With the year drawing to a close, you’ve probably been asked in one form or another, ‘What are you planning?’

Typically, this question is posed to help us consider plans for the remainder of the year, as well as the upcoming year. It’s an annual ritual that leaves many of us, myself included, creating end-of-year goals and writing out resolutions for the months ahead.

However, I’d love to offer some food for thought. Michael Hyatt (founder and chairman of Michael Hyatt & Co.) accurately states:

“Most people spend more time planning a one-week vacation than they spend planning their life.”

Take a second and allow this to sink in. Many of us spend more time preparing for temporary life experiences, as opposed to actually preparing to live. Wow!

I’ll be the first to share that I love planning vacations. With just under 30 countries stamped across multiple passports, I’ve come to embrace that traveling is one of my love languages. In addition, I’m an avid schedule freak and love all things planners, highlighters, and colorful calendars. Finally, I’m already looking forward to 2022, writing out personal and business-related goals and mapping out a plan to achieve certain benchmarks.

Of course, nothing’s wrong with any of this … unless and until that becomes the only thing we plan.

Over the past several months, I’ve reflected a lot on my wellness. In particular, I’ve explored the impact of my approach to wellness on how I’m able to show up in my business, as well as with friends and family.

Here are some of the questions I’ve encouraged myself to answer:

• In what ways did caring for myself positively (or negatively) affect other areas of my life?
• What did I learn about my wellness throughout the year?
• How will I choose to tell my 2021 wellness story? If it were a chapter in my life’s book, what would the title be?

Overall, I discovered my ability to let certain things be easy this year. Further, I recognized my need to self-correct the tendency to do when I actually need to rest. A product of circumstance and intentionality, I’m proud of the ways I showed up for myself in 2021.

What about you? What are you planning, my friend?

My journey of grief reminds me just how important it is to not only plan for life’s adventures (because tomorrow’s not promised), but also plan a life.

I’d love for you to take a moment to partake in a little ‘Post-It’ party with me. Who doesn’t enjoy a party every now and then?

Set a timer for five minutes and jot down everything that comes to mind when you think about your wellness throughout the year. After this, reset the timer, pull out more sticky notes, and write down things that might benefit you in the coming year.

Remember … this exercise isn’t about creating New Year’s resolutions (that we usually don’t stick with after the first month of the year anyway). It’s about reflecting on what your wellness needs are and possibly exploring how you might meet those needs.

As always, you’re welcome to share what comes to mind.

In just a few weeks, I’ll be sharing more about my newest online course, Self-Care Reboot. In it, I’ll discuss why traditional self-care falls short in grief … and what to do instead. You can sign up for the course waitlist by clicking here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/61c4d16014ec6db2d2b53a44

In the final days of 2021, I’m preparing my answer to the question: ‘What are you planning?’ My response will be, I’m planning a life. You?’

I can’t wait to hear from you, friend.

XOXO,

Mekel