Claudia von Boeselager [00:00:00]:
Hello dearest longevity and lifestyle friends. I'm your host, Claudia von Boeselager. Welcome to this special solo episode as we close out 2024 and prepare to step into a brand new year. I am so grateful to have you here with me on this journey of growth, reflection and dreaming big. Today I'll be walking you through a simple yet powerful exercise to reflect on 2024 and set yourself up for an extraordinary 2025. I'll share some of my personal reflections too. There are just a few steps and if you dedicate about 30 to 60 minutes to this process, you'll gain clarity, focus and Inspiration to make 2025 your best year yet. And to make it even easier, I've created a free 2025 template for you to use.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:00:50]:
You can grab it by going to www.longevity-and-lifestyle.com/2025. That's www.longevity-and-lifestyle.com/2025 to grab your free template to do this review on. It's the perfect tool to guide you through this process and help you dream big and achieve those goals. Also, if you find this episode helpful, I'd love for you to share it with your nearest and dearest. Let's help everyone in our lives win big in 2025 and create their best year yet. Now let's dive in. So Part A is reflecting on 2024 and let's start with this reflection. So grab your notebook, pen or the free 2025 template.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:01:41]:
Again, that's from www.longevity and-lifestyle.com/2025 and let's take a moment to look back on 2024 and I really urge you, do not skip skip this step. It is essential because we only grow when we take the time to reflect and learn from our past. So number one, we want to celebrate our wins. What were the three to five biggest wins for you this year? Big or small, it doesn't matter. Maybe you hit a major milestone at work, maybe you deepened a relationship or simply made more time for self care. Write them down and really celebrate them. And remember, celebrating your wins isn't just about feeling good. It's about training your brain to focus on success.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:02:27]:
As the saying goes, cells that fire together wire together. So let's wire your brain for more joy and achievement this coming year. One of my biggest wins this year has been developing an even deeper sense of self trust and self belief. Time and again when the going gets tough or got tough, I discovered my ability to pull through. For that I am so grateful and truly celebrate this win, uncovering a strength within me that has been within me all along, but just was waiting to be revealed. Number two, what were the challenges or setbacks you faced? What drained your energy? And most importantly, what did you learn from them? Every low point carries a lesson. Maybe it taught you more resilience or patience or the importance of setting boundaries. I mean, I know for me, I had to learn and start practicing setting better boundaries.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:03:23]:
It was a bit challenging at first, but I believe you are in better service to yourself and to your highest self. And you can show up better in the world when you let others clearly know your boundaries. It's a form of self love. So write down these lessons. Take the time. They're the stepping stones to a better future. And if you need a pause as you go through, you're welcome to just so that you can use this and I can guide you through the process. Number three, what brought you joy? Think about the moments that lit you up this year, this past year.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:03:57]:
Was it time with loved ones? A creative project? A new hobby? What was going on exactly? And how did this trigger joy for you? Write them down and be specific. And then ask yourself, how can I create more of these moments in 2025? We all need and want more joy in our lives. Number four, Reflect on what drained your energy. Be honest with yourself. What activities, people or commitments left you feeling depleted. And here's the key. How can you minimize or delegate these in the coming year? Maybe it's time to say no more often or to let go of the things or people that no longer serve you. Part 2 Dreaming big for 2025 so we've done the reflection and we want to shift gears now.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:04:47]:
I want you to imagine it's New Year's Eve 2025. So a year out, you' sitting down with a glass of champagne or a cup of tea or whatever it is, reflecting on the best year of your life. What happened? Let's dream big and don't hold back. So number one, here you want to visualize your dream year. Where are you? Who are you with? What have you achieved? How do you feel? Write it all down in as vivid a detail as you can. Maybe you've launched new business, you've traveled to your dream destination or finally found balance in your life. Maybe you've finally found the love of your life. Whatever it is, let your imagination and excitement run wild.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:05:30]:
And again, to help with this process, you can download the free templates by going to www.longevity-and-lifestyle.com/2025 which is designed to help guide you through this process. Step by step as well. Next Step two Here is to get clear on your why. Why is this vision so important to you? What's the deeper purpose behind your goals? When you connect your goals to a strong why, you give them meaning. And that meaning will keep you motivated. When the times get tough, stay focused and take the action. You can do it. And the third part to this what do you need? And I think this is an important part as well, to get that clarity.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:06:13]:
What do you need to make this dream year a reality? What skills or habits or resources do you need? Or what do you need to give up? Do you need to give up being on social media for five hours a week? What else could you do with those five hours? And use those to build towards your dreams and your goals? Part three of this exercise is setting your top five goals for 2025. So now that you've reflected and dreamed big, it's time to get specific. What are your top 5 dreams and goals for 2025? And write them down. Break your go actionable steps. So for each goal, identify three actions you can take, maybe even one you could take right now to set yourself up for success. And here's the secret. Schedule them. Put them in your calendar.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:07:01]:
As Tim Ferriss says, it's not real until it's in the calendar. Isn't this so true? Don't miss this step of scheduling either. And let me give you an example. So say your goal is to run a half marathon this year. So action one is research and sign up for a half marathon in, say, the fall. Action two is to create a training plan and schedule your runs. Perhaps recruit a running buddy to join you. I had a friend join me on runs when I trained for my half marathon and I'll always cherish the fun and profound conversations we had during our training.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:07:33]:
Action 3 Invest in good running shoes and gear. They can be ordered, for example, already today. Or maybe your goal is to start a side business. So action one would be brainstorm and validate your business idea. So allocating time to do this in the not too distant future. Action two would be to set up website or social media presence and action three would be to dedicate two hours a week, for example to building your business. Schedule the time in your calendar. Whatever your goals are, make them actionable and schedule them.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:08:04]:
Remember, small steps lead to big results and you're more than welcome to grab the free template to run through this again. If you want to listen in again by going to www.longevity-and-lifestyle.com/2025 to map out your goals and actions. It's powerful tool to help you stay on track. Part four is Best Practices for Success. So as we close here is a few best practices to keep in mind. Number one, you want to reflect regularly. So don't wait until the end of the year to check back on your goals. Please, please, please don't do this.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:08:39]:
Instead, set aside time either each week or at least each month to reflect to adjust and celebrate your progress. Number two is create a not to do list. Just as important as knowing what to do is knowing what not to do. What are the distractions or energy draining activities you'll avoid in 2025? For many people will be social media. Next one is Focus and simplify. As Steve Jobs said, focus and simplicity. Once you get there, you can move mountains. So focus on what truly matters and let go of the rest.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:09:14]:
Next, you want to surround yourself with support. Share your goals with a friend, mentor or accountability partner. Surround yourself with people who inspire or uplift you. This is a really important point and it's so important for us to feel connected and have people who help us be at our best selves. Thank you dearest Longevity and Lifestyle friends, for another beautiful year for joining me on this journey of reflection and dreaming. As we close out 2024, I want to remind you that you have the power to create an extraordinary 2025. It starts with reflection, clarity and action. If you'd like to dive deeper, don't forget to grab your free 2025 template at www.longevity-and-lifestyle.com/2025.

Claudia von Boeselager [00:09:59]:
It's the perfect tool to help you map out your dream year and take actionable steps towards your goals. And if you found this episode helpful, please share it with your nearest and dearest. Let's help everyone in our lives win big in 2025 and create their best year yet. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a year ahead filled with health, happiness and success. Let's make 2025 the best year ever together. Until next time, stay healthy, stay happy and keep dreaming big. Much love.