Why wait until January 1st to start thinking about the year ahead? In my last article, I talked about using September as a sort of re-set, a time to reflect on where we are and where we might want to go next. There’s nothing magical about January 1st. It’s simply a date on the calendar. Yet every year, we put enormous pressure on ourselves to suddenly become more organized, more productive, healthier, happier, and more disciplined simply because a new year has begun. What if we started earlier? October is actually a wonderful time to begin thinking about the year ahead.
By October, the year has given us plenty of information. We’ve experienced successes, setbacks, changes, surprises, and perhaps a few goals that didn’t quite go as planned. Instead of judging ourselves, we can use what we’ve learned to thoughtfully consider what we want next. October gives us something January often doesn’t: Perspective without Pressure.
Rather than making a long list of New Year’s resolutions, take some time to reflect:
– What worked well for me this year?
– What didn’t?
– What did I learn about myself?
– What do I want more of in my life?
– What do I want less of?
– What matters most to me now?
– Who do I want to become in the coming year?
Then, instead of trying to change everything on January 1st, you can begin thinking about making small, meaningful shifts now.
October, November, and December can become your “preparation season”— a time to clarify your priorities, experiment with new habits, clean up what isn’t working, and create a realistic vision for the year ahead. So when January arrives, you won’t be starting from scratch. You’ll already be in motion. A new year doesn’t require a new you. It simply offers another opportunity to intentionally build upon the person you are becoming. In my last article, I talked about thinking about September as a sort of re-set instead of waiting for a new year. October can be a time when you start to build a plan and move toward it. Remember – you don’t have to make big changes, small intentional steps in the direction you want to go are what will make the difference over time.
There’s nothing magical about January 1st. You don’t have to wait for a new year to create a new direction. You can start anytime. When January rolls around, you’ll already be ahead of the game.
Today’s Takeaway – What have you come up with in your reflections so far? What’s one small shift you can implement? Make that your starting point this month.
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