Holiday Season Suggestions: Do Something For Your Future Self

I often get swept up by the activity of the holiday season.

It’s challenging to fit four weeks of work into two while also reconnecting and planning holiday activities. I recognize there are people who plan their holidays well in advance. Their holiday cards arrive at the end of November, their gifts are picked, and meals planned. I’m sure it feels amazing for them and that is not me.

I returned from two weeks of travel to an inner voice that wanted to make sure I knew I was behind. While I recognize that no one is judging me on my holiday activities, there are things I like to do and I hadn’t done them.

I started with a checklist. Checklists are my comfort zone, like favorite sweatshirt from college, or the welcoming trifecta of a warm fire, hot beverage, and fuzzy blanket.

My list starts with the things I think I should do. Then I prioritize by what I want to do and finally move a few items up in priority that I choose to do for harmony with others. As I was prioritizing, I realized there was someone else I wanted to prioritize for, my future self.

Changing my perspective to think about what I could do that my future self would thank me for, made several of the items more appealing. It also led to adding more wellness items like prioritizing sleep, exercise, and healthy meals.

I’ve already completed one thing my future self will thank me for and I’m looking forward to seeing how my new perspective helps me in the coming weeks.

It’s interesting to think about what needs to be accomplished on my list. What will my future self two weeks, two months, two years, and two decades from now celebrate from this time?

What can you do this week that your future self will thank you for?