Sunsets & Snowdrifts Cybersecurity Podcast: Episode 9 – New Year, New Perspectives, and Cyber Safety

New Year, New Perspectives (and Cybersecurity)

As we step into a brand-new year, Sunsets & Snowdrifts kicked off 2025 with an engaging discussion on setting personal and cybersecurity goals. In the latest episode, our hosts, Michael and Evan, shared practical tips, funny stories, and meaningful insights to inspire listeners to embrace growth and digital safety in tandem. Here’s a recap of the episode’s highlights and takeaways.

 

The Power of Goal Setting and Reflection

Michael and Evan opened the conversation by discussing their approach to setting and tracking goals. Drawing from personal routines, they introduced a simple 3-step system for monthly goal-setting:

1. Reflect: Take stock of lessons learned from the past month or year.
2. Plan: Set actionable, measurable goals for personal and professional growth.
3. Track: Use a journal, app, or habit tracker to monitor progress daily.

Journaling or daily reflections can be a good way to stay motivated and accountable. And remember that imperfection is part of the process.

Cyber Hygiene for a Safer Digital Life

The hosts transitioned to the concept of “cyber hygiene”—the digital equivalent of a spring cleaning. Key habits they discussed included:

• Updating passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Using a password manager to keep credentials secure.
• Conducting a “digital audit”: unsubscribing from old email lists, deleting unused accounts, and tidying up inboxes.

Balancing Personal and Cyber Goals

One of the episode’s central themes was finding harmony between personal growth habits and cybersecurity practices. The hosts offered creative ways to integrate these goals seamlessly:

• Pair a mental health habit (e.g., a weekly journaling session) with a cybersecurity task (e.g., reviewing account settings).
• Set reminders for digital decluttering alongside fitness or self-care activities.
• Use habit trackers to include both personal and digital milestones.

Key Takeaways for January

To wrap up the episode, Michael and Evan shared actionable steps for listeners to make the most of January:

• Choose one personal growth habit: Start small, like journaling for five minutes each morning.
• Adopt one cybersecurity habit: Enable MFA on at least one major account this week.

 

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