3 Beginning of the Year "Must Do's" for Successful Teachers

mindset Jan 04, 2022

It's January 2022. Can you believe it? This is our year—say it with me—this is our year. It may feel silly because we've been saying that since 2020, but I truly feel it this year. Both January and the beginning of the school year feel like fresh starts. Over the break, I hope you had time to tune into your needs and reflect on what you need to move forward toward your goals in a way that honors your values and boundaries.

Future Pacing: Visualizing Your Goals

Before diving into goals, let's take a moment to future pace ourselves. Imagine yourself on December 31, 2022:

Who have you become?
What does your environment look like?
Where do you spend most of your time?
What do your clothes look and feel like?
Who are the people around you?
What activities do you do?

Visualizing your future self creates a more empowered starting point for goal setting. Instead of focusing on where you are now, focus on who you will be when you've achieved your goals.

Setting Boundaries

Before setting goals, it's crucial to establish boundaries. Ask yourself:

What boundaries does your future self have that contribute to their success?
How do these boundaries support your goals without compromising your values?

Examples of boundaries might include:

Leaving work at a set time.
Staying off your phone during work hours.
Scheduling personal time for activities like reading or exercise.
Limiting social media usage.

Goal Setting for 2022

I organize my goals into three main areas, inspired by the Good Life Project:

Vitality: Health and wellness.
Connection: Relationships and community.
Contribution: Work, teaching, or home life.

My Goals for 2022:

Teaching Systems: Streamline time outside teaching for better results.
Allied Community: Help over 1,000 O&M specialists this year.
Investing: Learn and apply heart-centered investment strategies.
Home Life: Create a cozy environment for gatherings.

Professional Projects and Linchpin Habits

Projects for Teaching Goals:

Utilize the New Mexico Inventory for assessments.
Reserve vacation time for personal well-being.
Attend at least one in-person conference (aiming for two).

Linchpin Habits:

Centralize progress report data collection for efficiency.
Establish clear O&M class rules at the start of the semester: Be safe, respectful, a participant, and have fun.

Allied Independence Goals

Our mission: Empower 10,000 O&M specialists worldwide without burnout.

Key Projects for 2022:

Launch a free professional development library (targeting summer).
Support 800 participants at the O&M symposium.
Provide clarity lesson plans to 400 specialists.

Personal Goals: Home and Investing

For my home life, I aim to:

Redecorate and treat my house as an investment property.
Maintain a positive mindset about home repairs and upgrades.

For investing, I plan to:

Explore EFTs, NFTs, crypto, and the metaverse.

Upcoming Events: January 13 Webinar

Don’t miss our webinar on January 13 at 8 PM EST, where we'll discuss what's working in O&M in 2022. It features a panel of presenters sharing insights on:

Cane skills and adaptations.
Strategies for diverse learning environments.

Living Your Best Life in 2022

Who will you become by December 31, 2022? Take steps daily to move toward that version of yourself. Reflect on your goals, set boundaries, and focus on linchpin habits. Together, we can make 2022 the year we thrive.

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