TGIM: Thank God It’s November

Welcome back to Thank God It’s Monday!

tl;dr Thank God it’s November!

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The sensation I have when I write that statement probably resembles the feeling you get when you read Thank God it’s Monday. Your eyes may glaze over it with dread. You may sigh in anticipated exhaustion. And although we’re trying to change the tune of how Mondays are perceived, they come with this baggage that makes it so difficult to carry forward into a new light.

November can carry that same weight.

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Daylight savings has ended; sunset now starts creeping in earlier and earlier, and the cool air gets less cozy and more bitter. The winter officially starts to roll in (can you tell I’m a summer girl through and through?).

Halloween demarcates this transition when things start to get a little sloppy. Everyone’s short-term bathing suit goals are out of sight, out of mind. What habits struggled up until this point will quickly topple as holiday shopping forces its way to the forefront of our minds and holiday carols quiet the voice that has been touting self-betterment up until now. “New year, new me” has been officially postponed until next year. Again.

But what if it doesn’t have to be?

Imagine celebrating the holidays with your loved ones and feeling good about yourself while doing it. A Thanksgiving enjoying (but not regretting) dessert, Chanukah savoring (but not overdoing) the latkes, Christmas making (but not making yourself sick from) cookies, and a New Year’s where you get to celebrate (and not feel guilty about) your integrity.

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It’s possible. But it starts with you resolving NOW to end this year differently than all the other years.

Instead of waiting for January 1st, work towards your goals now. I promise you that you can handle gift wrapping and holiday planning without compromising your goals. Imagine in eight weeks how much progress you can make towards your vision for yourself if you keep putting one foot in front of the other instead of plopping down on your behind for the holiday season.

First, you must envision what you want your life to look like on December 31st. What would make you feel so proud when you wake up on that Wednesday, knowing you did everything you could to be ready for 2026?

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Be specific. Notice how your body would feel (sluggish from weeks of no restraint or energized from good movement paired with a delicious but intentional calorie surplus). Notice if your chest feels pressured with the mighty task of “starting over” or if it feels like you can breathe deeply, knowing the motivation of the new year will just be the cherry on top of the discipline you’ve kept. Notice how your mind feels panicky and racing because of the “catch up” you have to play, or excited and creative with the possibilities you’ve created.

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When you have a clear image in your mind, then decide what it’s going to take to get there. Make it reasonable, especially with the holidays in mind.

I’m not saying you have to train for a marathon if you haven’t run a mile all year. I’m saying figure out the bare minimums you can accomplish of all of your habits so that when family is driving you crazy and the leftovers are staring you down, you can at least depend on the small actions that keep you sane.

Finally, when you have your end goal in mind (December 31st) and your blueprint for how to get there (habits), you can reinforce your plan with an accountability system.

I just drew up 30 days of check boxes to tick off through November. Did I buy a new pack of colored Sharpies to do so? Yes. But not necessary to your success. This acts as a visual reinforcement and generates momentum as the boxes get checked, and as a reminder, because life undoubtedly will get busy, and it will be easy to forget the little things. Consider creating a visual reminder for yourself.

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You can draw up a similar picture, have a loved one create a pact so you will help each other stick to your goals, or wager something with a friend (like $5 for every day you don’t get your steps in). You know yourself best and what will keep you most accountable. We all start with good intentions, but without accountability, life will win when life gets busy. And it will get busy.

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Don’t give up on yourself. Don’t give up on this year. If you’ve complained about how fast life goes, then take the time to make each day notable by getting the work done you’ve promised yourself. You are much more likely to succeed next year at any of your goals if you get a jump start now.

And if you struggle during the winter like me, here are a few mantras to help: even though it’s dark doesn’t mean the day has to be over. Eight weeks is plenty of time. Just because it’s cold doesn’t make me less capable. I will make the most of the end of this year.

Now let’s go out and get it done.

If you found some value in this, please share it with a friend you think would enjoy it! And let me know if you’d like to be added to get TGIM.

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This week, my podcast recommendation is new from Paul Levitin’s Change Made Easy, “How to Break the Cycle of Stuckness: Why Familiar Pain Feels Safer than Unfamiliar Change.”

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With that, hit reply and let me know what you’re working on these next eight weeks.

Until next time,
Shannon