Before You Set Your October Goals

Before you rush into October with a new set of goals, I want to encourage you to spend a little time looking backward.

We're usually much better at thinking about what's next than we are at noticing what we've already learned. A new month arrives and immediately we're asking ourselves what we should accomplish, what we should change, and what we need to do differently.

September probably taught you a few things about yourself.

Maybe you discovered that you're more likely to exercise when you schedule it earlier in the day. Maybe you've noticed that getting enough sleep makes your entire week feel easier. Perhaps you've found that having a few simple meals available keeps you from making decisions when you're tired and hungry.

Those discoveries are valuable because they give you information about what actually works for you.

You don't need to create a completely new routine every month. In fact, constantly starting something new can sometimes keep us from noticing the habits that are already helping.

Instead, think about what you want to carry forward.

Maybe there's something you want to continue doing exactly as you are. Maybe there's something that needs a small adjustment. And maybe there's something you've been forcing yourself to do that simply doesn't fit your life anymore.

That's all useful information.

Healthy living isn't about finding the perfect routine and following it forever. Our lives change, our priorities change, our bodies change, and our circumstances change. The ability to notice those changes and adjust accordingly is part of building a sustainable approach to health.

So before you turn the page on September, give yourself some credit for what you've learned. You don't have to have accomplished everything you hoped to accomplish.

You just need to know a little more about yourself than you did at the beginning of the month.

Take that knowledge with you into October.

There's no need to start over. You're simply continuing to build.

Have a wonderful day,

Adam