Ways to focus on what matters in 2023
This title reminds me of an infomercial but yes, let's dive in.
We are in the second full week of the new year, and it’s already been a lot. This week alone, I have spent a lot of time prioritizing, adjusting, and trying to refresh my perspective and energy for the new year.
This year, aside from making goals, I also set a word for the year for the first time: Focus. I never quite understood the point of having a word and goals for the year, but after thinking of mine, they go hand in hand as my year encompasses all of my goals. One way I am working towards my word of the year is by identifying systems and tools that will help me focus on what matters - and here are a few of the tools I will be using.
Digital Tools
Todoist (Personal): I have used Todoist for years now - I could be sponsored by them, which would be nice because I could get a premium membership for free (sis is still focused on her budget). You can set up different projects to keep yourself organized - currently, I have one for goals, health, career, and routines.
A Todoist pro-tip also is that you can integrate it with your calendar. I use this feature often. I created a task calendar within my calendar that I sync with Todoist. I don’t know. I fear forgetting something important, so I have to put reminders and notes everywhere.
Teuxdeux (Work): Although you have to pay for this tool - it’s worth the annual $24. If you read this newsletter, you know I tend to be long-winded at times (although I have such great things to say), and this app helps keep me focused. With Teuxdeux, you can only put a brief note for tasks, and that’s it.
A cool thing about Teuxdeux is that if you have a task on the calendar and don’t get to it that day, it automatically moves it to the next day. A note, though, if you’re a person who needs reminders, Teuxdeux can’t help you. However, you can send yourself a daily digest, but I think part of the appeal of this tool is it doesn’t make you feel hounded.
Pocket (Personal): Again, I should be sponsored by Pocket because I’m always mentioning it, but this is my favorite app. You can save articles behind paywalls; you can highlight and archive, and much of how I write this newsletter is from my Pocket app. I did try Reader for a week in parallel, which I think is cool, but the heart does what it wants.
AnyList (Personal): I am kind of late or early to this, but if you’re a person who likes to meal prep or save recipes like me, this is the perfect tool for you. I initially read about AnyList in the not-intimidating guide to meal planning, but it’s been a game changer. You can go on a website and save a link to a recipe in the app, and it will pull the recipe ingredients and directions in one swoop.
Pro-tip #1: If you are a meal planner, you can also add your items to the calendar in the app and have a record and plan of everything you want to make. This is also another pro-tip, which is extra anal, but here I go:
When you create your meal plan for the week - you can also export it to a calendar with a URL
You can then add the URL to your calendar as an additional calendar within your Google Calendar or Apple Calendar
Then, if you use Todoist, you can integrate that new calendar to send yourself reminders
Paper Tools:
Hobonichi Techo (Personal): Another year, and back to the Hobonichi Techo Cousin. I’m using it differently this year and plan to use it for daily tasks, writing outlines, and goal management. I will let you know how it goes for me.
Notebook (Work): I use a cute little notebook for my notes and random scribbles.
Not included on this list: NOTION
For the 53rd time, I have gotten overwhelmed by it.
In other news, here are a few things I thought were worth sharing this week.
I’m going to try to do a monthly playlist centered around a theme of some sort, and this month’s is all about peace. You can download the playlist on Spotify or Apple Music.
I’m still on a goal-setting vibe and think Jay Shetty’s goal-setting mastermind is a very interesting approach to goal-setting. He breaks his goals down into four different levels: Growth, Observe Opportunities, Action Plan, and the three L’s - learning, loving, and launching. If you look at it, this approach spells out the word GOAL.
Fine man alert: My only celebrity crush, Travis Kelce, was on The Pivot podcast.
The most surprising leaks from Prince Harry’s book, Spare. I’m reading it and will report back.
On the book front, I recently finished Fatima Ali’s Savor: A Chef’s Hunger for More, and it was a good read full of inspiration and sadness but a beautiful life she lived.
An interview with Bela Bejaria, Netflix’s global head of television, on how much Netflix the world can consume.
Interesting read about how the anti-aesthetic on TikTok has conquered culture. I would also like to say I have not been on TikTok for almost two months. I miss it sometimes, but I messed up my algorithm, and all I kept getting were deer videos, people doing the “Shaboya” challenge (which I loved), or true crime stories.
This is a podcast series I can’t wait for: The Conviction of Max B.
That’s it for this week.
I’m annoyed at myself for all the gifs, but if you know where they are from, you understand the closing remark here. You’re also very cool, thus #friendship. Lastly, since we are here, let me know your answer to the question below. I will include the answers in the next newsletter.