3 Tips to finish your year strong: August 2021 Review
You might be wondering, it’s only September, and I’m already talking about how to finish your year strong.
Today, 1 September, is the first anniversary of the Intentional E blog, so it feels like it’s a new year (at least for me).
Thank you for being here.
But, do you also feel that the last eight months went by so quickly?
Perhaps, there are people out there thinking that there’s not much time to achieve goals in 2021.
If you feel that way too, this post is for you. Please know that you’ve got plenty of time.
I’m hoping that after reading this post, you’ll walk away inspired to make the most of the remaining 4 months of this year.
It’s not too late to be who you would have been. There are still four months before the new year.
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3 TIPS to end your year strong
Before I share my August 2021 monthly review, I want to share the three powerful tips that will help you end your year strong.
Please take note that this is not only for the year-end reflection. You can apply these tips any time you want to do a review.
TIP #1: REFLECT (pause and seek clarity)
Take time to pause, assess and reflect on how the year is going so far. Think about your big picture. Is everything still aligned? Are your daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly actions still aligned with your yearly goals? If, not find out why and reset.
Seek more clarity to make sure that from this point, you’re moving in the right direction. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed because there’s no clarity. We get confused. And so sometimes we get stuck in the “thinking” process instead of moving to the “doing” process.
So seek clarity.
What have you been doing that helped you get closer to your goal?
Can you think of things you can do differently to get better result?
Maybe it’s taking time to get there, but the important thing is you are moving closer and closer to your goals.
And maybe, you are closer more than you realise.
TIP #2: MINDSET CHECK-IN (it starts in the mind)
You see, the Mind is powerful. So, be mindful of the thoughts you’re letting in. Keep only the helpful thoughts.
In this post, How to cultivate a healthy mindset , I suggested how to reframe negative thoughts.
Practise being aware of your thoughts. Then reflect if they are helpful or not. If the thought isn’t helpful, flip it.
You might need a bit of practice to get used to this habit but once you get used to it, you’ll be amazed by how much difference it makes to your perspective and general outlook in life.
Positive thoughts create positive words and in turn help you create positive actions. Your positive actions will give you positive results. So start with your mind.
Where possible, try to always align your thoughts, your words and your actions.
TIP #3 STRATEGISE and make a PLAN
Strategy and Plan are different and it’s important to know the difference between the two. I found a great Source with a clear explanation.
And this is how I want to look at it.
Think about it like you’re cooking. The Strategy is “making sure you have all the ingredients to make a nice meal, and the Plan is your recipe.
If we’re talking about goals, a strategy is your approach while the plan is the procedure or the step by step guide you need to follow to get to where you need to be.
So think about your approach on how you’re going to achieve your goals and then build a plan within your strategy.
For example:
Goal: To save money for holiday/Christmas
Strategy: Creating a budget and track savings
Plan:
- Identify how much your income and expenses
- Find ways to save, or increase income
- Assign a specific amount of money to be saved regularly
- Put the money in a separate savings account (or in a piggy bank)
- Track your savings.
August 2021 Reflection
Gratitude
My August 2021 Gratitude List
- Grateful we are safe and doing ok with the lockdown that has been extended so many times.
- I’m thankful for my family and friends
- For my work that gives us money so we can live comfortably
- Grateful for this blog, the shop and all the people I got to know through blogging
HIGHLIGHTS:
Week 1
The first week was out of whack, so much so there were so many embarrassing moments. Moon had 100 days of Prep and she was meant to come to school wearing her favourite outfit. The email was sent on a Friday but because I didn’t put it in the calendar, she went to school in full school uniform. That was clearly my fault.
Luckily we live less than 5 minutes walk from the school so R was able to bring her back home to change.
Then I sent an email to my email list with a word that was misspelled. Took me the whole day to get over it.
Week 2
I spent Week 2 focusing on creating products for my online shop.
Whilst it was a “grind week” for the shop, it was surprising that I got to spend more time with R and the kids that week.
We even had time to stay in bed together, for a couple of days midweek, (we do this normally on Sundays), listening to music and chatting. This always ends with fooling around and playing silly games for a few minutes.
