I’d just like to mention that January 1 is coming.
I don’t know about you but, for me, January 1 is typically filled with feelings of apprehension and regret. Apprehension because I’ve likely set a goal or made a resolution that is going to be tough to meet and I might not have any idea how to get started or stick with it long enough to have it make a difference; and regret because of all the poor decisions I made last year that probably made it necessary for me to have that resolution in the first place.
This year, as we head into the busiest part of the holiday season, I’m applying a whole new perspective to three critical areas of my life, with a renewed anticipation and excitement for January 1.
Diet
First and foremost, the one resolution I seem to have each and every year is to stick to some sort of diet or exercise plan. It normally comes after two months (from Halloween to New Year’s Day) of eating poorly and not embracing activity. If I’m being honest, I just can’t say no to the extra cookie at a party or the little piece of Halloween candy that my daughter offered up.
And yet, if I simply choose to say no at the moment, I might find that, come January 1, I’ll already have my diet under control and won’t need to do such a drastic overhaul of it. Perhaps simply being in the mode of maintenance will allow me to pursue something bigger and better, beyond just the restriction of food, as I head into the New Year.
The same goes for exercise. As the weather gets colder and the days are filled with holiday activities, it gets harder to say yes to what will matter in the future. Missing two to three weeks of exercise might not seem like a big deal until you add in the combination of rich holiday foods and stress and, come January 1 realize that you’ve put on those ten pounds you spent the whole past year trying to keep off.
This year, I’m not waiting for January 1 to get my eating and exercise under control. I’m saying no to foods I don’t really need and yes to the activity my body does need to keep stress at bay and stay in shape.
Budget
Another area of our lives that we tend to forget about until January 1 is the effect the holidays have on our budgets. Getting our finances on track is always one of our main goals. This year, I’m not budging with my budget. In fact, Justin and I have tightened it down for the last few weeks of the year and, despite having some money set aside for Christmas, we are not going to go overboard with our expenditures this month for a couple of reasons.
First, we’ve spent this entire year heavily focused on our finances, completed a No Spend month (successfully), and have paid off debt and increased our savings. It would be very easy at this point to lose all the momentum we have had simply by not sticking to our budget. I don’t know about you, but I want to come out of this year with something to show for all the work I put in.
Secondly, in addition to the finances end of things, we’ve made huge gains in cleaning out the excess from our home over the past year. We’ve sold items we don’t need, gifted those we could, and donated the rest. The clutter is becoming less and less, and we are recognizing that we don’t need “all the things” anymore. Once again, we could lose all the momentum we’ve gained so far, simply by giving in to the pull of the seasonal purchases.
Extra Commitments
The final thing I tend to forget is the effect that the extra commitments that come this time of year tend to have on our energy come January 1. If the extra commitments don’t fully align with your goals, it’s time to cut them. I don’t know about you but, by the time the extended family has gone home, the kids are back in school, and the house is (somewhat) put back together, I feel the need to have an entire month off from people.
This year, I’m using a different perspective: I’m saying no to any extra commitments. No, I’m not talking about saying no to spending time with family and friends necessarily, but rather, I won’t be taking on any additional responsibilities.
That last-minute Holiday fundraiser? No.
The Holiday party of a friend I haven’t seen in years? No.
Those White Elephant exchanges? No.
Sure, they might all be great events to participate in, and yet, a line has to be drawn somewhere so that I can conserve my energy (and the energy of my family) for those things that really matter and, actually look back on the season with fond memories rather than a feeling of angst.
A Family Dinner? Yes.
A Screening of The Holiday Inn? Yes.
People Watching at the Mall? Yes.
This year, we are taking back the things that really matter, like time spent with family and friends, and leaving behind the rest of the to-do’s that look a lot like busywork. We are focusing on actions that will actually help us meet our goals.
What About You?
How about you? Are you saying yes and no to the right things this month? What actions will you take to meet your goals? I happen to be writing this as we near the end of the year, but honestly, it’s a great reminder at any point in time: January 1 is coming – are you ready?
Tip: If you need to make adjustments in anticipation of January 1, make sure to check out my FREE 5-Day Goals Course to get you on the right track to success.
