2024 In’s and Out’s
Taking Action
My word of the year is "action." This year, I am dedicated to being intentional with my time, research, and learning. To achieve this, I am committing daily hours to building a community on my blog, deepening my understanding of content creation, and finally launching a podcast. I am also prioritizing reading for personal development.
In 2024, my focus is on evolving into the best version of myself. I aim to transform my inconsistent healthy habits into a lifelong commitment, embracing them not merely as tasks to complete but as integral components of my life. I believe this approach is the key to achieving extraordinary success, rather than settling for average results.
2024 In’s and Out’s
Ins:
Set specific, measurable, and realistic goals for my blog, content creation, podcast, and personal development.
Create a weekly schedule allocating dedicated hours for working on my blog, content creation, podcast, and reading.
Prioritize tasks that directly contribute to my goals and focus on those first.
Break down bigger goals into smaller, manageable tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Daily Journaling in my Inside Then Out Journal
Surround myself with other creatives! I want to find a group of driven women pursuing lofty goals like I am in 2024. I hope to find a supportive community of bloggers, content creators, and podcasters who can provide guidance and inspiration.
Join a Master Class that includes mentorship! I genuinely want to attend relevant workshops, webinars, and conferences to enhance my skills and knowledge this year.
Constantly educate myself by reading books, listening to podcasts, and following industry experts in my niche.
Experiment with different content formats and strategies to keep my platform fresh and engaging. (This one scares me the most!) I’m so new to content for myself, that I anticipate a lot of trial and error, but it excites me!
Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, whether through regular workouts, walks, or other forms of exercise.
Outs:
Avoid procrastination by staying disciplined and following my schedule.
Limit distractions by turning off notifications on my phone and blocking out specific time slots for focused work.
Minimize time spent on non-productive activities, such as excessive social media scrolling or watching unrelated videos.
Say no to tasks or commitments that don't align with my goals or take away valuable time from my blog, content creation, podcast, or personal development.
Avoid comparing myself to others in my industry and focus on my own progress and growth.
Let go of self-doubt and fear of failure, and instead embrace the learning experience that comes with taking action.
Eliminate negative self-talk and replace it with positive affirmations and encouragement. (This one is going to be tough!)
Cut back on time spent on activities that don't contribute to your personal or professional growth.
Say goodbye to perfectionism and embrace progress over perfection in my work.
Avoid overloading myself with too many tasks or goals at once – maintain a manageable workload to ensure I can give each area the attention it deserves.
Perhaps as you began reading this, you were immediately greeted by the overwhelming pressure society places on us to suddenly have our lives perfectly organized and to be continuously progressing. If this has sparked a familiar anxiety in your chest, I sincerely apologize girl. However, as your newfound friend in the vast expanse of the internet, I share these insights solely to support and uplift you!
This is what I am doing this year, me, Sydney Grayce, but that does not have to be what YOU do this year! Make this year whatever you need it to be. If you don’t even know where to start, head to my Reset Blog to get the ball rolling. If you read that piece (welcome back my friend hehe) and your thought is, “Well Syd that’s great but I’m just a college student trying to get my coursework done on time,” I totally hear you! Head to this post for how I managed time as a college student with a 4.0 while working two jobs as an undergraduate student.
Resources From Me to You!
Podcasts I am absolutely devouring ATM:
The Darin Olien Show - Superfood Hunter
Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris
Books on my TBR that are on my shelf as we speak:
The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health
Grit The Power of Passion and Perseverance
The Mamba Mentality: How I Play
If you read that and your initial thought was, "Well, these would be helpful if I was in a stable place right now and working towards personal growth, but I'm not even at a baseline mentally or emotionally," I completely understand. Let's take a step back...
While setting new goals and intentions for the year ahead is the typical "January" thing to do, I want to acknowledge that not everyone is striving to become a superstar in this season. Some of us may already be doing great and seeking to expand and accomplish more, while others may be in survival mode, searching for a way out.
If that's you, take a moment to PAUSE, take a deep breath, and appreciate the fact that you have woken up today. Acknowledge the air in your lungs and the fact that you've ended up reading this because you're trying to pull yourself out of the difficult situation you've been in.
Now that we've taken a moment to recognize the strength it takes to navigate challenging times, let's explore some valuable resources that can assist in finding peace and establishing a solid routine each morning. In my mental health defensive playbook, I've compiled a collection of apps and tools that I personally rely on daily to ground myself and cultivate a sense of calm. These resources have been instrumental in providing stability and a positive start to my day, and I hope they can do the same for you. Let's dive into these helpful tools and discover new ways to prioritize our mental well-being.
My Mental Health Defensive Playbook
Calm – THE BEST INVESTMENT!! I highly recommend getting the premium version of Calm. I understand the hesitation that comes with having to pay for apps, and in most cases, I refuse! However, when it comes to my health, it's a no-brainer. What better investment than one for your mental health, that has multiple resources in one? There is a multitude of meditations, guided breath work sessions, body exercises, sleep-bedtime stories, and more. There are four daily check-in options: Emotion tracker, gratitude tracker, sleep tracker, and my favorite daily reflection.
A good alternative is Headspace
Thought Diary – This is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy journaling app and emotional tracker. Perfect if you have always wanted to journal, but don't have time to write long-form pages. You can set reminders for check-ins and practice CBT with curated exercises!
Daily Bean – Besides being an aesthetically pleasing widget for your phone, Daily Bean is a straightforward way of tracking your day. Categories like emotions, social, health, sleep, a photo of the day, and a journaling section too.
Five-Minute Journal – Practice mindfulness and gratitude.
Jesus Calling – I start my morning with an encouraging word and a biblical food for thought.
Bible App – Daily verses, guided prayers, curated bible studies, and more.
I am — This incredible app offers customizable daily affirmations that dynamically change up to 10 times a day. Personally, I have set up a widget on my phone which sends me regular alerts. It's truly uplifting to receive sporadic yet constant positive notifications throughout my day, serving as a powerful reminder of the good things in life.
Take these resources with a grain of salt, and don’t feel overwhelmed! Change does not happen overnight, but it is possible.
Cheers to 2024!
That’s all for today folks! To conclude, this blog post has touched upon three key areas that can contribute to our overall well-being and personal growth. We explored the ins and outs of my vision for 2024, highlighting the importance of self-reflection and setting intentions for the future. I shared a list of resources that have helped me on my own journey, hoping they provide you with inspiration and support as well. Lastly, my mental health defensive playbook offers practical tools and apps that can aid in finding peace and establishing a morning routine that nurtures our mental well-being.
But remember, this blog post is just a starting point. I encourage you to take further action by signing up for my email list to get exclusive content and updates. Connect with me on Instagram @syd.grayce for weekly doses of inspiration and community. Lastly, I'd love to hear from you and what word you have chosen to guide you this year. Drop a comment below and let's celebrate our chosen words together. Here's to a year of growth, self-care, and embracing the journey ahead.
Remember, taking consistent action and staying committed to your goals will be key to your success.
Good luck on your journey of intentional and purposeful growth!
With love,
