Happy 2022, friends.

Throughout 2021, one of the most crucial lessons I learned is that I can no longer burn the candle at both ends. I’ve realized it’s not healthy to go full steam ahead with every idea, every opportunity, or every event. I’m at a place in my life where what I choose to spend time on matters more than fitting every single thing into my schedule. I’ve realized I have to say no to some things to get the outcomes I’m really seeking; that if everything is important, nothing is important. 

At the start of past years, I would set rigid checklists and sprint forward trying to accomplish everything on the list. It took a long time (and a lot of unmet goals) to realize that kind of process is a one-way ticket to burnout. It’s a process that in reality never actually worked very well for my brain.

I’m at a place in my life where what I choose to spend time on matters more than fitting every single thing into my schedule.

This January, our theme is centered around prioritization, a softer approach to the typical goal-setting chorus of the new year. This theme is about figuring out how to break down our priorities each day and each week, rather than trying to predict exactly what the entire year ahead will hold. It’s about remembering that our priorities will change over time and allowing room for that fluidity to exist.

To me, prioritization feels much less rigid and forced than the approach I took in previous years. It’s a different way to frame what’s available to me with the time I have. Prioritizing regularly, then consistently making decisions that align with those priorities, tends to add up to something that feels quite fulfilling.

Personally, my number one priority at the start of 2022 is to continue to focus on the important work of self-leadership I began in 2021—learning to manage my time, getting to know how I react to the choices I make, and adjusting as I go. I want to create a fluid schedule that works for my energy level, my family, and my business. And while the ups and downs of life won’t always make it possible, I want to focus on not overwhelming my nervous system and coming back to a neutral state at the end of each day. 

As we move into 2022, I encourage you to consider what you want your own top priorities to be at the start of the new year, whether they involve family, friends, hobbies, work, or a unique combination all your own. I encourage you to keep those priorities front of mind as January begins, while also holding them lightly, allowing them to change and evolve along with you as you go.

This theme is about figuring out how to break down our priorities each day and each week. . . . It’s about remembering that our priorities will change over time and allowing room for that fluidity to exist.

This January, our contributors will be exploring the varying ways we can enrich our lives by prioritizing what matters to each of us. I’ll be sharing my complete 2021 year in review (you can read last year’s post here) as well as a step-by-step breakdown of how to plan your next decor project. Stay tuned for this and plenty more throughout the month ahead!

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Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.