New Year, New Focus: How to Close Out the Old Year and Gear Up for the New One

We made it, friend—the season one finale of The Balanced Badass Podcast™! Can you believe we're already wrapping up 2024? This episode is gonna get into the highs, the lows, and the "what the hell was I even thinking?" moments from this year.

We're reflecting on what worked, what didn't, and what we need to let go of so we're not dragging the same chaos into 2025. I'm also walking you through my end-of-year audit and showing you how to set goals that actually fit where life is taking you.

If you're ready to clear the clutter, focus on what really matters, and crush 2025 with confidence, this one's for you. Oh, and don't forget to check out my free 7 Days to Crushing Your Goals email mini-course for even more guidance (https://tarakermiet.com/crushyourgoals). 

Let's close out this year like the badasses we are. See you next year!

00:00 Season One Finale Kickoff
00:23 Reflecting on 2024: Highs and Lows
01:29 Clearing Out the Baggage
04:10 Lessons Learned: Support and Curiosity
06:07 Trusting the Process
07:11 End of Year Audit: Steps to Reflect
08:00 Planning for 2025: Setting Meaningful Goals
08:44 The DREAMS Framework: Step-by-Step Guide
15:29 Taking Action and Measuring Progress
18:37 Seeking Accountability
21:27 Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead

Need a little more balance and a lot more badass in your life? Check out my 1:1 coaching sessions designed to help you tackle your biggest challenges, manage stress, and create a personalized plan for success. Your first 30-minute session is free! Visit tarakermiet.com to get started. 

Chapters

• 0:00 Season One Finale Kickoff
• 1:09 Reflecting on 2024: Highs and Lows
• 2:15 Clearing Out the Baggage
• 4:56 Lessons Learned: Support and Curiosity
• 6:53 Trusting the Process
• 7:57 End of Year Audit: Steps to Reflect
• 8:46 Planning for 2025: Setting Meaningful Goals
• 10:14 The DREAMS Framework: Step-by-Step Guide
• 16:59 Taking Action and Measuring Progress
• 20:07 Seeking Accountability
• 22:57 Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead

Transcript

[00:00:00] Well, friend, we have made it to the season one finale. Can you believe we're wrapping up the first season of the Balance Badass podcast already? In January 2024, I had no idea where life was going to take me. And yet it feels like just yesterday I was kicking this thing off. And now here we are, talking about the end of one year and gearing up for the next.

Wild, right? So today we're getting real about the highs, the lows, and those what the hell was I even thinking moments from this year. We're wrapping up 2024 with some good ol reflection and rolling into 2025 with a clear head and a fresh focus. Picture this episode like we're hanging out with a glass of wine, swapping stories, and figuring out life together.

And yep, I'm the friend who will lovingly call you out on your shit while also hyping you up at the same time. That's how we do it here on the Balanced Badass Podcast. At the time of this episode's release, it's late December and [00:01:00] everyone's either frantically tying up loose ends at work, or Stress baking those Christmas cookies, or doing that thing where you swear you'll start fresh on January 1st.

You know, the whole New Year, New Me mindset. Except if we're honest, half the time we're dragging the same chaos from last year into the next. It's like packing for a vacation and realizing that you've brought all the stuff that you actually meant to leave behind. So here's the deal. We are not doing that this year.

Not on my watch. This episode is all about identifying and hopefully clearing out that baggage, the stress, the overwhelm, the over commitments, so that you can walk into January with something that actually feels like a clean slate. This time last year, I sat down and made this ridiculously ambitious list of goals. And when I say ambitious, I mean pretty much color coded and everything. I was feeling pretty smug about it, too. Like, I was totally gonna crush 2024.

But y'all, [00:02:00] that first quarter of this year was a fucking mess for me personally and professionally. Which meant that I was barely surviving. So my goals were not on my radar in any way, shape or form. And as a high achiever, that definitely cued the guilt and shame spiral. But here's what finally clicked for me.

