Growth mode engaged. That’s right, while everyone else is living this blur of time I’ll call “ThanksMastYears,” you can begin preparing for 2021 now. It’s time to make this a December to Remember. Sure, you’ve pledged nights, dollars and most importantly, time to different engagements, but why can’t you begin working on those changes today?
For me, the reason why I fall short on goals is generally due to misplanning of my time. I overcommit and never give myself that “magical margin” to accomplish more than what’s on my calendar. So I have all these grand plans for my yearly goals and resolutions, and by January, I have three unforeseen work trips, a new client, one underperforming asset, and the whole first quarter’s calendar is turned on its head. Hell, take this year, for example. Our corporate team spent MONTHS working on the finest 2020 business plan only to wad it up and toss it in the trash by mid-March.
Spoiler Alert- 2021 isn’t going to solve anything.
It’s not like on January 1st, 2021, all of the issues plaguing us personally and as a society will just disappear. Humans literally created the calendar and clock (why are we still doing daylight savings time BTW??), so why do we put so much stock in the fact that a fabricated date sometime in the future is going to solve our problems? So while it sounds nice to give yourself some arbitrary day in the future, often times the construct of calendars is far too rigid for the convoluted process of personal change. Remember Discomfort Creates Growth; we don’t get better by being comfortable.
So why do we wait on January, 1st to make the changes that we should be living every day? Why don’t we start now? In fact, we KNOW we are going to have a hard time sticking to these resolutions anyway. Instead of spending the next 10 days living it up in a sedentary manner, get out and move. Start with small jogs, a walk, taking the stairs, stop complaining, be loving and kind to those around you, and making small positive changes towards our goals in the new year. As those bad things will not disappear in the new year, neither will all the positive that you bring into your life in the coming weeks.
Tips for better Resolutions
Most resolutions (read goals) go something along the lines of I want to do X. “I want to lose 10 lbs.” Unfortunately, you’re missing the two other main components of making effective resolutions. The formula that works best for me follows: What by when because of why. Ex. – “I want to lose 10 lbs. by March 31st. because I will be healthier and enjoy my time in the outdoors more.”
- Make them S.M.A.R.T– Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. See my example above.
- Start with “WHY?” instead of How. As humans, we LOVE to figure out how something won’t work. How many times have you brought up an idea you thought was amazing only to be shut down with all the reasons why you can’t do it. Start with your why, and if that’s strong enough, the “how” you get it done won’t matter as much.
- Chose resolutions that give back to others. The old adage “you get out what you put in” couldn’t be any more applicable than in New Year resolutions, especially when giving time and energy to others. Donate more of your time to helping others and you will see a MASSIVE change in your own life.
- Focus on Gratitude. It’s not people who are happy that become grateful, but those who are grateful who become happy. Gratitude first, happiness second.
The Good Will Bank Account
I look at life and relationships as a bank account. You make deposits with eating healthy, calling an old friend, completing all of your work at a high level, and so on. You make withdrawals by knocking out a large pizza, being late to work, or cursing out someone in traffic (who can’t hear you anyway.) Each of these actions is either a +1 or a -1. I got this part from a good friend Brandon Lilly as I find it helps me to quantify actions and thoughts. At the end of the day, did you end up in the positive or the negative?
Life is hard, messy, filled with ups and downs, and the work to become who you want to be is a never-ending journey, so we may as well start now! Let’s make this a December to Remember!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
GO and GROW!
-Jamey