I guess that is one of the benefits of being in lockdown. We don’t have to be strict with morning routines.
I love my reading time in bed with Moon. She started reading on her own several weeks ago and it was so impressive. My favourite part of the day is reading with her before bedtime. I get to read real books while she reads independently.
Week 3
I launched the shop on the 18th of August. Yay!!!!!!!
The start of week 3 was full-on. I had to force myself to face the technical aspects of setting up an online shop. I choose to DIY because I’m not ready yet to hire a tech person to design my website.
Kuya was so sweet. It’s always a nice feeling when I’m just in my corner working on my blog and he would come from nowhere to give me a quick kiss or a hug.
I also got a chance to text, video call and connect with my friends and family in Japan, and the Philippines which was great.
R as always has been amazing. I think he did more work at home than I did. I’m such a lucky duck that way.
Week 4
I slowed down a little bit in week 4 to focus on family time. I missed cooking like I used to so I did this in the last week of August.
Moon struggled in one of her school activities but it was impressive how he pushed through. She was so calm and she just said to me.
“My brain is a little bit tired and it doesn’t like to work this time”
So, I suggested leaving the task for that day undone but after a quick snack, she persisted to finish it.
Both Kuya and Moon also got settled with their routines and I’m grateful and proud of them.
Goals in Progress 2021
Well-Being (Self-care)
Well-being in August was steady for everyone in my family. Despite of the pandemic, we were able to stay positive.
I love that Kuya goes out with a friend for a run 2 to 3 times a week.
Family and Home
I didn’t get to do any home projects in August because I spent most of my extra time developing the online store. I’m just glad I was still able to manage the basics, the usual household stuff like cooking, quick spot cleaning and doing laundry.
For now, as long as I’m on top of laundry, dishes and cooking I’m happy.
I also started doing quick cleaning while waiting for something to cook or when waiting for the kids to finish bath or shower. And I think I will continue doing that.
The book I’m reading is the One Thing. Oh gosh, I can’t wait to share it with you. Such a great book.
[You can check this book out on Amazon AU , ( if you’re in Australia), Book Depository here, (if you’re from around the world) and Booktopia, ( if you’re in Australia and new Zealand.)]
What I’ve learned from the book so far is this: “When you start to focus on your One thing, expect that there will be chaos and you just have to be at peace with that”
Reading that part of the book gave me permission not to feel guilty if at the end of days and weeks, I only get to do three things: laundry, dishes and food.
In my case, my one thing is the blog and shop for now. So, the household will just be in temporary chaos. it’s not dirty but it’s just not as organised as I would hope for.
R and the kids are really good at tidying up so that’s a bonus. It’s probably just me who think that our home is in chaos.
Passion (Blog)
I’ve completed 2 projects in August. I know it’s only a couple but I am so proud of it. I launched the ieSHOP and I was able to get ahead with my content both blog and emails. Completing these projects took so much time and energy but it was worth it.
Speaking of email, if you’re not on my email list yet, I invite you to subscribe to my Weekly Newsletter that is not a newsletter.
It’s just like a friendly email to be honest. I am not on social media much so email is just a better platform for me to connect with my people. I feel like I can share more personal info than I would do using social media.
I can focus more on every one of my subscribers via email.
If you want to join my email list friends, grab one of the freebies here and you’ll be in. See you there.
Afterthoughts,
Now that you’ve got the three tips to finish your year strong, I’m curious what plans are to make the most of the rest of the year.
I’m so excited for you.
Also…
Every month I publish my Monthly Review, with featured tip/s aiming to inspire you even just a little bit.
Check out the Related Monthly Review Posts below.
January 2021 Top 3 Ideas for a Monthly Review to stay focused
February 2021 An Effective Checklist for your Monthly Review
March 2021 How to use a checklist for a Monthly Review
April 2021 Powerful Affirmations : April 2021 Monthly Review
May 2021 Cultivate a Healthy Mindset (May 2021 Monthly Review)
June 2021 5 Tips to stay on track with your Goals: June 2021 review
July 2021 “Better me month” July 2021 review