The problem wasn't the goals I set. My goals were fine. Solid even. I mean, I'm a leadership coach and consultant, so I know how to create these beautifully crafted goals using all the different tools and frameworks. But the pressure I dumped on myself to tackle everything at once at a time when I really needed to slow down.

Yeah, that's what did me in. I learned that focusing, like really locking in on one or two things that actually matter is so much better than running around trying to do all the things and burning out in the process.

And honestly, sometimes those goals you set at the start of the year, aren't going to fit where life takes you plans change and that's okay goals. Don't have to [00:03:00] be these rigid, unchangeable things they need to make sense for where you are right now, when you give yourself permission to shift gears and adjust your goals as life happens, it'll change everything.

It's not quitting. It's adapting. And that's where the magic happens, my friend. Now before we jump into planning for next year, we've got to reflect on this one. I like to call it the end of the year audit. I want to look at what worked, what didn't, what I'm still lugging around that's not serving me. So let me walk you through how I did mine this year, step by step, and maybe it'll inspire your own process.

Thanks. I started by creating space, literally and mentally. I sat down in a quiet spot with my iPad and zero distractions. I asked myself three questions. What went really well this year? What absolutely did not work? And what do I need to let go of to move forward into the new year? [00:04:00] These questions are simple, but when you're honest with yourself and actually spend some quality time with them, they can bring a lot to the surface.

First, I looked at the moments I was proud of, the ones that made me sit back and think, hell yeah, I did that. And honestly, a lot of those moments had one thing in common. I leaned on my support squad. Cue lesson one for me. People in your life genuinely want to help. You just have to let them. For me, this looked like letting my husband support us financially for some time so that I could leave the toxic work environment I was in and pursue building my business.

Or taking a friend up on her offer to help me brainstorm ideas for my business or to hold me accountable to the things that I say I'm going to do. If you're someone who struggles to accept help, I 100 percent get it.

I talked about this in episode 10 about how I've had to recondition my limiting beliefs around seeking help after being a [00:05:00] fiercely independent only child. So what I encourage you to do is to think of one person who's offered to help you recently and let them. It doesn't matter if it's big or small, just say yes and see what happens.

Next, I took a hard look at the cringe moments. You know, the ones where you think, What the hell was I even doing or thinking? That's where lesson two comes in for me. Curiosity. This year, I tried to approach everything with a mindset of learning instead of judging myself. I pitched myself for opportunities that scared the absolute hell out of me, signed up for classes I thought might be too advanced, and even took a dance class with women 20 years older than me.

And the cool thing is that every single messy, scary step built my confidence back up from what I had lost. If you're looking for a way to do this, here's what I suggest. Try something new this week that makes you just a little bit uncomfortable. Maybe it's asking a question that you've been holding back on, or finally [00:06:00] signing up for that thing that you keep avoiding.

Messy action counts, and it's where the fun happens actually. Finally, I looked at the areas where I had to trust the process. And trust me, this is not easy for someone who loves control as much as I do. But that's lesson three for me. Trust that what you're doing right now will pay off in the long run, even if you don't see immediate results.

A lot of work I did this year didn't come with instant wins, but deep down I knew and still know that I am on the right path. Because I stayed aligned with my passions and trusted my gut. If this resonates with you, write down one thing that you're working on right now that feels important but hasn't shown obvious results yet.

Then write down why it matters to you. Keep that note somewhere so that you'll see it daily as a reminder to keep going. The key to this whole process is being real with yourself. [00:07:00] It's about pausing for a second, just to look at what's actually working, what's not serving you anymore, and what you're ready to let go of to create room for something better.

So as December comes to a close, grab a notebook and set aside time to really think about your year. Reflect on the moments that made you proud, the ones that made you cringe and everything in between. What lessons did you learn from those experiences? Don't skip this part. Those lessons are pure gold.

They're what'll help you shape next year into something you're genuinely excited about, even if you can't predict the future, which none of us can. And don't just stop there. Take those lessons and weave them into actionable steps. Think about what you can carry forward into next year and what's finally time to let go of.

