Are you tired of being tired? Are you weary of being weary? Are you ready to refresh? I know I am! One of the things that's new for us at Your Clear Next Step this year is our intentional theme of "Refresh!" The past couple of years have offered burnout, fatigue, and a relentless pace that have many people feeling pretty drained. I'm ready for a change, and by focusing on "Refresh!" my aim is to rejuvenate and revitalize the individuals, teams, and communities around me. For me, the word "refresh" summons the idea of water - whether it's a cool drink to quench a thirst, a stop by a shore, or a spring rain. As I shared on my first ever solo episode of the Even Better Podcast, here are the four ways I will be hitting "Refresh" in 2024. Are you ready to feel refreshed? Let's take a look!
1. Prioritize Where You Need a Refresh:
I begin the refresh journey by identifying the areas that need it the most and laser-focusing on them. Whether it's work, home, relationships, hobbies, fitness, finances, or faith, prioritizing one aspect allows for focused and effective rejuvenation. Choosing the driest or most burnt-out area sets the stage for meaningful change. If we try to tackle everything at once, we’re going to fall flat, and we won’t do much refreshing at all.
2. Tell Someone About It:
By sharing our commitment with someone else, whether it's a friend, colleague, or a fitness instructor, we not only make the intention more real, but we also create a sense of personal accountability. Articulating our goals out loud helps solidify our commitment—making us promise our goals not to just ourselves, but a trusted confidant we wouldn’t want to let down—and provides the opportunity for collaboration and support. If somebody else knows our goal, and we’re struggling to meet it, they can help. It doesn’t have to be a solitary journey.
3. Make It Something You Love:
If we make the refresh process enjoyable, it becomes something we want to do rather than something that we have to do. Instead of approaching it as a tedious task, we can make it something we genuinely love. This could involve finding joy in the journey, incorporating activities or changes that bring happiness, and ensuring that the refreshment process feels like pouring new joys in, rather than draining old habits away.
4. Go All In:
Go big or go home. Have you ever watched someone drink water at the end of a marathon? They don't just take a little sip - they down the whole bottle! I believe in doing the same here. When seeking refreshment, commit wholeheartedly to the process. It's not about a complete identity overhaul, but rather a passionate and dedicated approach to making things better. Going "all in" ensures that that refreshment is impactful and sustainable, that it's not just lip service, and that it won’t fade quickly.
As the first quarter has wrapped up and we're starting into the second quarter, I remain committed to facing the rest of this year with the theme of "Refresh!" in mind and a refreshed outlook, plus some new habits I’ve picked up along the way. I hope to use this as a way to guide continued personal growth as well as collective growth within Your Clear Next Step.
Did you know we've set at tangible goal as an organization this year to refresh 10,000 people? We believe this will help create better workdays and contribute to better communities!
How about you? How will you hit refresh in 2024? How will you find your own ways to revitalize and make this year even better? We have plenty of resources designed to help if you find yourself struggling, or just want some advice. Good luck! I know you’ve got this!
