Building New Beginnings into Routine Adult Life

Even as an adult years removed from school, I feel the energy and excitement walking down the school supplies aisles at the end of the summer. New beginnings excite me. They mean a fresh start, new goals, and anticipation of what might unfold. 

As an adult, I’ve noticed that these “new beginning moments” start to stretch farther and farther apart. But, my fondness for them remains. Sure, nothing is guaranteed in life and change will happen, but those milestone moments are a little more spread out as an adult compared to the elementary school through college phase. 

It’s not healthy to change jobs, addresses, community, etc. constantly. So, I like to think of ways to build new beginnings into my more set adult life. 

Here’s some tips for not losing the excitement around new seasons and milestones as an adult:

#1: Appreciate each season’s natural changes and activities.

I love the long days of summer, seeing the leaves change in the fall, drinking lots of coffee and reading lots of books in the winter, and seeing flowers bloom and the grass deepen a few shades of green in the spring. If your get-to-know you question posed to me was, “What’s your favorite season?” I’d say summer. But, each season has something new and fun to offer, and I want to notice it, name it, and enjoy it.

#2: Take time to process things learned.

Just because I’m not in school anymore, doesn’t mean I’m not learning. I like to journal and care deeply about my Christian faith. When I feel like I’m developing new thoughts around a topic, I like to go for what I call an “extended quiet time.” I take my love for journaling and my faith into a quiet space, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and process thoughts on a page. I’m always growing personally, even when my development isn’t marked by a grade. 

New quarters at work also provide an opportunity for new beginnings. I have annual goals, and each quarter I process my work toward those goals and any updates that can be made. New quarters at work mean new moments for brainstorming, marking progress, and getting excited about individual, team, and corporate goals.

#3: Pick a word for the year and talk about it with a friend.

At the beginning of the year, I often pick a word or phrase that signifies something I want to grow in. Throughout the year, I look for ways to strengthen that characteristic or simply notice and appreciate it more in life. Spoiler: “contentment” has been my word of the year before. 

To make the process of choosing a word or phrase for the year feel exciting and new, I talk about it with a close friend. We discuss why it was chosen and the goals and anticipation we have for the calendar year.

#4: Start each work week by making a list of personal and professional to-dos and goals.

New beginnings don’t just come once a calendar a year or once a quarter. Every day and every week can be a new beginning. Fitness goals, reading habits, work project progress… each week and each day provides a new beginning for these goals and more.

#5: Allow yourself to get excited about progress.

As an adult, everyone is in different phases of progress. We’re not all trying to ace the same math test or make the same sports team. Sometimes the camaraderie and excitement is lost. Don’t let yourself feel bad for getting excited about new milestones and progress as an adult. Celebrate the progress and what’s next in your journey. It doesn’t look the same as it did in school, but finessing a family recipe, sticking to your social media intake goal, running a 10K, starting an ambitious business project, or teaching your kids a life skill are all things to get excited about. You’re still learning as an adult, and celebrating can help events feel new and exciting.