What 3 Words?

What 3 words have you chosen for 2024?

Is this a new thing? Or have I only just become aware of it?

Last year I was aware it was a ‘thing’ and chose my words, thinking about what I wanted to achieve in the year. So last year I chose Healthy, Happy and Successful and I think I can confident say that I achieved all 3!

The evidence is clear, my business is flourishing, my allotment plot produced lots of veg! My daughter got married and I went to the gym at least 3 times a week, well most weeks! I spent some quality time with Ant, we visited Le Manoir twice as well as enjoying several short breaks in the UK.

So reflecting on last year I achieved my goals, is that because I set them too easy or because having 3 words to focus on helped me to focus throughout the year? During the year I definitely revisited my goals and adjusted my plans to make sure I was working towards them.

This year I want to focus on Fulfilment, Family and Fun. I must admit Fulfilment came easily as I think it follows on from successful. Setting up my business has been exciting and rewarding. I love what I do, working with individual clients and providing a bespoke service to each as an individual. This year I want to ensure that my business continues to fulfil me. I want to continue to enjoy working on my business.

I thought of Family next. Following my daughter’s wedding this year, I cherished the time spent with family, I want to ensure that I make time for family. To enjoy making opportunities to get together and share treasured memories. I know from past experiences how precious life can be and how it can disappear suddenly, leaving a hole in families.

Now when it came to choosing my third word, I decided I wanted it to  follow the alliterative streak and choose a word beginning with F. Limiting my options somewhat: friends – too similar to family; fierce – too scary; frankness – not my style; fidget – suggested by my partner, he definitely doesn’t understand the 3 words for the year. But I decided to opt for FUN. It seems to fit with fulfilment and family. Keeping that element of light hearted, humour creating laughter, both at work and in family life.

I think my words for 2024 follow on nicely from 2023, so let’s look at what my goals will be stemming from each word.

Fulfilment:

As I said I love what I do, but I don’t want it to become a chore, something I do. I want that sense of fulfilment, that I am achieving something worthwhile. This was something that I lost when I was a Headteacher, going to work no longer me and made me feel valued. That’s why I left and set up my own business. Now I want to ensure that my future is positive and fulfilling. Being self-employed gives me the option to select the work I want to do and enjoying doing.

Fulfilment also applies to my allotment, or rather allotments, as I now have 3. I loved working going vegetables, herbs and salads. I want to branch out and grow a selection of varieties and grow some flowers too. Having a gardening project has given me a sense of achievement, especially when seeds grow into proper plants and then you can eat what you’ve grown. My allotment is my happy place and I love spending time there. When I dread going to the allotment and it becomes a chore that’s when I need to stop. Taking on the new plots is exciting and a new adventure. Over the next few weeks I need to decide what I’m growing on each plot, what VA doesn’t love creating a plan 

Family

I want to spend quality time with my immediate family. They were definitely neglected when I was a Headteacher, and running my business for a year hasn’t improved this much for them. My aim for 2024 is to improve this, we have several breaks and holidays planned. We used to have Family Fun Fridays, this is something I want to re-introduce. Basically we ate and drank the night away, but we themed each week on a different country to add some excitement. I tried to encourage everyone to dress up in relevant clothing but often it was just me!

Fun

What is life without fun! It’s dull and boring. My challenge for the year is to plan something fun each month: it could be a picnic on top of a mountain; or journey in a canal boat; ice skating; learning something new. My family are now cringing and hoping I’m not going to involve them 

Fun isn’t about doing something wildly exciting, it’s more about being present in the moment, taking time to notice what is happening around and enjoying it. To be fair with 2 crazy spaniels in our family there is always something going on that makes us laugh. I intend to take time to enjoy what is happening around me and not getting lost in my head, thoughts and what I need to do next.

Are you joining in by choosing 3 words as your focus for 2024? It helps me to think about what is important to me, what I want to achieve and consider how I will get there.

Follow my simple plan:

1.     Choose 3 words – think carefully about what is important to you and what you want to achieve

2.     Next think about how you will achieve these, what goals do you set to set for the year?

3.     Break down the year goals into 90 day goals. This helps you to focus on the now, it avoids thinking I‘ll do that later, as later doesn’t come. Plan the next 3 months, decide what you will achieve and how you will get there.