This is the time of year when I have energy to think about the year ahead. As the natural world begins to wake up from winter, so do my ideas for graphic recording.

Earlier this year, I reflected that in the heart of winter, goal-setting felt less aligned with the energy of resting, going inward, and moving slowly.

Welcome to 2024 y’all!

How has this new year felt for you? Has it been subtle shift or have you felt a more noticeable change in your life?

Each of us is figuring out the steps to the ever-changing dance of balancing working, caregiving, and pursuing other things that fill our cups – creative pursuits, moving our bodies, travel, or simply enjoying some tea and book.

Saying yes to opportunities, professionally or personally, can lead to some adventures you’ll never forget, or an opportunity to push your comfort zone and learn something new. 

Sometimes though, it’s important to say no – working on a priority where you need to focus your creative juices, or holding space for family or self-care. If you’re like me, saying no can sometimes feel like hurling yourself off a precipice into the unknown – will they be angry? Will this burn a bridge I’ll regret? Will there be NO RETURN? (Spoiler: no.)

If you love the feeling of crossing things off your to do list, I’m right there with you. And if sometimes you look at that list and put it right back down, walking as fast as you can in the opposite direction, once again, I’m with you. 

Which is why I want to share two easy strategies for making to do lists a little more manageable that came to me within days of each other: 

Pretty much anyone reading this is used to juggling all sorts of things. I mean, just a couple, right?

When it gets complex or you start to feel overwhelmed, you don’t have to get caught in the weeds or keep re-hashing the same half-formed ideas! 

Here are some visual strategies you can use to refocus on what matters most, whether it’s your team’s vision or making time for your loved ones. You can use each one individually, or combine them to build on one another and move toward clarity and action!