Sara Castillo
Co-Founder + President
I know 2020 was an insane year for everyone, so I’m sure we can all agree that we’re ready to move on and move up in 2021. If you don’t know me, hi, I’m Sara! I’m the Co-Founder and President of TapOnIt, a tech startup based in Iowa. I wear a lot of hats at our company, so setting goals, staying organized, and getting sh*t done is kinda my forte 🙂 I’ve put together a list of things I do to help me take on the year like a boss!
Set realistic goals. Everyone says it, but it’s so true. If you start the year by saying “I want to run 5 miles every single day”, but you never go on runs to begin with, you’ll crash and burn before you can really get started. Begin with small goals, and build up. No one says you have to wait until the next new year to make more goals!
Hold yourself accountable. The key to keeping myself on track to reach my goals is to write them down and track my progress throughout the year. I recommend keeping a journal or notebook in your purse or on your desk so you can easily jot down your efforts and progress on a daily basis. Here’s the one I’ll be using this year: Daily Intentional Life Journal. It may feel tedious at first, but it’ll quickly become a habit.
Celebrate your wins. Something else that has made a big difference in reaching my goals- and staying optimistic during hard times- is celebrating my little victories. I’ve found that rewarding myself for smaller wins helps motivate me to work towards bigger goals. Whether it’s buying myself a new pair of shoes, going out for drinks with a friend, or grabbing a latte from my favorite local spot, acknowledging my successes keeps me energized throughout the year.
Put yourself first. I think a lot of people have a habit of saying “yes” too much (myself included). “Yes, I’ll help you move”, “Yes, I’ll pick up an extra shift”, “Yes, I’ll host the dinner party”. Before you know it, you’re booked solid for the next month with no time set aside for yourself. It’s easy to get wrapped up with friends, family, co-workers and everything going on in the world right now. If you give yourself more attention, you’ll get a lot further without feeling overwhelmed. I like to schedule time just for me to avoid burning myself out. It might be a couple yoga classes a week, a few hours away from my phone, or a walk with my dog, Paisley. Little things add up, and can really help your mental health.
Find a routine. Having something steady in your busy life can help keep you a little more balanced. Something I started last year that I think makes a huge difference in my weekly success is a nighttime ritual. I light my favorite candle, put on some Taylor Swift (certified Swiftie, here!), and do my skincare routine. Lately, I’ve been loving face masks (I’m not talkin’ COVID face masks). Adding this extra step once or twice a week has been a treat I really look forward to.
Create a better work/life balance. Whether you’re back in the office, or you’re still working from home, you need to find balance between work and play. My job requires a lot of TLC. I’m a manager, president, and co-founder at a startup company that is always evolving. No two weeks are the same, which is why I’ve set some ground rules for myself. Something I like to do is start my day one hour earlier. That way I can make my coffee, take care of personal tasks, and prepare for my day before the phone starts ringing and I’m pulled into meetings. I also set a boundary of when I step away from the computer at the end of the day so that I’m not answering “just one more email” ten times. During the weekend I give myself certain windows of time to check work emails, and then outside of that, I let myself relax.
As we have learned this past year more than ever, we never know what life is going to throw at us. But, being prepared and having goals will help keep you moving in the direction you want to go. So celebrate your little victories, stay organized, spend time on yourself, and make 2021 your year.
Sara