Letting go means you're growing, just like having to prune the dead leaves off of a plant to help it continue to flourish. [00:08:00] All right, now let's shift gears to next year. I've been thinking a lot about what I want to accomplish in 2025 and I'm sure you're starting to map out your own goals too. But this isn't just about scribbling ideas on a sticky note or typing out a long list on your phone.

This is about real meaningful goals that feel connected to who you are, to your core, and where you want to go. For me, that means focusing on three big goals. Stepping into my stretch zone by facilitating corporate workshops every quarter, prioritizing my health in all areas, mental, physical, social, and spiritual, and creating deeper, more meaningful connections with the people in my life.

This is where my dreams framework comes in. And if you haven't heard of it before, it stands for define your why, recognize your strengths, envision your outcomes, act decisively, Measure your progress and seek [00:09:00] accountability. I'll walk you through it step by step, weaving in my own goals as examples along the way.

So first we start with defining your why. This is where it all begins. And honestly, it's the most important step. Your why is the thing that's going to keep you moving forward even when things get hard, which it'll inevitably get hard. So ask yourself, why does this goal matter to me? And I'm not talking about some surface level reason that includes should somewhere in there.

No, dig deeper. For me, stepping into my stretch zone matters because I want to grow as a facilitator and leader while helping others tackle burnout. I've seen firsthand how burnout can derail careers and lives, and I want to create a space where people can rethink their relationship with work and find more balance.

That's why facilitating corporate workshops every quarter is such a big deal for me. It's not just the professional growth, that's good and all, but it's about [00:10:00] helping others make real changes in their lives and helping these corporations and organizations make those changes as well. And for my health goal, my why is just as personal. I want to feel stronger and more energized because when I'm healthy, I can show up fully for the people and the projects that matter most to me. Whether it's my family, my business, or even my own wellbeing, being healthier allows me to be present and engaged.

For example, when I'm not dragging through the day, I can have meaningful conversations with my family in the evening instead of zoning out on the couch. So take a moment to really think about your why. Why does your goal matter to you? Write it down. Put it somewhere that you can see it every day.

Because when the excitement of a new goal wears off, it's your why that's going to keep you going. Next, recognize your strengths. This step is so important because when you focus on what you're [00:11:00] already good at, you build momentum and confidence to tackle your goals. It's so easy to get caught up in what you don't have or what you think you're missing, but your strengths are the foundation that will keep you moving forward.

For example, I know that I'm a strong communicator and coach, so I'm leaning into those skills for my stretch zone goal. I know I can break down tough topics and make them accessible, which is exactly what leaders need when they're tackling burnout. Recognizing this helps me approach my workshops with confidence and clarity because I'm working from a place of strength, not fear.

For my health goal, I'm tapping into my discipline and love of structure to build routines that stick. I've always been good at planning and sticking to a schedule, so I'm using that to carve out time for movement that I enjoy and reading. These aren't just tasks on a checklist for me. They're intentional practices that align with how I know I work best.[00:12:00] 

When I approach my health or any other goal for that matter, from a strengths based perspective, it honestly feels less overwhelming and more doable. And here's the thing. Sometimes we're not even aware of our strengths until someone points them out. If you're not sure what yours are, ask someone you trust to share what they see in you.

Their answers might actually surprise you, and sometimes, most of the time actually, in the best way. When I was in my doctoral program, one of the best assignments I ever did was called the Reflected Best Self Exercise. With this assignment, we were tasked to reach out to people from different times in our lives and to ask them to tell a story of when we were at our best.

It was really cool to see all of the stories come through, and I'll be honest, many of those stories I don't even remember. What was really great about that assignment was digging into the common themes that emerged. Recognizing your strengths is about leaning into what makes you [00:13:00] uniquely capable of being you and achieving your goals. When you build your plans around your strengths, you're setting yourself up for success right from the start.

