Practical Tips for Making Each Day Count
Establishing Our Year and Emulating Jesus
Happy 2025 darling readers! Let us rejoice in the year our Lord has made. As Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” To make the best use of each of the 365 363 days that lay ahead, I wanted to share my theory that informs how I organize my life with you.
Growing up as an only child in a high-control household, I developed perfectionistic tendencies. But over time, I realized that grace and cautious optimism were key to moving forward in life, not perfection. This realization led me to develop my approach for organizing my goals, and I hope it can help you as you embark on the year ahead. Regardless of your starting point, you can achieve your goals if you put in consistent effort and craft manageable, yet meaningful goals. Over the years, I’ve called it different things—“The Pocket Progress Principle,” “The One Step Forward Rule,” and even “The Little-by-Little Law”—but I eventually came full circle and called it my “No Zero Days” method again.
My journey out of perfectionism led me to understand that a consistent, steady approach—one where I aim to never have a “zero-day”—is what ultimately brings real progress. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about moving forward, even if it’s just a small step. By breaking down my goals into smaller, manageable steps and making sure I’m moving forward every day—even if it’s just a little bit—I’ve found that real progress happens. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about showing up and doing the work, even if it’s just a step at a time.
Perhaps it stems from my generationally Type A tendencies, my mind’s natural drift toward project management (even from a young age), or my desire to continuously improve so I can best serve those who matter most to me. Regardless, I’m both a dreamer and a doer—I dream, then make it happen with a strong work ethic, the support of my loved ones, and the grace of God. My mom taught me early on that the best thing you can do in life is work hard, practice until you get it right more than you get it wrong, and take your shot because the worst they can say is, “no.” She was quite the quaintrelle! Her approach to life—where every day is an opportunity to live with intention, passion, and joy—guided me in embracing the idea that every small step counts. It’s this mindset that led me to develop my ‘No Zero Days’ method: a way to create meaningful, consistent progress without expecting perfection.
Quaintrelle (n.) A woman who emphasizes a life of passion expressed through personal style, charm, and cultivation of life's pleasures; To fully embrace and live a life full of beauty and passion, one that encompasses a certain joie de vivre; to live up to what you love and believe. To have passion for life, and remain curious, playful, free, and at peace.
No Zero Days
In Book 4 of The Republic Plato argues the importance of a balanced soul and society. He emphasizes that a just life is one in which reason, spirit, and appetite are balanced, with reason guiding the others. As I reflected on this, I was reminded of the words of King David, inspired by the Holy Spirit in Psalms 1:1-3. His wisdom aligns with my own experience of setting healthy priorities and achieving balance, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” (NIV) Whether we’re establishing our year from a secular or spiritual perspective, both traditions emphasize the need for a holistic balance and the importance of setting healthy priorities. We’re again reminded of this in Paul’s letter to the Philippians in 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” In balance, there is peace.
Jesus is the perfect example of how we are to live our lives. When we seek to emulate Him, we also aim to incorporate His well-roundedness. He was spiritually disciplined, had healthy relationships, exhibited emotional awareness, was intellectually engaged, and took care of His physical wellness. Since Jesus was both fully man and fully God—and naturally His divine nature means He was without error or sin—our buckets will look different but we can still strive for the same balance that He possessed and seek God’s Kingdom first.
We cannot truly understand what belongs in our buckets until we first take a moment to discern what those buckets are. Once we have clarity on our priorities, we can set thoughtful goals to fill each one. The aim is to cultivate balance—attending to each area, and ensuring that at least one bucket is tended to daily (otherwise, it’s a 'zero-day'). In this way, we move forward with intention, making quiet, consistent progress.
One vague idea we may begin the year with is, 'I want to grow closer to God.' This is, of course, a noble aspiration. However, there are many different ways we can pursue it. Last year I pursued this notion by working in harmony with my husband to find a church. This year I’m going to try to read the Bible in a year. I set a daily Bible reading schedule and got a head start on Wednesday by reading The Song of Solomon with my husband. I broke it down in a weekly layout starting with a smaller goal I was excited about. Then I crafted a quarterly schedule so that I could check in with myself to see how I was making progress. Additionally, I did it in a 5-day schedule instead of a 7-day schedule, as my routine varies significantly when my husband is home. This also builds a risk management factor into my plan which allows me to find time to make up missed readings. While I’m somewhat hesitant to share this goal with you as I may not meet it, I keep in mind the words of Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)
The truth is that progress doesn’t require perfection—it requires consistency. By breaking down our goals into small, manageable steps and creating space for flexibility, we can keep moving forward, even on the days when life doesn’t unfold as we expect. Whether in our spiritual practices, personal growth, or relationships, every little step matters. Let’s remember to be kind to ourselves, trust God’s timing, and embrace God’s grace which helps us keep going. As Philippians 3:14 reminds us, it’s not about achieving perfection, but about pressing on, step by step, toward the greater purpose God has for each of us.