Please tell me I’m not the only one who dreads January.
I often joke that January is to my year, like Monday is to my week. And I hate Mondays!
It’s easy to understand why. Every year ends with such celebration and holiday, that it’s pretty hard to top. In one moment, we’re all warm ‘n’ fuzzy at home with family, friends, and food…and the next moment we’re facing the harsh reality of an unknown future.
It doesn’t help that for many of us, January is cold and the nights are long. Then there’s all that added pressure of “New Year’s Resolutions”. The most ill-conceived and ill-timed goal-setting exercise EVAR! Even the nearest/next holiday works against the ubiquitous weight-loss resolution: Valentine’s day, with all that chocolate!
OK, enough of the gloom and doom!
Even though it may be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I’m taking an entirely new tack this January 2016. Here’s my plan:
- No big resolutions. Statistics show they don’t work anyway, and they only add pressure to an already-challenging time-of-year. I’m not going to set myself up to fail in January this time. It’s just another day, another week, another month.
- One day at a time, and one “win” per day. I’m going to live in the moment. Neither being buoyed by any past accomplishments, nor defeated by any looming challenges. All I need is one “win” (no matter how small) each day. It could be as innocuous as the triumph of getting out of bed, or exchanging a pleasant email with a friend.
- Discipline. One foot in front of the other. They say each action is preceded by the visualization of a thought, but there is wisdom in sometimes just blindly DOING what you know you should do, and enjoy the resulting thought.
- Service. Nothing takes you out of yourself like selflessly doing something for someone else, just because; no expectation of thanks or recognition. Don’t believe me? Try it. You’ll likely walk away with a smile.
- Talk about it. Guys, this is especially you. Add to that an introverted personality (me), and you’ve just dug yourself a deep rut that can put you in a funk for days. Find someone, make a call, collar your spouse/partner, and ask them to listen…just listen for 5 minutes. Say your peace, and don’t expect any response. You’ll be surprised how it can alleviate the worst of moods.
Honorable Mention: Don’t rest until you’ve found at least one new client in January. Be so focused on it, that you don’t even notice January is dull and cold and gray and boring.
Please note: this is not a New Year’s Resolution!…this is a plan for surviving January. If I can just get to February, I know I’ll be good. Weird, but true.
CourVO
