4 Action Steps to Make This Year A Great Year

Hey there, homemakers! Yep, that’s all homemakers. I want to share 4 action steps with you to make this year your best year!

Those that stay-at-home, those with or without kids, and those working outside of the home as well. We are all homemaking in some way. 

Let’s talk about making this year your best one yet. Not the busiest, not the most “Pinterest-perfect,” but the BEST. Or, to keep it real, let’s make it a year where the vision is clear and you know what God wants you to do to move in the right direction.

I was listening to a podcast by Anthony O’Neal, and something he said really clicked. He shared this EARN strategy, and I thought, why not give it a homemaker twist? 

Here’s how we’ll do it:

E – Eliminate what’s not working.

Listen, not everything has to go on your plate. And if your plate’s full, something’s gotta come off. Is meal planning stressing you out? Go simple. Or, let me do the meal planning for you! Who doesn’t need a meal planner.

Is scrolling social media at night draining your energy? Shut it off. Focus on the stuff that fills your soul. Eliminate the rest.

A – Automate what you can.

What can you outsource, delegate, or automate? Grocery delivery? Yes, please. A chore chart for the kids? Genius. Let’s stop trying to do it all and let systems work for us.

Think about it this way: every minute you save is a minute you can spend on what truly matters—like connecting with your family or creating systems that actually work. 

Putting a simple morning routine and afternoon routine in place is another great way to create this automaticity.

R – Reimagine your goals.

Goals aren’t just for New Years. We homemakers have dreams too! But maybe your goals need a little refresh. Instead of “clean the house every day,” how about “create a home where love and laughter live”?

N – Navigate your priorities with intention.

Here’s the secret: not everything deserves to be a priority. Let’s get crystal clear on what matters most. Is it sitting down for family dinner? Finally tackling that craft room? Or maybe it’s just carving out 10 minutes for yourself (yes, that counts!).

Write it down. Say it out loud. Whatever helps you focus on what truly needs your attention. I am a firm believer in writing down the vision and making it plain. 

I Don’t Know If I Can

And when things feel overwhelming (because they will), just remind yourself: you’re not steering the ship alone. You’ve got faith, family, and friends to help you navigate. Lean into them. The to-do list can wait.

A friend recently told me that she wished she would have just reached out to friends and been honest with what was going on during some pretty overwhelming times. 

By using EARN, you’re not just managing your home. You are creating strategies that will help you to make progress. I love the phrase “move the needle”. You are finding a way to move the needle. This year, let’s eliminate the unnecessary, automate the tedious, reimagine our goals, and navigate with intention.

Let’s make this the year we don’t just “do” homemaking. Let’s really grow and enjoy it. You’ve got this!

A Note on Inspiration

Before I dive any deeper, I want to share where part of this inspiration came from. I recently listened to a podcast by Anthony O’Neal, and let me tell you, it was one of those “lightbulb moment” kind of listens. His wisdom on setting goals, creating systems, and staying intentional really stuck with me.

But what I’m sharing here is my spin on it. It’s my perspective, mixed with my experiences and a good dose of homemaker humor (because that’s just how I process life). If you want to dive into the original podcast that sparked some of these ideas, here’s the link: Anthony O’Neal Podcast Episode.

I think it’s so important to learn from others while making their wisdom your own. So, take what I’m sharing here, mix it with your life, and create something that works for you. That’s what this journey is all about—learning, growing, and staying inspired.

EARN Your Vision: Staying Motivated and Inspired

If you don’t decide where you’re going, someone else will decide it for you. That’s the truth. You need to take the time to figure out where you’re heading and write it down. Be specific. Share your goals with someone you trust.

Pray for God’s guidance over your vision. Ask Him to shape your plans. When you go to sleep, you should know what you’re working toward. When you wake up, it should be clear in your heart.

I love this quote from Anthony O’Neill: “Nothing changes until you change.” Isn’t that the truth? Real change starts with us. It’s about building systems in our lives that work. Systems that push us forward. Systems that keep us moving toward the vision God has placed in our hearts.

Evaluate Where You Are

Before you move forward, take some time to evaluate where you are. Grab a notebook. Write it down. Say it out loud if it helps. Ask yourself:
• Physically: Are you where you want to be? Do you need to move more, eat better, or sleep longer?
• Spiritually: How’s your relationship with God? Are you praying daily? Spending time in the Word?
• Mentally: Are you giving yourself time to grow? Are you reading, learning, or investing in your mind?
• Socially: Are you nurturing healthy relationships? Spending time with the people who lift you up?

Be honest. This isn’t for anyone else. It’s just for you.

Arrange Your Vision and Your Goals

This is where the real work starts. You’ve got your vision. You’ve prayed over it. Now it’s time to arrange it. This is about being intentional. Life happens—sometimes before you’ve even pulled the covers back in the morning. But when you’ve arranged your goals and broken them into manageable steps, you’ll be ready to face those distractions with purpose.

Here’s the key: be intentional but flexible.

Some things will be non-negotiable. These are the core parts of your vision that you’re committed to no matter what. But some things can bend a little when life throws you curveballs. And let’s be honest, stuff does happen.

For example, maybe you’ve decided to wake up early for quiet time with God every morning. That’s non-negotiable. But if your toddler decides to wake up early too, and now your quiet time looks more like “read one verse while bouncing an early riser,” that’s okay. You’re still moving forward.

