What's your 2022 intention?

This has always been one of my favorite times of the year. For most of my professional career, the holidays and start to the New Year brings the opportunity to spend extended time with family, friends and those who mean the most to me. Additionally, like many of you, I take the much-needed time to reflect on the prior year – both personally and professionally.

I reflect on what went well, what I’m most proud of, what we could have done differently…. and with this comes the natural process of thinking about goals, aspirations and plans for the new year. Jan. 1 also allows us to “reset” on our goals. For me, I use this time to ensure I’m being very intentional as I establish my priorities for the year.  

I think we can all agree that 2021 proved to be a year full of distractions – some within our control, but much of them well outside of our control. The steep rise in inflation affected many in significant ways, and the insurance industry is not immune to these cycles. Things like used car prices and labor costs rose disproportionately to general inflation levels. While that is outside my control as a leader in the industry, it’s a headwind that must be managed. On the other hand, how I reacted or the time I spent coming up with solutions was within my control.  

Despite a wide range distractions, I don’t have the same level of influence on each of them or how they affect me. But I do have control over where most of my time and energy goes. As I look into 2022, my intention can be summarized in one word: focus.

And this year, my focus is all about maintaining my best self. The question I’m asking myself to kick off the year is: Will my current habits get me to my goal state? The answer was no. So in 2022, here are a few ways I’m prioritizing my well-being, so I can show up as my best self for my team and my family all year long:

·      Blocking time – I’m committed to blocking a meeting-free hour in the morning and an hour in afternoon to work on priority items for the day.

·      Taking lunch – In years past, I’ve worked straight through lunch. This year, I will take at least 30 minutes to sit outside, watch a TV show or read the news – something to help me unplug and come back energized in the afternoon. 

·      Getting outside – Our bodies need movement, sunlight and fresh air. As often as I can, I plan to take “walking meetings” with team members or mentees. In our increasingly virtual world, you can do this with any meeting that doesn’t require heavy interaction or note taking.

·      Ruthlessly Prioritizing – Every day, every hour. This kind of intentional evaluation will help me put my time and energy into the meetings and workstreams where I’ll make the biggest impact.

As always, I’m interested in hearing your thoughts. What’s your 2022 intention? What’s at the top of your stop, start or continue list?

Here’s to a healthy and happy 2022!