Then comes envision your outcomes. This is where you really let yourself dream about what success looks like. And let me tell you, there's actual science behind this. Visualization helps your brain start to see your goal as possible, which increases motivation and focus. Studies in neuroscience show that when you vividly imagine yourself achieving something, your brain activates in the same areas as if you were actually doing it.

It's really setting the stage for real action. So let's look at my goal for leading workshops. I picture myself standing in front of a room full of leaders, seeing those aha moments as they realize they can build burnout resistant teams. I imagine leading a workshop where people leave, not just inspired, but armed with real actionable tools [00:14:00] that they can use immediately.

That vision keeps me focused and energized when the planning gets a little overwhelming. For health, I see myself waking up feeling refreshed and energized, ready to tackle my day without that heavy, dragging feeling. I envision Jay and I having a healthy dinner together and having meaningful conversations in the evening, not just zoning out on the couch because we're too drained to connect.

That vision reminds me why prioritizing my health is worth it, even when it's tempting to skip a workout or cancel a therapy session. And for my connection goal, I picture sitting down with friends who inspire me, sharing ideas and stories that push us both to grow. I see myself building a network of relationships. That's not just about support, but also about challenge and growth. That image reminds me to keep reaching out, even when it feels vulnerable or a little awkward.

So here's how you can make this real for yourself. Close your eyes and [00:15:00] imagine what success looks like for your goal. Now, don't just think about it. I want you to feel it. What are you doing? Who's with you? How do you feel? The more specific and vivid your vision, the better. Then write it down. Describe it in detail.

Keep that vision somewhere that you can revisit it often because it'll serve as a powerful motivator when the work feels hard or the results seem really far away. Now we move to act decisively. This is where the rubber meets the road. Taking action bridges the gap between dreaming and achieving, and research backs this up.

Studies on motivation show that breaking goals into smaller, actionable steps reduces overwhelm and increases the likelihood of success. Starting small not only builds momentum, but also gives your brain a quick win, a dopamine hit, which reinforces the habit of taking consistent action. For my health [00:16:00] goal, I started by blocking out time for movement on my calendar and creating a list of books that I want to read to help with my personal growth.

These were small, simple actions, but they set the foundation for bigger changes in how I prioritize my wellbeing. For my stretch zone goal. I'm planning my Q1 workshop and actively pitching it to a potential client. That initial pitch feels intimidating, but it's the first step toward achieving my bigger vision and leading impactful workshops every quarter.

And for my connection goal, I'm reaching out to three people this week to schedule coffee or catch up, sending a text or making a quick phone call might seem small, but it's a deliberate move toward building deeper relationships. So what's one small specific thing that you can do today to move closer to your goal?

Don't overthink it here. It could be simple as scheduling a meeting, signing up for a class, or sending an email. The key is to start. Small, clear actions create momentum, and once you're moving, [00:17:00] it's easier to keep going. Then we need to measure your progress. Tracking your progress is critical because it provides clarity and keeps you accountable.

Research from Harvard Business Review highlights that individuals who monitor their progress are significantly more likely to achieve their goals. Why? Because tracking allows you to see what's working, it allows you to identify areas for improvement, And it allows you to celebrate those small wins along the way.

This is more about building confidence and momentum than just being productive. I'm keeping track of the workshops I propose and facilitate, and I'll gather feedback after each one. This feedback will help me understand what resonated, what didn't, and how I can make the next session even better. Seeing the impact I'm making keeps me motivated and focused on improvement.

For my health goal, I'm going to use Notion to log how often I'm moving my body, meditating, and prioritizing learning. Even jotting [00:18:00] down how I feel each week, whether it's energized, calm, or tired, will help me see patterns and adjust my habits. And for connection, I'll track who I reached out to and how, so it reminds me to nurture those relationships regularly. Start by choosing a simple way to track your progress. It could be a journal, an app, or hell, a sticky note on your fridge. The goal is to create a habit of checking in with yourself regularly.

