Pacing Yourself Through Life

I was really good during black Friday but I did make one purchase. I got the Everyday Magic Planner by Mattie James because it was marked down and I really felt like I needed help organizing my life. Each day of the week the planner has a few prompts, one being “How will I make today magic?”. One of the days I wrote down, “take it easy, manage your pace, and take it in stride.” This came from knowing where my body was feeling and knowing how much of myself I actually had to give to the day.

Since then, these reminders have stuck with me as we all plan to wrap up the year. Usually when we are headed into a new year, some of us can run full steam ahead and start planning. At the end of this year I am working on sustaining. One thing 2025 taught me is that God really is in control. The amount of things that I had planned and wanted to do! Not much came to the forefront! Most plans were interrupted and I had an attitude about it.  With that being said, I am grateful for the redirection and feel like I am on the right track.

So what does sustaining look like to me?

I can tell you what we are not going to do! We are not going to try and start every activity, plan, program, goal, resolution on January 1st. That is a sure fire way to burn out before February. We are looking for an easy pace and stride. The google says to sustain means “cause to continue or be prolonged for an extended period without interruption”.  We are looking for a pace and stride without interruption.

Things that lead to interruption:

-too much too soon

-lack of a plan

-going the wrong direction

-lack of self assessment and awareness 

All these things can work together for a fast launch and quick descent. I don’t know about you, but I would like to actually be about what I am going to do in 2026.

How am I going to live out an easy pace and stride in the first quarter of 2026?

First: I am not going to load my first quarter with so many goals and todos. Whatever I started in the last quarter of 2025 is the mission for 2026. Just continuing, building, and working through those things. That means less stress to begin a new thing and making sure it is successful

Second: Firm up habits that have fallen to the wayside. When I think about this I think about my routines. What routines do I need to put back in place and stick to to ensure I am functioning. I instituted that Wednesdays will be bathroom cleaning days. So no matter what the bathroom has to be clean by the end of Wednesday. Another thing I want to do is start bringing my gym clothes with me to work. That puts less of a barrier between me and the gym. 

Third: Staying on track. In 2025 I tried so many times to step outside the plan that I had already been given. I have a note in my phone that lays out my business plan but for some reason I thought I was further away from some of the steps on that list than I was. But literally, when I step in the right direction, growth happens. I am grateful. So stick to the plan and do not reinvent the wheel.

So those are my examples, but how are you going to enter and sustain your pace through the beginning of the year? Let me know and join me back here next week!