294: Choosing Habits to Keep, Stop and Start: Fan Favorite Replay

Hi there. You’re listening to the Leading Lady Podcast. I’m your host, AliceAnne Loftus, and I’m a certified professional coach specializing in leadership and work-life balance. I work with clients to shift their limiting beliefs, insecurities, and self-doubt. This podcast will be filled with tools and strategies to help high-achieving women like you feel connected, empowered, and in the lead of your life—both personally and professionally. Let’s transform your life starting now. Lead yourself. The rest will follow.

Hi there, Leading Ladies, and welcome to today’s podcast episode. It’s actually the first episode of the new year, so welcome 2024! I’m excited to share that I took a couple of weeks off. If you’ve been looking for a new episode and haven’t seen one drop, that’s why. I took a couple of weeks to get myself settled into the new year. But I am back and ready with some great resources and some amazing expert guests lined up for the year, and I can’t wait to share what’s coming.

I shared this in my Facebook group earlier this week, but I wanted to share it with all of you just in case you’re not part of the group—though I do invite you to join. There’s lots of great conversation happening there.

Keep, Stop, Start: A Fresh Way to Reflect

This past week in my business masterclass, I invited participants to share their “in” and “out” lists. You may have seen this trend on TikTok or other social media platforms—people sharing what’s “in” for them in 2024 and what’s “out,” meaning the habits they’re not carrying into the new year.

As we were sharing in the group, one of my clients, Marie Burgess, who is a grief counselor and licensed therapist, shared a modification that I absolutely loved. She shifted the “in and out” list into keep, stop, start.

I loved this because it’s so succinct and action-oriented:

• Keep: What have you already started that’s working?
• Stop: What habits, patterns, or behaviors are you not taking into 2024?
• Start: What do you want to begin this year—habits, thoughts, adventures, anything.

Being Discerning with New-Year Advice

As we enter the new year, you’re going to be inundated with information—from me, from other coaches, from influencers, and from companies—about how to make 2024 your “best year yet.”

It’s really important to be discerning. Take a look at the information being shared and ask:

• Does this align with me?
• Does this align with my values?
• Is this realistic for my life and personality?
• Is this something I’ll actually enjoy doing?

I’m a coach, but that doesn’t mean my way is the end-all, be-all. My role is to offer perspective, encourage deeper thinking and self-reflection, and support clients as they step beyond their comfort zones. You are the expert of your life.

Tools Should Fit You

As you gather tools, strategies, and resources, ask yourself whether they truly fit you. If something doesn’t resonate, that’s okay—there are a million other tools out there.

For example, I’m hosting a vision board workshop this week. I’ll be teaching how to build a vision board, map specific goals, and envision the life you want. But that’s not for everyone—and that’s okay.

If a tool inspires thought or helps you see something differently, fantastic. But if you need to modify it to serve you better, I encourage you to do that.

The Power of Community and Perspective

This is what I love about group coaching. While I facilitate, connect, and guide the curriculum, the real magic happens through shared perspective. My clients are the experts of their lives, businesses, and values.

Group coaching allows us to collaborate, ask questions, and problem-solve together. My perspective is just one lens. The power comes from many.

Start Small and Be Patient

As you start the year, you’ll see a lot about goal setting and habit changing. My advice is simple:

• Take what works.
• Leave what doesn’t.
• Find systems you’ll actually use.

I personally love a paper planner and teach people how to use one. But my assistant and executive director of my preschools, Aubrey, is a Google Calendar girl through and through—and she is incredibly organized. If a tool doesn’t work for you, don’t force it.

Start small. Don’t overhaul everything at once. Choose one or two small habits to start, stop, or keep.

And be patient with yourself. Change isn’t easy. If you miss a day or slip up, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Give yourself grace, compassion, and permission to try again tomorrow.

What’s Coming in 2024

I have so many exciting things happening this year. You’ll be hearing from our Leading Lady Ambassadors on the podcast, and you may hear some commercials from them throughout episodes.

If you’re local to Maryland or the Annapolis area, we’re launching an in-person leadership series. January is our Vision Board workshop, February is time management, and more topics will be announced soon. We’ll also be offering virtual workshops, so no matter where you live, you can join us.

We’ll also be hosting quarterly networking events, launching an online book club, and creating more opportunities to connect our community.

If there’s anything specific you’d love to learn this year, please email me. I truly read and respond to every message.

Welcome to 2024. If you’re a longtime listener, thank you for being here as I head into my fourth year of podcasting. If you’re new, welcome—I’m so glad you’re here. If you’d be willing to subscribe, follow, or leave a review, it would mean the world to me. That’s how we lift one another up.

Until next time, take the lead.

Thanks for tuning in for another episode of the Leading Lady Podcast. You can find all links and information mentioned in this episode at leadingladycoaching.com. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow the show so you don’t miss future episodes. And if you have a moment, please leave an honest review—it helps other high-achieving women find inspiration, connection, and purpose. See you here next week.