Ask, what went well this week? What can I improve? And what's my next step? Progress tracking doesn't have to be fancy. It just has to work for you. Finally, seek accountability. Goals are easier to stick to when you've got someone in your corner and research backs this up. Having a specific accountability partner increases your chances of success by up to 65%.

And if you have regular check ins with that person, the odds shoot up to 95%. Why? Because [00:19:00] accountability keeps you focused and adds an external layer of motivation. For me, that's a friend who I check in with regularly for my stretch zone work. She helps me kind of stay on track with my workshops and provides valuable feedback that pushes me to keep improving.

For my health goals, my husband Jay will be a huge support. We're both going to hold each other accountable to our commitments to our health. We kind of have to. And for connection, I've shared my goal with another close friend, and we've agreed to check in with each other every month to keep building those relationships that matter.

Knowing someone else is invested in my progress gives me that extra nudge to follow through even when I don't necessarily want to. So think about who could be your accountability partner. Maybe it's a friend, co worker, family member, or even an online group. In fact, revisit episode 10 about the five people you need in your life to get some ideas.

Then share your [00:20:00] goals with them. Not just what you want to achieve, but why it matters to you. Then set up a system for regular check ins. It could be a weekly text, a monthly coffee date, or even just a quick email update. The point is to create a structure that keeps you engaged and supported. When someone else is cheering you on, it's a lot easier to stay focused and keep moving forward.

Now it's your turn, friend. Take a deep breath and work through the DREAMS framework with your own goals. Start with your why. Dig deep to understand what's driving you. Recognize your strengths and use them as a solid foundation to move forward. Envision your outcomes so clearly that you can almost feel the success.

Act decisively, even if the first steps feel super small. Measure your progress to celebrate wins and learn from missteps. And finally, seek accountability because you're not in this alone. Progress happens one [00:21:00] step at a time. Maybe that step is writing down your why and putting it somewhere that you'll see daily.

Maybe it's scheduling a coffee date with an accountability partner or blocking off time to review your progress each week. Whatever it is, just start. Small actions add up to big results. And remember, you're capable of more than you realize. And if you need someone cheering you on, just know I'm right here, rooting for you every step of the way.

And before we wrap up, I do want to share something that might help you take everything we've talked about today and put it into action. If you're feeling like you need a little extra guidance or structure to crush your goals in 2025, I've got you covered with my free 7 Days to Crushing Your Goals email mini course.

This course is designed to help you map out your goals step by step, And stay motivated as you work toward them using the dreams framework. You can grab it at tarahkermit. com slash crush your goals. And I'll add the link as well in the show notes. [00:22:00] Just remember that reflecting on where you've been and intentionally planning where you're going can be so transformative.

You have the power to create a year that feels aligned with who you are and what you value. It won't always be easy. There will be moments when you'll doubt yourself or want to quit, but those moments are exactly why frameworks like the dreams exist to remind you of your why, to lean on your strengths, and to keep taking it one step at a time.

The goals that you set and the actions you take are a part of a bigger story, your story. And that story deserves to be filled with intention, passion, and progress. Maybe today is the day that you decide to write the first chapter of your next big accomplishment. Maybe it's the day you make a phone call, start a journal, or take a deep breath and dream a little bigger.

I hope this episode has inspired you to look at 2025, not just as another year, but [00:23:00] as an opportunity, a chance to get closer to the person that you want to be and the life that you want to live. And I also hope that no matter what 2024 hit you with this year, that you take some time to look back on all that you've done with gratitude and pride.

And before I wrap up this year, I can't go into the new year without thanking you for listening and supporting this podcast. I sincerely appreciate that you spend time with me each and every week. And please know that it does not go unnoticed. Every week I check the stats and comments, and I am filled with gratitude for each and every one of you.

Here's to closing out 2024 and making 2025 a year of growth, balance, and being your most badass self. Have a great holiday season and a happy new year. I'll be back with you in January. Make sure that you take care of yourself, friend. I'll see you next [00:24:00] year.