End of Year thoughts

by Crystal Swearingen

Earlier this year I started the year with a word for the year, the word I chose was “intentional”. Little did I realize how crucial this would become as the year unfolded.

When the housing market – in which I’m engaged as a boutique broker/owner – began to shift, everything changed. Interest rates surged, leading to agents leaving the industry. Sellers, realizing they couldn’t secure a new home with their current 3% interest rate, decided to stay put, triggering a national housing shortage. And then there were builders, burdened with construction loans, grappling with doubled payments to banks.

Amidst these uncontrollable shifts, a lesson emerged: I had to be intentional about how I allocated my time, money, and energy. The world is brimming with distractions. As I write this on a sunny Sunday afternoon, my phone incessantly buzzes with notifications, and my MacBook threatens to shut down due to a dying battery.

Such situations demand choices: do I let these interruptions derail me, or do I proceed with focused intention?

It might seem trivial—just turn on “Do Not Disturb” or plug in the charger. But real-life isn’t always that straightforward. You might end up in the kitchen for a quick drink, checking on your children, or tending to your pet. By the time you return, your initial momentum is lost.

So, here’s my challenge to you: before this year concludes, set aside time to plan out your next 12 months. Whether that means booking a quiet hotel room, spending a night at your office with your favorite snacks and tools, or renting a day-office at a co-working space, make the effort. The autumn/winter is an ideal time to set goals and plan for the year ahead. Reflect on this year’s achievements and, importantly, your setbacks. Understand your failures to glean lessons from them.

To be transparent, I experienced a fantastic financial year in 2021. However, 2022 brought with it a flawed partnership that drained much of my savings. I spent much of 2023 grappling with feelings of betrayal and questioning my self-worth. This year was about recuperation, from past judgments and finding forgiveness.

Moving forward, intentionality should be at the core of our actions. As you plan for 2024, deeply consider your aspirations and the sacrifices you’re prepared to make. If you aim to lose weight, for instance, you might need to carve out time for meal prepping or lay out your gym clothes the night before. The change requires letting go of old habits to cultivate new, healthier ones.

I wish you all an amazing wrap up to 2023 and can’t wait to see what we can all accomplish in 2024 as we are intentional in setting our boundaries, goals and our terms to get the success we desire!