You survived.
It came and then it went: Christmas.
I remember feeling so somber and disappointed as a kid the day after Christmas—a whole entire 364 days to wait until that Christmas morning excitement rolled around the next year.
Today, as an adult though, the day after Christmas is a bit more exciting.
Starting to look forward to the approaching new year, this is the time when ‘reality’ begins to set back in, and fresh starts begin to be conceived.
What do you want your 2015 to look like?
The world is your oyster!
Even if you’re not a big resolution setter (like me), there’s something to be said about vision setting, goal creating and making change happen that is refreshing.
Resolutions aside—January highlights a ‘fresh new start’ for multiple aspects of your life—from your health, to your routine, finances, relationships, personal development, organization, career or educational path, and more!
If I had a dime for every time I heard, “I’ll start XYZ after the holidays are over,” I’d be a rich woman—but it’s the truth. We put our lives ‘on hold’ to ‘get through’ the busy holiday season, and, now, a sense of calm, peace and structure is back in sight.
There’s no time like the present then to begin forming your ‘plan of attack’ to do something new or something different in 2015.
This fact came to mind to me during my WOD the other morning at the gym—“12 Bars of Christmas.”* (see below for all the fun)
The workout was tough—a mental and physical ‘grinder’, and as the rep scheme progressed, the thought of quitting came to mind (and I am NOT a quitter).
I coached myself throughout:
‘I can do it’…‘One more rep, you’ve got it’ …‘Don’t put the bar down.’
Twenty-minutes later, I survived (phew!)—like all workouts go—and, when all was said and done, I found myself thinking:
‘That wasn’t so bad’—as typical when things (challenges, trials) are in hindsight.
Nevertheless, it got me thinking: Getting through a tough workout is a lot like getting through the initial challenges of any goal or change you want to make—in 2015 and beyond.
At first, a goal or new routine sounds awesome in theory (‘what a great workout!’), but, once you’re ‘in it’….
It’s uncomfortable. You may want to quit. You are ready for the ‘end’ to be ‘now.’ And there’s no real way out if you want to accomplish it, except to get through it—rep by rep.
If you stick it out, as the end draws near…you feel amazing.
‘I did it!’
As you think about the things you would like to change, see different or accomplish in 2015, remind yourself, it may be tough to get going, but the ‘end’ result is just that much sweeter.
On a side note, if you want to try a physical challenge for yourself to better understand the analogy I am talking about, check out the “12 Bars of Christmas.”
(Scale weight as needed)
3, 2, 1…Go!
“12 BARS OF CHRISTMAS” (M-95#/F-65#) *
1 Deadlift
2 Hang Power Cleans
3 Front Squats
4 Shoulder Press
5 Back Squats
6 Push Press
7 Thrusters
8 Squat Cleans
9 Push Jerks
10 Hang Power Snatches
11 Overhead Squats
12 Sumo Deadlift High Pulls
* *START WITH 1 DEADLIFT AND PROGRESS THROUGH THE WORKOUT JUST LIKE THE “12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS” SONG (1 DEADLIFT, 2 HANG POWER CLEANS, 1 DEADLIFT, 3 FRONT SQUATS, 2 HANG POWER CLEANS, 1 DEADLIFT…ETC…)
2015 is right around the corner