New Year's Resolutions in November?
Mental Edge Monday
Topic #36: New Year's Resolution in November?
Oh no he didn't. Oh yes I did.
Yes, I am unapologetically suggesting that you start thinking about 2012 now!
Why? Because when you wait until December 31st to start crafting your plan for the New Year, it's too late. It's happened to me too many times.
If it's December 31st and I finally sit down to think about next year's goals, here are the two ways it typically goes:
- Too ambitious - I'll panic and throw down some ridiculously ambitious goals that are not well thought out, not congruent with my life, and generally a waste of time. I know that goal setting is a good idea (and that bold goals are exciting), but when they are not in tune with a bigger plan - they usually lead to disappointment and frustration.
- Too small - I'll panic and start to write down every single thing that I plan to do in the following year - assuming that the more goals the better. Things like: brush my teeth every day, read the newspaper every morning, eat a multivitamin every morning, etc. I call this "check-off-the-box-itis". I set goals just so that I can check them off the list for the day. This may be satisfying for a few weeks, but ultimately it's just a lot of box checking.
I'm not going to address how to think about goal setting or strategic life planning this week. I just wanted to plant a seed.
While there's some "holiday downtime" over the next 1-2 weeks, start thinking about what you want to get done in 2012. Just think about it. Jot down some notes if you want. That's it.
I know New Year's Resolution blogs/discussions can be cliché and worn out. I get sick of people talking about them, too. It's almost as annoying as the big retailers trying to pre-empt the pre-emptive Black Friday sales by starting on Thanksgiving Day. Get over it.
I'm trying to cut through that nauseating end of December onslaught of New Year Resolution blogs that will trot out the same crap every year. Let's stay far ahead of that.
Mental Edgers do our planning now! Let everyone else panic on New Year's Eve.
Until next week, Keep the Edge.
Phil Black (FitDeck Founder)