Preparing for Next Year

Reflecting on what got me here and the process for making sure 2023 is marked by consistency, fitness, and chill.

Quarterly Objectives > New Years Resolutions

When I look back at this year, it’s been good. My family is in a great place, my work is in a great place, and personally, today, I’m in the best mental and physical shape I’ve ever been in. How? I’m not totally sure - that’s the problem. I have nothing to point to as a record of how I got from A to B, and that’s when I realized I had stopped doing something that was key for me in 2020: setting quarterly objectives, rather than annual resolutions, and then learning and adapting every 90 days, always doubling down on what was working, and setting aside what wasn't.

Reflecting on my 2020 journal I found inspiration to get back to this practice from the 12/28/20 entry. Here are some key questions I asked myself then that I plan to ask again over the next few weeks:

• How can you spend the first 90 days of next year with intention? As a sprint. Define what success looks like during that time period and outline the actionable steps to get you there.

• Picture yourself on April 1st. Who and what do you see? Where is the delta?

• What does the daily practice look like? What’s missing?

• What needs to happen or change to make vision this possible?

My 2023 Q1 Objectives

These are still being refined slightly, but the foundation is there for sure.

• Re-read the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (Gregory Hays translation) for the third time (an annual tradition)

• Develop foot/ankle strength and balance to support my foundational strength program

• Improve cycling FTP from 221 to 232 (5% increase) > FTP test coming next week

• Stand at least 5 hours each workday (standing desk)

• Take Kelly out on at least one date night every month

• Post my Substack Newsletter 1x/week

The Word for 2023 is Chill

I was listening recently to a Finding Mastery episode with Michael Gervais and his guest, Yogi Roth, where they talked about setting an intentional word to be the theme for the upcoming year. That word for me this year is Chill. Why Chill? Because being your best self all of the time is hard, and it’s even harder with a 12 year old and 10 year old who love to challenge you. My default mode with them has been command and control, and that is simply not working (for anyone).

I need to Chill and get creative instead of reactive, and figure out how to teach them to do what is right by my positive example. Show them what good looks like. Ryan Holiday’s The Daily Dad newsletter has been inspiring here. I really recommend it for anyone with kids of all ages.

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Thank you for reading and Happy New Year!

Paul

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What I’m fueling with right now

Trying to keep some semblance of “normal fuel” during the Holidays. Probably a bit too much sugar (my mom made orange peel candy... my fav), and more coffee than water at times, but for the most part keeping my food/drink intake in line. I do think my protein intake may be lower, so I’m doing some research on what that should look like and making plans. In terms of content, I’ll be putting out a list next week of what I’ve been reading/listening to - a “best of” list of sorts.