How I’m Building Systems for the Winter Season
In my last post, I talked about locking in and getting ready for the Fall and Winter season. One thing that always happens during this time of year is the sadness, the Monday of the whole year…the seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
In the beginning, it feels amazing. The leaves start falling, the air is crisp, and there’s a ton of outside activities to partake in. It feels like nothing can stop you from being your best self. And then Daylight Savings makes an appearance and puts you in the worst mood FOR MONTHS. It’s dark, cloudy, and sometimes rainy and cold. It sucks.
So let’s get ahead of the gloomy days by putting systems into place so your dreams and passions don’t get lost in the dark chaos.
- Define your focus
Call me Ms. Pivot, because anytime the season changes or there’s a slow lag in my plans, I will pivot. When gloomy days show up, I almost always pivot. I’ll be on a roll, and then I’ll decide to stop whatever I’m doing and go down a completely different path. Don’t be like me. Stay focused on one goal and do NOT shift. It’s going to be hard, but I promise you’ll be messing with good momentum. Ask yourself what one thing you’d like to progress in by the end of December? Stick with it and don’t let it go. This will be your main focus for the next few months.
2. Forget Resolutions
There’s nothing like setting big goals, but now is not the time. It’s the time for rituals and/or routines. Currently, my main focus is to nurture my passions. I’ll tell those who are starting to begin with just 10 minutes a day of focusing on their passion(s). Instead of I’ll finish XYZ, it’s I’ll sit with my passion(s) every single day, even if it’s only for 10 minutes. It’s not a goal, but a ritual!
3. Time Block for Your Passions
Even if your ritual for the season isn’t nurturing your passion like mine is, you still need to set aside some time for your passions. I tend to use passion and hobby interchangeably, so if passion sounds too formal, then switch it out with hobby. Whatever gives you dopamine quickly and consistently is the thing that you NEED to carve out time blocks for. If baking is your jam, then allow up to 2-3 hours for baking. You can switch your dopamine hits out for something else, but make sure it’s something you love. While my main focus is painting or writing, I might get some crocheting or sewing done instead. I made my own dopamine menu, and I think you should too. Tell me what you think in the comments.
4. Track Your Progress
Take 15 minutes at the end of the week to figure out if this is working well for you. What did you progress in this week? Where did you waste energy? Was it scrolling? How can you adjust for the upcoming week? Systems and even dream chasing fail because we won’t take time to reflect. We often feel stagnant, especially around the wintertime. Just make sure you’re paying attention and remember this isn’t about being perfect.
5. Prepare for the End-of-the-Year
October feels so blissful because it’s quite literally the calm before the storm. Once the holidays start, it’s hard to feel calm again, especially if you haven’t planned for it. The systems you are building right now will carry you through this storm – the storms being November and December. Just think, by January, you’ll be thanking yourself for putting systems into place, and you won’t just be building momentum.
This October isn’t about overhauling your life. It’s about taking what’s already working and tweaking it. Chances are you already have some systems in place, but you’re taking them and making them work for the Fall and Winter season. You’re making sure you’re including your hobbies and streamlining your focus onto things that make you happy.
What systems are you going to set up this October, or are you stealing mine? Let me know in the comments!
Chelsi
