Thank You 2022

Well it is almost time to watch that ridiculously overpriced ball fall so that we can ring in the new year. I am excited for New Year’s celebration this year as it is going to be a very quiet, intimate evening with Dawn. We typically surround ourselves with friends and family, but with the kids doing things with their friends, it is a good year to just stay home and enjoy playing games by the fire and enjoying some drinks.

As I am sure so many of you are too, I am looking forward to the new year. However, I am not looking forward to moving on to the new year. For me that seems to suggest that I am anxious to put 2022 behind me. There have been some really great moments and for the most part, it has been a great 365 days. This is not to say that there have not been some down moments. Loved ones that are not here this year for the first time is interesting to navigate emotionally. But overall, it was a good year for Dawn and I.

For many of us, getting to the last week of the year means sitting with your boss and putting your plans for the next year on paper. Regardless of the role you have, there is much to be said for making plans and beginning to put into place what you would like to accomplish in the coming months. Taking a look at historical data and ensuring that you are accurately putting in place your performance indicators for work. But what about your personal performance indicators? This is a great time to reflect on the past year, not just the work stuff, but the personal stuff too. Now, there are plenty of people that can help you set your goals professionally for this coming year. Certainly, I can help with that if you would like. However, for this note, I would like to spend some time really reflecting on all that we do outside of work that helps reduce stress. Many studies show that when we take the time to completely separate from work and focus on a hobby or extracurricular activity, there is marked improvement in creativity, focus, clarity, and overall productivity when compared to those that do not take time off or perhaps just work throughout their time off. We have all been here; I will only look at emails for one hour each day to stay caught up, leads to more hours, frustration, and overall anxiety. The very thing that we are all trying to escape when taking time off.

What does your historical data show about the time that you spent working on you in 2022?

As you evaluate this, how can you ensure that 2023 is a year of improved personal downtime. For sure many of us “resolve” to exercise more and eat more nutritious foods. That is not what I am talking about here. What do you want to do with your spare time. Walk more in the woods with binoculars and take in the wildlife. Perhaps fish with family and friends, golf regularly, build something, or just sit in silence. Whatever it is, do it for you and you alone. This is not the “hey let’s play golf with clients” kinda time that I am encouraging. That is work. Let me say it again, that…. is……. work. No matter how many beers you drank or how much fun you had playing golf with clients, they were still clients and there is still an element of work. Play golf with friends. Go down to the lake and take in the early morning quiet. A walk through the woods. Make a plan and stick to it. As hard as you stick to your professional plan, make your personal plan just as important. Your organization will see the difference, your family and friends will see the difference. But more importantly, you will see and feel the difference in all aspects of your life.

Finally, I am saying this for you and for myself. I am really good at sacrificing the time I set aside to run, exercise, yoga, hobby, in order to fulfill some other “more important” task. I am right there with all of you and I will be struggling at times to make this a true priority. When you are taking a break to walk and you are thinking about work and how challenging it is to separate, try to remember that I am there on that struggle with you. We all are.

As we ring the new year, look back at all that was good, make a list of the time you spent just for you. And as you fill in that professional planner, be sure to keep your personal planner right there. Be intentional and set aside time for you, whatever that looks like, make it an equally important part of your 2023 intentions.

May you and yours have a happy, healthy, and safe New Years.

tommy t