Ditch the Burnout, Embrace the Flow: How to Achieve Your Goals For 2023 Without Losing Your Mind (Or Your Energy)

TL: DR Forget resolutions; set intentions. Switch things up this year, and pay attention to your natural energy levels using the Eisenhower Matrix, Time Blocking, Ayurveda, and Circadian Rhythms to maximize your efforts and find harmony. And, of course, a self-improvement journey is only complete with indulging in a little luxury. Treat yourself to the Minimalist Digital Planner from PastPixPrints on Etsy, because why not? #focus &flow

? Diving into the Unknown: Setting Intentions for 2023

Time to set intentions instead and ditch the whole resolution thing altogether. Let's make this year the one where we finally become the unicorns ?? we were always meant to be. Or, you know, we could keep things the same. No pressure.

As I pursue my goals, I like being exposed to exciting new experiences and opportunities. The journey toward my goals is full of unexpected twists and turns, and I love the thrill of discovering new things. Who knows, with this year's goals, I might discover a hidden talent for competitive crocheting.

On the flip side, the journey can be challenging. It can get frustrating or overwhelming. That's why I try to remember to enjoy the ride and bounce back using methods I've learned because the only thing more disappointing than failing to achieve our goals is not having any goals to fail at in the first place.

Surviving the Madness: The "I'm-Surprised-I'm-Not-Burned-Out" Method

I've found that combining scientific and ancient knowledge with nature-based methods helps me maintain my sanity and create an oasis amid chaos. Here are a few things that have helped me:

1. Bite-size delightful moments | Adding small moments of delight or daily rituals can create an aura of calm amidst modern life and work chaos.
2. The Art of Balancing Acts | Incorporating Ayurvedic principles into my daily routine helps me tap into my inner yogi and find inner peace (or at least avoid losing my mind).
3. Get in the Zone | Aligning my daily tasks with my internal body clock helps me become a productivity machine (or at least avoid feeling like a zombie).
4. Following my curiosity | Dreaming big and discovering things by channeling my inner child and not being afraid to fail so I can discover new things that I didn't even know I enjoyed.
5. The Minimalist Way | Embracing the power of less and letting go of unnecessary tasks and responsibilities like a minimalist guru.

From theory to practice, here are some tangible ways you can incorporate to help you "Focus & Flow" in your own life. It's like the holy grail of productivity and inner peace. Okay, maybe not that extreme, but still pretty useful.

1. Incorporate Moments of Delight
2. Focus on What is Important:
3. Create Time-Slots for Certain Activities

Let's delve into each one in more detail.

1 | Incorporate Moments of Delight?

Find micro moments of delight that you can sprinkle throughout the day.

It's easy to get overwhelmed with all the tasks and responsibilities that come with any job and, let's face it, just life. One way to do this is by setting boundaries and finding creative ways to recharge throughout the day. Create a calming ritual, like lighting a candle or playing music, or making a mushroom team (like Reishi). Find your tiny personal oasis to escape and balance your day with energizing activities.

2 | Focus on the important stuff

Don't waste time on unimportant tasks.

The Eisenhower Matrix, or a variation of it, helps me prioritize my tasks based on their importance and urgency. I can avoid getting sidetracked by less important tasks or getting overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of what I'm trying to accomplish. By the end of the week, you accomplish micro-goals, which makes you feel rewarded by finishing them.

Take a look at the tasks and responsibilities that are filling up your days and ask whether they are essential or not.

3 | Create time slots for certain activities

Maximize your productivity with time-blocking.

Once I have a clear idea of my weekly tasks, I map out my weekly tasks using Ayurveda, and my natural circadian rhythm to help me maximize my productivity and focus. Time-blocking with Google Calendar lets me protect my energy and only schedule meetings during my most productive times. It's like a superpower for getting things done.

Here's how I time block as an early bird. Night owls can adjust accordingly.

• Early Morning (6am - 9am) - Best for physical activity, planning, and organizing your day.
• Noon-ish (10am - 2pm) - Best for social activities, meetings, email, or admin tasks.
• Afternoon (3pm - 6pm) - Best for creative and problem-solving activities and tasks that require physical strength and stamina.
• Evening (7pm - 10pm) - Best for social activities, email, or admin tasks.

NOTE Everyone is different, and what works best depends on your schedule and personal preferences. Experiment with different activities at different times of the day to see what works best for you.

Key Learnings

With this "Focus & Flow" approach to planning, I know what I need to do each day, but also have room for serendipity and moments of delight. By being mindful of when to schedule meetings and when to hunker down and work, I can make the most of my time and achieve better results. In other words, I'm a productivity ninja.

Methods Cheatsheet?

Eisenhower Matrix: Prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance. Delegate or skip the rest.

Time-blocking: Schedule specific blocks of time for specific tasks to increase productivity and focus.

Ayurveda: Follow your body's natural rhythms and cycles for optimal productivity and feeling better overall.

Circadian rhythm: Use your internal clock to regulate sleep and wakefulness. Schedule important tasks during your most alert and focused times.

Etsy's latest and greatest: my digital planner that may or may not actually help you get organized.

Treat yourself to the Minimalist Digital Planner from PastPixPrints on Etsy. It's available as a template on Notion or as a printable PDF for the old-schoolers. And trust me, I only recommend it because it's worth it.

Share your adaptions of my secret productivity formula with me!