The important part is knowing where you are now, knowing where you want to be, and understanding the small steps it will take to get there. You can’t arrange your journey if you don’t know your starting point.

Be Honest and Write It Down

Be honest with yourself. Evaluate where you’re at right now. Write it down. Let your friends know it. Pray over it. Don’t be afraid to ask for support or accountability. This isn’t just a journey you’re taking on your own—this is something you’re walking through with God.

And remember this: there are a lot of people out there with no vision and no direction. They’re more than happy to let you join them in their drift. But you can’t do that. You’ve got a purpose, and it’s higher than anything this world can offer. God has called you to something greater.

I love the story I heard recently about someone building their dream home. They weren’t just focused on the walls and the roof; they were already praying for what that home would become. They were praying for it to be a place where Bible studies would be held, where kids and friends could gather, where people could feel safe, unwind, and connect. That’s vision. That’s purpose.

There’s a scripture that always comes to mind when I think about arranging your vision:

“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it” (Habakkuk 2:2).

Write your vision. Make it plain. Keep it clear. So when you wake up, you know what you’re working toward. So when life happens, you’re still grounded in purpose. When distractions come, you can stay focused on what matters most.

And don’t forget to pray. Ask God to guide your steps. Ask Him to shape your plans. He’s the ultimate architect of your vision, and when you surrender it to Him, He’ll lead you in ways you never imagined.

Render Your Strategy

Now that you’ve got the vision, it’s time to render your strategy. This is where you take that big, exciting goal and break it down into smaller, actionable steps. You can’t just say, “I want to achieve X” without figuring out the how.

Start by working backward. Look at the end goal and break it into daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly steps.

For example:
Let’s say you want to save $12,000 by the end of the year. That’s $1,000 a month. If you get paid every two weeks, that’s $500 per paycheck. If you’re paid weekly, that’s $250 a week. Breaking it into smaller, manageable amounts makes it feel achievable.

Here’s the thing: sometimes we get stuck in the planning phase. We write everything out. We map the vision. But we don’t take action. Don’t let that be you. Even if your first step isn’t perfect, just take it. Move the needle. Do something every day—no matter how small—that gets you closer to your goal.

Nothing Will Change Unless You Change

You have to change if you want things to change. It sounds obvious, but it’s not always easy.

Maybe your goal is to save $250 a week, but this week all you can manage is $50. That’s okay. Put it down. Maybe the only thing you can cut is skipping the coffee shop or skipping a nail appointment. So instead of $250, you’ve got $10 or $50. That still matters.

Or maybe your goal is working out five days a week, but this week you can only squeeze in two workouts—or just five minutes of movement in the morning. That’s okay, too. Do it anyway.

Here’s why: it’s what they call the snowball effect. Little wins add up to bigger wins. It’s not the huge things in life that make the difference. It’s the little, everyday choices.

Two years ago, I was putting an extra $20 or $50 toward our house. That’s all I could do. Someone close to me said, “What difference is that going to make?” But now, a year and a half later, that “little extra” has turned into thousands of dollars. It’s proof that the small steps you take today will add up tomorrow.

It reminds me of the story of the starfish. A man was throwing starfish back into the ocean, one at a time, even though there were thousands stranded on the beach. Someone asked him, “What difference does it make?” The man picked up another starfish, threw it into the water, and said, “It made a difference to that one.” Boom!!

​Make Your Goals Work for You

Let’s talk about goal setting for a minute. I’m a big believer in starting with a clear vision and then breaking it into smaller, actionable steps. But here’s the thing: if your goals don’t feel worth achieving to you, it’s going to be hard to stay motivated when life gets messy (because it will). You need a compelling reason for why you’re chasing them.

Look back on the past year—what worked? What didn’t? Use that reflection to create an actionable plan. Start with your 12-month goals, but don’t stop there. Break them down into smaller, smart goals—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. The best way to move forward is one step at a time, so focus on your next step rather than getting overwhelmed by the whole journey.

Big Goals

And let’s talk about those big goals. They’re exciting, but they can also feel intimidating, right? Here’s the secret: no one achieves them in a single day. It’s all about small, consistent actions. Even if you only have a limited amount of time, use it wisely. Take five minutes to plan your meals or squeeze in a quick workout. Those small choices add up to positive results over time.

This is the time of year when we all get inspired to make changes, but let’s not forget: growth happens when we step out of our comfort zone. That might mean saying “no” to things that don’t align with your vision or reaching out to an accountability partner to help keep you on track.

Remember, it’s not just about hitting your long-term goals; it’s about the journey of personal development along the way. The little wins, the setbacks, the lessons—they’re all part of the process. And every step forward brings positive change that’s worth achieving.

So grab your journal, write down your vision, and start building your action plans. It’s time to move the needle and make this your best year yet!

Final Pep Talk

Sometimes you have to focus on that one little thing. One step. One day. One Week. One Year. This could be the year that you finally step into your purpose and make it your best year yet. Don’t wait until next year to start making changes.

Begin today, and you’ll be amazed at where you’ll be by this time next year. Maybe last year didn’t go the way you planned. That’s okay. This is a new opportunity to start fresh. 

A lot of people have already quit their New Year’s resolutions. What action step are you going to start today? What simple steps are you going to put into place so that at the end of the day you know you have moved the needle?

This whole process can seem a little overwhelming, but having a good solid plan, will help take you to the next level. Set goals for different areas of your life and be patient with yourself. It takes time! 

With Belief,

Anna Sue