The leaves in our neighborhood are on the verge of changing while some have already begun to hit amazing shades of red, yellow and orange. This is a signal that kids are now lugging backpacks and full lunch boxes to school. We all find ourselves returning to a level of normality that we haven’t seen for months; and for this very reason, I see it as a perfect time to set the course that you want to be on for the next year.
Here is my take: Skip New Year’s resolutions – this is the time to realign your course and get on the right track. New Year’s resolutions are often made in the shadows of the holiday eating season and the approaching view of spring break. It is the time that most see as a natural beginning, so they jump on board – even though it could only last for a few weeks. Nothing is more irritating than trying to get to the gym in the first two months of the year when everyone decides that this is the time to FINALLY get in shape.
As the bell rings to start the kid’s new school year, this is also the time to get on board and align yourself. Here are my three tips of what to do this fall.
1. Set Personal Goals
Begin this section by asking yourself the following questions.
- How is my physical shape?
- How is my mental shape?
- How will I become a better me?
As you take these things into account, you can assess yourself for what you want and desire. Are you married? Do you have kids? Do you have roommates? Whether you are single or married, the people around you truly want to see the best version of who you are!
Have you ever been around a friend or family member who is not their normal self or who they use to be? It can be uncomfortable, unpredictable and even disheartening to see them not be who they were created to be. So what if that is you? What if you realize that you are not being the best version of you? How does it affect your work flow and friendships? Set your personal goals for YOU.
2. Set Professional Goals.
No matter if you are a working professional or a stay at home parent, you can still set goals for what you want to do in this category. Start this section with asking yourself a few questions as well.
- How can you get better at what you do?
- Are you really doing what you want to do?
- What’s keeping you from moving ahead?
Last year, my wife and I decided to pull our kids out of the Rochester school district and home school our kids. We liked the school system in Rochester Hills, but with a network of friends, we decided to take the steps to guide them in a different educational route. This area would definitely affect how my wife evaluates her professional goals. When she assesses her goals, it will come with looking at how she can become a better educator, which is the best curriculum to use, and how she will be able to teach three children in three different grade ranges. She will look at what convention she can go to in order to learn more, which educators she should surround herself with as mentors, and which network of people she should connect with to grow.
3. Be Honest
This part is simple. Be honest with your goals. Don’t plan to lose 50 pounds in three weeks, but rather set small, realistic goals that incorporate healthy living. Be honest about starting a new business. What do you hope to accomplish in the first few years? Find a business to help guide you.
As you’re honest with yourself, also be honest enough to move on when you fail. How do I know you will fail? Ummmm because we all do at some point. Just be honest in your failures, learn from them, move on, and get going again.
The fall time is a natural transition from summer life to the reality of life with fewer trips to the cabin and less vacations. This is why this is the best time to look at your life and see what areas need to be realigned. The best part of all of this is that in living in or around Rochester, you have more than enough places that can help you with any of the areas listed above. If you’re curious about where you can go to get help in a given area, drop a comment and we’ll try to point you in the right direction!
Here are a few of my faves that I lean to in this subject…
Lifetime Fitness, Rock City Fitness, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Kensington Church-Rochester, Bean & Leaf, Apple, & Green’s Art Supply
Focus will bring about good direction! Good luck!
