Start the New Year Strong: Build a Weekly Routine That Sticks!
Week 1: Building Our New Routine
Okay, everyone. I am excited to start our first week of building a new weekly routine. Hopefully, you have been thinking about and starting some of your new routine goals. Since I posted my New Year's goals on December 13th, I have revised them a bit. (That is fine—we said that would likely happen!). So, I’ll share my revised goals and routine progress with you.
My Goals:
Initially, I planned to increase my daily step count. Although that is a great SMART goal, my focus lies elsewhere. My focus is really on growing this blog. I have had a few calls with Pinterest and Tailwind to get some tips and guidance. I aim to drive this site's engagement and get sign-ups for our email list (hint, hint). More to come on that…
To do this - I need to focus on two things:
Creating content that requires free sign-up. (I already have a plan in the works).
Leveraging my Pinterest traffic and getting more outbound clicks. Last month, I had ~240 outbound clicks to my website but 44,000 impressions. I want to double my outbound clicks.
In my original post about building a new routine, I mentioned that there would be roadblocks. Boy, is that true! Since January 1st, I have had unexpected family visits. Our daily forecast has been less than 1 inch of snow, and since last Friday, we have probably had about 7 inches of snow in total. That has led to some extra trips to shovel (I couldn’t get the snow blower to start!) My dog had surgery and was a train wreck for a few days, and then my son’s guinea pig passed away rather unexpectedly. Also, my stepdaughter got engaged over Christmas, and the wedding planning has just begun. All that to say, you can have the best intentions with your goals, but life happens.
My dog is on 2 weeks of bedrest.
Monday: Set Your Weekly Focus
Start your week by reviewing your goals and determining what needs attention. I need to plan my schedule ahead of time. I have started using Tailwind’s customizable plan. I find it very helpful because you can select your goals and experience level. Tailwind provides suggestions and examples for content. For example, I am supposed to write about Lifestyle content on Sundays, and they provide a suggested idea.
Break your larger goals into smaller tasks for the week. For instance, decide how many pages or chapters you want to tackle this week if you want to write a book. Pinterest is the biggest driver of traffic for me so far. I want to increase my outbound clicks from 241 to 300 in a one-month period.
Write a to-do list and prioritize tasks based on importance and deadlines. I carry a notebook with me in case I have ideas and want to write something down. I also have a list on my phone. I am tracking my content in both Tailwind and my FastMail calendar. I need to organize and prioritize my to-do list.
Tuesday: Education & Skill-Building
Dedicate some time to learning something that aligns with your goals. For example, if your goal is financial wellness, spend 30 minutes reading about budgeting or investing. On Tuesday, I had a phone call with Tailwind about my experience as a new user, but he also provided some tips and suggestions. On Monday, I had my monthly call with Pinterest to discuss strategy and tactics to improve both my Pinterest traffic and outbound clicks to my blog.
Use this day to refine your strategy or add new tools to your arsenal.
Wednesday: Midweek Check-In
Evaluate your progress so far. Are you staying on track? If not, adjust your approach.
Celebrate small wins. Did you tick off a major task? Acknowledge it with a little reward.
Address any distractions or obstacles that have come up and brainstorm solutions.
Thursday: Deep Work Day
Set aside a block of uninterrupted time to make significant progress on a big goal. For example, tackle a specific room or closet if you aim to declutter your home.
Eliminate distractions: turn off notifications, close unnecessary tabs, and focus entirely on your task.
Friday: Wrap-Up & Reflection
Review your week. What went well? What could have gone better?
Write down three things you’re proud of accomplishing this week.
Plan for the weekend or next week, keeping your goals in mind.
Weekend: Recharge and Reset
Use Saturday or Sunday to rest and recharge. Self-care is crucial for sustained success.
Reflect on your long-term vision. Are your goals still aligned with where you want to go?
If you’re feeling motivated, do a bit of prep for the upcoming week, such as meal planning, organizing, or brainstorming.
Let’s make 2025 the year of action and intention, starting with this first week of building our new weekly routines! Remember, progress doesn’t have to be perfect, and life will throw us curveballs, but consistency and flexibility are key. Whether you're shoveling snow unexpectedly or helping a beloved pet recover, each step forward—even the small ones—matters. As we dive into Week 1: Setting Our New Weekly Routine, take it one day at a time. Focus on your goals, break them into manageable pieces, and adjust as needed.
Commit to your new routine starting Monday! Write down your goals, schedule your daily tasks, and prepare to check in midweek to celebrate wins and overcome challenges. Let’s start strong and build habits that will carry us through the year. Share your progress, struggles, and victories with us—I can’t wait to hear about all the fantastic things you’ll accomplish. Let’s do this together!
This is what “less than one inch of snow” looks like near Lake Erie in Ohio (west of Cleveland).
