It's that time of year to think about what you want for yourself in the New Year. Call them Resolutions - or don't. There are so many different ways to look at it. Personally, I love that space between Christmas and New Years to truly hone in on a few things that I'd like to tweak about myself to get me to the next level. I have very high personal goals - I've always aimed high. It's the only way I know how to navigate. Not because those around me necessarily told me I could do so - precisely because they did not. I have a voice in my head that constantly tells me to strive for more. This New Year's 2022, I want to focus on an important concept that has always served me well - to make my own luck.
I plan to do that very simply. By getting rid of the habits that do not serve me well. We are all creatures of habits - some help us get to the next steps in our lives, and others do not. I've been slowly kicking the ones that do not serve me well the the curb. It's been an ongoing and very deliberate process for the last 5 years especially. I also finally found a book that seems to understand where I am coming from - it speaks to me, and I recommend it to all of you. Atomic Habits by James Clear is a no-nonsense approach to getting rid of habits that don't serve you well and incorporating habits that get you to your goals. Make purchasing a copy the first thing you do. It has really cleared up the fog in my head.
Before I head to what I will be working on, let's chat about one huge thing I've worked on and how I've done it. Two and a half years ago I was in a funk. I was getting up around 6:45 am. Too late to do anything productive for my girls who were in high school. I was getting up just in time to get them up and drive them to school. Mornings absolutely sucked. I was sluggish, everyone was cranky, and I still had to interrupt my day to work out. My husband travels for work, so I could not workout at 5 pm when I had to drive my girls to soccer practices. I had to get it into my day or not do it. But during the day, I had to work on my business and write. So, for about a year, I would take time off at 2:45 pm and workout. It was fine, but I wasn't getting much done, honestly. And, I was super unhappy. Until I decided to make a change and do what I'd done when I was an early morning reporter - get up early. I got a trainer and set up an appointment for 4:30 am three times a week. I know - too early for most. Stay with me here. It got me going and it got me loving mornings again. It's been over two years and I've not only stuck with it - it's become a solid routine. My new trainer meets me at 5:30 am and I've gone from working out 4 days a week to doing something 7 days (three with my trainer and 4 on my own). I feel amazing. My point is, I was not worried about losing weight (I mean I was - I needed to and still need to a bit) - but no matter. My singular goal every morning was to wake up early and make it to my workout. It meant getting to bed by 10 pm and being okay with missing a workout here and there. For the most part, I've stuck with this schedule and now I cannot imagine ever going back. On the weekend I still get up early, but not till about 6:30 am and still get some kind of workout in.
My other goals for 2022?
Thanks for reading ... I have to get back to cooking. I do hope you'll stick around and tell me what goals you have for 2022. They don't have to be lofty. We are here to gently help you stay on track and keep you company!
Love, Anupy
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Michelle Vishin
February 07, 2022
Everyone is sleeping at my home (2 teenagers and husband) this New Year’s morning (10:00am). Thank you, Anupy, for sharing your observations and goals. I am an early riser, but one of my goals is to be more productive in these quiet early morning hours. Here are some of my goals:
1. The usual eat more healthy foods and and exercise more. I was enjoying weight lifting at a gym, and it was nice outside in the summer but less motivated on a cold morning (CA) morning. Need to think of something that works in the winter for me. Maybe an online class. I did meet with a nutritionist, but I have been dreading the immune protocol diet that she recommends — no sugar or carbs of any kind for a month and other restrictions. I have Hashimoto’s (low thyroid), and she would like me to observe how my body responds to re-introduction of these foods.
2. Yes, clear up the clutter. When we moved to our new home 4 years ago, we dumped or donated a lot of things. I cleaned out our large closet and now on to the garage. It was so liberating to move to the new home with less clutter. ; )
3. I am thinking about returning to school for a Masters degree. I have picked out possible schools and now need to focus on taking some classes to meet the requirements since this will be a new field for me. This goal aligns with your idea of starting and finishing a project.
4. Yes, you and I are both language nuts. I am taking 3rd year Hindi with high schoolers on Zoom, a once a week online Hebrew class, and just signed up for News in Slow French. I hope that I can keep it up. We may be taking my Mom to Paris for her birthday, and this is good motivation to improve my speaking French.
5. In general, get more organized and thus the purchase of the book “Atomic Habits.” Make an effort to plan my projects so that I have written commitment to them. In general, get my life better organized. ; )
6. Read more and less time on social media and other time-sink activities. Make a list to keep myself on track.
This is my written commitment to my goals.