Have you taken the 20 in 2020 Challenge yet? In short, you basically compile a thoughtful list of 20 things you WILL do in the year 2020. If you’re determined to make this upcoming year an impactful year, this post is for you. Below, I will share what I know to be the most powerful exercises for making life improvements as well as my 20 in 2020 list. I encourage you to take some time over the next few weeks to come up with a list for yourself.
THE MOST LIFE-CHANGING YEAR OF MY LIFE
Spring 2013 – Spring 2014 will go down as the most life-changing year of my life. It’s no surprise that it was the year I began setting specific goals, visualizing them, affirming them and taking small yet consistent steps towards them.
In that year, I graduated summa cum laude from college with a BS in Biology. I moved from Wisconsin to Texas and into my first apartment with my then boyfriend, now husband. I turned my blog into a business. I was accepted into dental school. Then, a few months later I gave up my seat to work in my business full time and hired my husband a few months after that. I experienced the greatest amount of personal and professional growth that year and it all started with setting goals and going after them.
This year, I plan on going back to the basics. With this mindset, I get goosebumps just thinking about what this year has in store.
20 in 2020
And now for this list. I broke it down by categories to keep it organized… because that’s on my list too ;):)
PERSONAL
1. 5 AM WAKE UP TIME
I’ve always been big on a morning routine. Having 2 kids under the age of 2 this year, I completely lost my mornings. Once my baby, Beckham began sleeping through the night, I decided my alarm would go off at 5 AM each day. After a short yet satisfying morning routine, I get in a workout or 2 hours of work before my boys wake up at 7 AM. It’s been amazing and I plan to keep this up in 2020.
2. THOUGHTFULNESS
One of my mom’s many strengths is her thoughtfulness. Everyone around her knows her for it: if you’re having a bad day, expect a Starbucks gift card in your email. I had smiley faces on my fruit for morning snacks and notes in my lunchbox growing up. She always goes the extra mile for others and that is something she instilled within me. I want to heighten that trait of mine. My goal is to go out of my way to bring about happiness just 1x per day for someone else.
3. REGULAR SKIN MAINTENANCE
This year, I want to establish a professional skincare regimen. I did a great job this year of at home skincare and want to take it a step further. I’m going to be looking into regular facials and maybe even microneedling and/or laser treatments.
4. STRAIGHTEN + WHITEN MY TEETH 😀
While we are on the superficial stuff… I had braces and like so many others, I did not keep up with my retainers. My teeth have shifted and I said I would do something about it for years but…. babies and life… you know how that goes. This is the year I’ll do something about it: straighter + whiter.
5. INCREASE MY PHYSICAL STRENGTH
I am so impressed with where I’ve taken my body over this past year, and I look forward to going even further with my workouts. I want to challenge myself with weight this year to increase my overall strength. It’s just such a bada$$ feeling, you know what I mean?!
6. PRACTICE GREATER PATIENCE
2019 was a tough year for me. In going through challenging times, I had to focus on myself and my family to deal with what was at hand. I feel like I lost my patience in the process. At my core, I am a very patient person so to see myself having a short fuse is hard for me to witness. Little things like standing in a long line at the store and wanting to roll my eyes or not allowing my kids to be as slow as they are… I just was not as patient as I could be this year. It felt icky. This is something I want to improve in 2020.
FAMILY + RELATIONSHIPS
7. GUILT FREE CHILDCARE
I have a good amount of childcare from a part-time nanny to gym day care and family that helps out. 95% of the time, I use this childcare when I’m working, which I don’t feel guilty about. However, when I use childcare so that I can go enjoy myself, I feel guilty. So, I usually only sneak away for a mani during naptime or we wait until after bedtime for date night. I know that the happier I am personally, the happier I am as a wife and mother, so this year, I am committing to not feel guilty about accepting help with my kids.
8. MORE TRAVEL (especially with friends + without kids)
I look forward to traveling more this upcoming year. In 2019, taking 2 kids under the age of 2 on vacations wasn’t exactly relaxing; we did it twice but it was a lot of work. This upcoming year, we plan to take a few family trips but also want to prioritize traveling as a couple and with friends. I’ve been thinking about a Paris/London trip.
9. WISCONSIN SUMMERS
This past year, we celebrated Leo’s 2nd birthday back home in Wisconsin where Anthony and I grew up and many of our friends and family still live. It was the Midwest summers we experienced as kids: lake life, running around a big backyard, bonfires, etc. We left knowing that we wanted to spend a good part of our future summers in Wisconsin. Ultimately, I would love to purchase a lake house or cabin in northern Wisconsin when we land on an exact location. For 2020, we hope to rent a home for a good chunk of the summer.
10. STEP UP MY WIFE GAME
Kids change your marriage: in wonderful ways as well as in challenging ways. Personally, each year that we welcomed a baby, our relationship took a back seat. This year included. I think that is pretty common but this year, I want to become a better wife. I want to be a better listener. I want to get more interested in my husband’s interests… lately, he is very outdoorsy. I want to make more time for our relationship. My husband and I are truly best friends and this year I want to get back to the fun, teenage relationship we began our journey with.
