December Days

Yes, December is upon us yet again!

It’s a very special month for many reasons, not least of which because it signals the final days of another calendar year.

If you can take a few minutes out of planning your holiday or Christmas festivities then I have some food for thought I’d like to share with you before I retire for a few weeks to ease the writer’s cramp!

[box type=\”shadow\”]\”How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?\”

– Dr. Seuss[/box]

A sense of closure

Where in the world do you live?

I have to say, there’s something to be said about life in the southern hemisphere at this time of the year.

The sudden shock that comes with the realisation that another year is rapidly drawing to a close, is tempered by long and glorious sunny days, the thought of taking some time off work and, at least for some – a sense of closure.

In the northern hemisphere it’s a rather different proposition. The long summer holidays are either a faded memory or a far-off prospect and, at least from the perspective of the weather, there’s a lot less to be joyous about.

But the quid pro quo is the deep sense of tradition that surrounds the period when families typically come together to enjoy each other’s company.

Frantically busy?

No matter where you live, you just have to listen to the general conversation at the many social events to get a sense for how frantically busy everyone seems to be to finish up work before the holiday break.

You\’re also sure to hear grumblings about how difficult it is to get anything meaningful done in December and – my old favourite – how important decisions and life changes will just have to wait until the New Year when things are ‘back to normal’.

The ‘December madness’ is a wonderful excuse for putting things off!

Formula for a mass hangover

The trouble is that this collective procrastination often results in a massive collective hangover in January, when the holidays come to a close, the back-to-work novelty wears off and the regular daily routine catches up with us.

An ideal time

I’d like to recommend that you look at December through new eyes.

December, believe it or not, is an ideal time to tackle change and preparation for new initiatives.

Why?

Precisely because this is the month in which our normal day-to-day routines tend to get interrupted.

Act while the routine is broken

Our propensity for going beyond the status quo is dependent on our ability to extract ourselves from our daily routines, find time and inspiration to look at things differently and be prepared to take the action that we might otherwise not be ready, willing or able to do.

If you\’re seriously considering a change to your life, in whatever area, I urge you to use this special month to prepare the groundwork both mentally and physically.

Prepare now for no turning back

Take the action you need to now to ensure that there is no turning back when the afterglow of the festive period wears off and the cold harsh reality of your normal working routine hits home again in January.

You’ll doubtless be tempted to dismiss what I say because there\’s just ‘too much going on’ or ‘too many other distractions’.

But that\’s the whole point. Take action while you are distracted from your normal routine.

Take this advice seriously. You’ll be thankful in January.

Get ahead of the pack

When everyone else around you starts the time honoured process of thinking up New Year\’s resolutions … resolutions that in all likelihood will be consigned to the scrap heap before April … you’ll be up and running and ahead of the pack, putting the final touches to plans for genuine and sustainable personal growth and development.

Here\’s wishing you and all readers a fabulous –and action packed – December!