monthly activities included in my new “Best Year Yet” journal. I really loved this journal when I bought it at the end of 2021, but I did not keep up with it.
Read a classic novel.Check! Read Persuasion and loved it.Read for 10 minutes a day. Yes! I didn’t track this in an official capacity but feel confident that I read for at least 10 minutes more days than not.- Read 50 books total. So far, I’ve read 43 books in 2022. I expect to end this year with a total of 45 books read, which means I did not meet this goal. Earlier this month I realized I had two options: 1) speed read books to make this self-imposed quota or 2) relinquish myself from needing to reach 50 books and actually enjoy the ones I’m reading. I’m not going to lie – I’m pretty proud of myself for picking option 2! I can be quite a stickler for goals, but at the end of the day, I reminded myself reading is something I do for FUN. And speaking of fun, here are some of my favorite titles from this year:
- Books that exposed me to new ideas: Happier Hour, The Power of Fun, Time Smart
- Books that I just loved + made me think: Going There, These Precious Days, Dutch House, Black Cake, Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year
- Books that were a delight to read: Lessons in Chemistry, Daisy Jones and the Six, Every Summer After, Meant to Be
- Gosh, I just can’t wait to see what I’ll read and what ideas I’ll be exposed to in 2023!!
Plan a trip to Gainesville for a football weekend. So much fun! And so special to bring Matt.- Pay special attention to the “buffers” in my day. I wrote recently about some things I do every day, but I wish I would’ve paid more attention to the “buffer times” (that transition time between home and work and vice versa). Possibly something to consider for next year.
Run a long race.Ran an 8k in March and it was so fun!- Once a month, send a card or letter to a friend who is on my mind. I did not do this… but I wish I would have. Think I will recycle to 2023’s list.
Indulge in a spa day with my mom.We did this in April, and it was lovely 😊Road trip somewhere nearby.Went on road trip to Indianapolis, Sharon, PA, and Nashville! Yay!Purchase a new perfume for the year.I really liked using this one during spring, and have now moved onto this!Start a new tradition of doing something fun on Sunday evenings.Investing in a Sunday ritual was one of my favorite things I did this year. In the spring and summer, Matt and I religiously did Sunday evening walks. It was the perfect opportunity to talk about the week ahead and ease any concerns. When the weather turned and the sun started to set sooo early, we switched up our Sunday walks in favor of indoor Peloton rides, Sweetgreen pickup and a TV show. Equally lovely!- Invest in a nicer speaker/sound system for my apartment. No ☹
Do something in honor of my grandma on what would be her 86th birthday in May.Yes!- Visit Michigan State. Didn’t get here this year but hoping to next year.
- Go to three concerts. I went to two concerts, which I’m proud of! The number three was a bit arbitrary to begin with…
Volunteer a total of 22 hours over the course of the year. Continued involvement with Chicago Scholars and a new-to-me organization – LP Nature Conversancy – made this one easy AND fun!
On My Monday Radar
Sometimes we just aren’t ready to jump into our Monday to-do list right away. In case you want some content to procrastinate with, here is a roundup of a few positive things on my radar:
- Loved this article, titled “How to Actually Enjoy the Holidays.” Some good reminders and fun illustrations.
- These Target ballet flats are my favorite at the moment. Super on sale and really comfy. Love how they can be dressed up or down!
- Talk about a fun 2022 recap: New York Times’ 20 most popular recipes of 2022. Enjoyed perusing the article. But tell me: why didn’t they pick the 22 most popular recipes of 22?! Feels like a miss to make it just a little more catchy.
- Do you pick a “word” of the year? I like the idea a lot, but don’t have a pull toward any certain word for 2023. Excited to reflect on that in the time between Christmas and New Year’s!
That’s all for today! I hope you found something in today’s newsletter that sparked motivation, made you smile or inspired a positive Monday thought. Don’t underestimate the power of starting small… a fulfilling week starts with just one fulfilling day. You’ve got this!
Let’s make it a great Monday!
Megan