Happy New Year!

New Year, New Me takes on a new meaning and place on the calendar

I celebrated a new year yesterday.

Yes, it was Monday, June 3.

And here’s another shocker: this new year ends on August 25.

I only have 12 weeks to go until I kick off a new year.

At least, that’s the experiment I just started. I’m calling it the first in a series of new mid-life experiments.

No, this crazy time compression concept is not mine. I’m in the middle of reading Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington's book “The 12-Week Year”.

I heard about it on a podcast and found the audiobook on my library app, Hoopla. (Isn’t that a great name? Every time I see it, I think of the “Spongebob Squarepants” Training Video episode.)

You can also find it on Amazon, Audible, or wherever you buy your books. I provided the Amazon link for convenience—I don’t get a dime of affiliate money if you use it.

What I like about this book so far is how it compresses the amount of time to focus on reaching goals. The authors of “The 12-Week Year” challenge readers to shorten their timeframe to 12 weeks. Only set a goal that can be attainable in 12 weeks with a few basic actions.

Sure, it’s a simple concept, but it’s those kind of things that often blow my mind. I tend to overcomplicate things. You can imagine how that turns out.

I’m not quite done with the book, but I started my new 12-week year yesterday. I have one goal: lose 10 pounds.

This goal goes against a major belief I’ve embraced since starting this health journey in 2017: Do not put a weight loss goal on the calendar. I know that I cannot control how quickly my body sheds weight.

The key to the 12-week year is execution, not the final goal. The goal gives me something to shoot for, but the real change happens in creating the action steps to get there. The authors recommend no more than three action steps. We want this simple.

My three actions are:

• Drink at least 80 oz of water a day

• Track my food at least 5 days a week

• Exercise at least 3 days a week

If, by the end of my 12 weeks, I don’t hit the goal and I know I have executed my actions well (not perfectly), then I change the plan. Without a concrete goal, what am I working toward?

We’ll see how my brain handles having a target date for a weight goal. My focus is not exactly hitting my goal, it’s consistency with my actions. I have been lacking there for a LONG time. And, 12 weeks is not a long commitment.

At the end of my 12-week year, I get to start a new year. I set a new goal and go after it.

So, why now?

Losing a job leaves a lot of time to think. That abundance of unstructured time led my brain to some dark places and epiphanies. I’ll share more about those in upcoming posts.

Let’s just say I realize I’ve been coasting for a long time.

When you coast, eventually, forward momentum stops if you don’t pedal.

I miss the person I was when I was intentional about my health and taking care of myself.

I’m making my way back to her. I know she’s there. She’s me.

I’m here now. And I’m worth the time and effort it takes to feel my best.

Want to follow my 12-week year? I’ll share regular updates on my social media, including Facebook and Instagram.

So, happy new year to me! And to you! Let’s see what can happen in 12 short weeks!