FINANCES
11. SMART MONEY MOVES >>>
2019 was the year Anthony and I got our finances in check. Majorly… money management, budgets, additional savings accounts, retirement, college funds, investments, etc. I’m only going to touch on this briefly because within the next few weeks, I will share a more detailed blog post because… game changing. This year, we decided even though we made more than ever, we did not need more (and if you agree- you fall into a major minority and can expect to feel resistance in society in getting to your goals). Regardless, we set lofty financial savings and investment goals and are laser focused. We shifted our spending and decided to reinvest in ourselves to set up for an even bigger future. 2020 is the year that a lot of these goals and plans grow greater.
I am going to share more of this in the upcoming year because it’s been one of the greatest things for my marriage and family’s future. I wish money wasn’t such a taboo topic. In 2020, I will do my part to share what is working for me in hopes of it helping you too.
12. MORE IMPACTFUL FINANCIAL DONATIONS
I get so excited to “help a little” that I’ll donate a bit to this and to that and to everything in between. For our Christmas donations this year, we did something different by making impactful donations to people in our lives who really needed it. For example, a family welcoming a new baby but struggling to make ends meet, a family who was being supported by a mom while her husband looked for new work after a career-ending accident, and a woman who left her job to care for her special needs child, starting her own home-based business. With those donations, I felt a huge sense of impact. In 2020, I want to donate time and money where I can see an impact.
13. SPEND LESS, SPLURGE MORE
Sounds odd, right?! I l am product obsessed (as you know!), but I don’t want to become an accumulator. This year, I was to spend less on stuff I “like” and splurge more on things I “love.” Do you know what I mean by that?!
CAREER
14. GROW THE LG COMMUNITY
Since I began LG, I primarily focused on creating quality content and programs. I work to serve the women who show up and raise their hands to ask for help. I don’t focus much on growth. I believe so strongly in the sustainable healthy lifestyle my plans provide and quick, effective workouts I have to offer. But, I should focus on growth to allow more women to experience the life-changing effects the plans have had on me and tens of thousands of other women.. This is the year that I am determined to make business moves that grow the LG Community.
15. LEVELING UP ALL MY OFFERINGS
I love the evolution of life: personally and professionally. I am already hard at work to bring the very best of everything to this community in 2020. I take in feedback. I listen to what you have to say. I make things better. In 2020, this community will experience even better versions of all my offerings.
16. 1 DAY/WEEK = NO WORK
I’ve worked 7 days/week for the past several years. I truly love working, so it doesn’t feel like work. I often think “it’s just 2 hours of emails, writing a post or something simple” BUT I have to view that time spent working as time that I am not giving to my children, especially on the weekends. This year, I am going to *try my best* to take 1 day/week off from working… probably Saturdays.
HOME
17. GET + MORE IMPORTANTLY, STAY ORGANIZED
I always seem to be getting organized. My home is pretty organized. BUT, my struggle is staying organized. This year, I plan to make my organizational systems easier to keep up with. I am also committed to “finding a home” for everything in my house, which is one of the
18. FALL IN LOVE WITH MY HOME
One of our bigger family decisions this year was regarding moving. We were deciding if we wanted to build a new home better suited for our family. And, where would that be. We decided the best place for our family to be right now is right where we are. Two reasons: 1) we love our life here. My kids play in the cul du sac every day with their neighbor friends. Our neighbors have become friends. A random night turns into a fun night outside. You can’t buy that. 2) we don’t know exactly where we want to be and the best thing you can do sometimes is nothing. SO, in 2020, I am taking all my “I need more storage” and “I would do this, this and this differently” comments about our home and turning them into love. Whether it’s just doing a few decor updates or shifting my perspective, I am going to better love the home I am in and my life here. And, more exciting things coming on this topic!
SPIRITUAL
19. REGULAR CHURCH ATTENDANCE
This is a pretty personal one… in 2020, I want to begin going to church again. I can’t believe I’m even saying that because I was raised Catholic, attending Church every Sunday… actually, 2x/week because I went to Catholic schools most of my life and we went every Wednesday as a school. I went to college. Got busy. Moved across the country. Never found the right fit of a Church here in Texas. I’ve always kept my faith but it’s just the act of going to church, being present, part of a spiritual community that I want to get back to. I don’t even have to go every Sunday… maybe 1-2x/month and watch a service on the other days.
20. YOGA
For years and years, I did a yoga class 1-2x/week but life… kids… you know the story. There’s something about yoga, particularly the practice of presence and focus on breathing that I miss most. I have to figure out just how to incorporate this but I will.
THANK YOU
Those are 20 things I will do in 2020. I couldn’t end this post without thanking you for taking the time to be here. Trust me, I know there are a lot of places you could put your time and I am so appreciative that you choose to share your time with me.
I’ve always thought of you as a friend, and that we are just two girlfriends connecting on life, sharing our passions from workouts to Amazon products and family life.
My life has had ups and downs. 2019 was a year of high highs and low lows for us. I’m thankful for all the love and support you show me and my entire family through it all.
May 2020 be filled with blessings and the very best of everything for all of us.
x Lauren
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