Ditch the ‘New Year, New Me’: Embrace a Theme and Build Your Decade
For years, I bought into the whole ‘New Year, New Me’ thing. I’d psych myself up, thinking, “This year is my year! I’ll reinvent myself into the healthy, happy, creative powerhouse I know I can be.” Of course, it all usually fell by the wayside before January was done. Life has a knack for crushing our delusions, doesn’t it?
The Shift: Discovering the Power of Yearly Themes
Only a fortunate few are able to power through. I’m not one of them. If that’s also your case, read on.
After analysing the problem extensively, it wasn’t until 2021 that I tried a different approach: a yearly theme. I was introduced to it by blogger and entrepreneur Maiko Sakai.
Instead of disparate, specific goals, the aim is to have a guiding principle.
Case Study: Implementing and Benefiting from Themes
“Relentless Output” (2021): Focusing on Creation
That year, I chose “Relentless Output.” The shift was remarkable. Instead of the usual daunting feeling, I had a single lens to view everything through. Just focus on creating as opposed to consuming. Relentlessly.
As a result, my blog flourished, my readership grew, and I released more music than ever before.
This wasn’t about hitting a specific number of blog posts or songs. It was about embracing the journey, the process of creation, prioritising it over passive consumption. It was a flexible plan so I didn’t feel the pressure. It still helped me do better than resolutions ever had.
“Application” (2022-2024): Emphasizing Quality and Consistency
The following year, my theme was “Application.” A natural progression from the year before, but this wasn’t about quantity anymore; it was about quality. I focused on refining my skills and improving my work. In 2023 and 2024, I doubled down on this with “Consistent Application.” The momentum built. I committed to writing a short story every month starting in October 2023, and I even managed to write and publish two ebooks in 2024. This long-term focus allowed me to build real, tangible results.
“Triple Impact” (2025): Expanding and Sustaining Momentum
In 2025, my theme has been “Triple Impact.” I’m continuing my monthly short story and song commitments, and I’m adding a new challenge: developing a digital product for fellow creatives.
This isn’t about cramming everything into a single year; it’s about building a sustainable creative practice over the long haul. I might have the same theme next year, or a version of it.
The Philosophy: Why Themes Work Better Than Resolutions
“Most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!” Anthony Robbins
A year is a very narrow timeframe for meaningful growth. Putting pressure on ourselves to achieve everything within 12 months, making discouragement, stress and burnout very likely. Themes, on the other hand, offer a broader perspective. They allow us to focus on the journey, not just the destination.
Sometimes, a single year isn’t enough to fully achieve a goal. And that’s okay! It’s perfectly acceptable, even beneficial, to carry a theme over multiple years. Growth is a marathon, not a sprint.
We tend to be impatient and want immediate results, leading to frustration when things don’t happen quickly. But if there’s anything I’m being taught over and over again in life is that truly significant achievements require consistent effort over longer periods than we anticipate.
We need to be patient with ourselves and focus on consistent progress, build momentum, and ultimately we will achieve far more than we ever could with rigid, short-sighted resolutions.
Choosing Your Theme. A Practical Guide
How do you even choose a theme? It’s not something you should rush. I usually spend several days (the first time, I spent weeks) reflecting on what I truly want to cultivate in my life.
It’s crucial to avoid jumping on bandwagons or chasing the latest shiny object.
The theme needs to resonate deeply with your core values. I often start by identifying a feeling or a situation I want to address or improve. Then, I brainstorm words and expressions that capture the essence of that feeling.
The key is to stay general enough to create a true theme, not an inflexible goal. “Relentless Output” wasn’t about writing a specific number of songs; it was about fostering a consistent creative flow. I had observed that I was doing way too much doom scrolling. I wanted to balance that, spend as much time -if not more- creating as much as consuming.
“Application” the year after wasn’t about achieving a particular level of skill; it was about dedicating myself to the process of improvement. I was building on the previous year.
Then the following 2 years I chose “consistent Application ” to keep building momentum.
Here’s a few ideas of themes to get you started:
- Joy
- Consistency
- Peace
- Output
- Organisation
- Intentional
You can couple them up. “Consistent organisation “, intentional output “, etc…
I’ll be sharing updates on my progress with my “Triple Impact” theme throughout the year. I’d love for you to join me on this journey. Let’s connect and support each other as we strive to create, grow, and make a meaningful impact.
–Rudiano
For more, check out Rudiano’s website at rethinkentrepreneur.com
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