Fall is officially here. These are 4 common approaches to the last quarter. Which one are you?
It’s officially Fall. Sweater weather. I already see apple-picking, pumpkins, apple-cider and the beginning of pumpkin-spice-flavored everything all-around. Though currently in New England, I’m originally from Miami and even the Floridians are making “Fall is here” jokes. (Are you kidding me!?!?)
Autumn is my favorite season, but as beautiful as it is, it also signals nervousness or anxiety in many of us. We’re hitting the last quarter of the calendar year (a.k.a. Q4). It’s crunch time to hit your goals. For some, that pressure is compounded with the social pressures of the holiday season and (up here in the Northern Hemisphere) the inevitable arrival of winter cold and staying indoors.
Or, if you’re running on an academic or fiscal calendar, you may be closer to the beginning of the new year – busy with ambitious goals and finding a routine that works for you. Or, the newness may already be starting to wear off and the excitement starting to wane. Are you on a daily high – that is, in a groove and effectively handling everything on your plate? Or, are you already falling back into survival mode and looking at most days as just a grind?
By this time of the calendar year, most of us fall into one of the following four categories:
Which one are you?
More importantly, is it who you want to be? This blog is not about categorizing you. But it is an opportunity to do a quick self-check on where you’re really at and if that’s in alignment with who you want to be. If you determine that the answer is “No”, have no fear, realizing it is the first step. (Understanding that you have the power to change that is step #2.)
Since you’re still with me, read on about the four common approaches to Q4, and ultimately the Start here section below to find out more about what you can do about it.
This blog may simply serve as a friendly reminder that you have three months to make the most of this calendar year. If so, I hope you take advantage of the remaining opportunity. Three months is a good amount of time to make an impact on the year, your goals, and most importantly, within yourself.
Also, look at those around you. How are the people you see everyday doing? Does someone seem a bit discouraged or disillusioned (especially with the calendar year winding down)? This may serve as a good opportunity to check-in with your colleagues, teammates, and loved ones. The change of seasons impacts us in different ways. A check-in can make a world of difference to someone in your life and for your relationship with each other.
The 4 common approaches to the last quarter:
1. Energized:
People in this group are (for the most part) on track to achieve the vision and goals they set for themselves. And if they’re not, it’s likely due to some intentional change of plans along the way. It’s healthy to re-evaluate your vision and goals periodically to ensure that they’re still relevant, and tweak as needed.
If you fall under the first group: Energized, Congratulations! You likely know yourself well and have created a life and environment that supports you and allows you to thrive.
2. Winding down:
If commitment (to work or a cause) isn’t an issue, people who fall in the Winding Down group are likely losing steam. They’re letting lesser activities fall away in order to achieve what’s necessary by the year’s end. They either overloaded themselves upfront with too much on their plate and/or they haven’t created a life or environment that supports them and allows them to re-charge their energy.
If this is you and you wish you were in the Energized group, take notice. It’ll require work on your part, but you can certainly make shifts in your life to create healthier habits and environment.
3. Postponing til January 1st:
There are those who look at Q4 as “It’s too late to do anything.” This goes beyond Winding Down; they’ve given up. They see the end of the year in sight and are unmotivated to start anything new or make any significant shifts. There’s still some level of hope as they see January 1st as a New Beginning – a window at which change can be initiated. But in the meantime, they’ve turned off taking advantage of the time that exists to make an impact now.
If this is you and you’re OK with it and your life allows for it, OK. But if you wish you were more optimistic and energetic, it’s possible, but you’ll have to work at it. It’s hard to say without knowing you individually, but I’d venture to guess that you’re not in the right environment for who you are and/or are not in the right role for who you are.
If you’re not in the right place (or pursuing the right activities) for who you are (that is, in a place allowing you to meet your needs and values, exercise your talents and strengths), there’s no way that you can thrive. It’s an uphill battle.
4. Day-to-Day Survival* Mode:
It doesn’t matter what month it is for a person in this category. They’re simply going through the motions day-after-day just to get by. Their routine could be overwhelming, unsustainable, and/or unhealthy (for that particular person’s needs).
Unfortunately, a large percentage of people are in this category. They do what they feel they need to get by, pay the bills, and barely maintain their responsibilities. It’s a daily struggle. It negatively impacts their health and self-esteem. Furthermore, having people in the wrong role doesn’t benefit the person or the organization they’re serving.
For those in the Day-to-Day Survival Mode category, every day is highly discouraging and depleting. It may be hard to hear, but things can be different. The question is: Do you believe different is possible?
- If not, no worries. Daring to change is often about timing. It may not be your time yet, and that’s perfectly OK.
- If there’s something inside of you that’s wants a shift, wants it now, and is ready to do the internal work for it, meet me in the Start here section below.
* = Figurative survival mode. I don’t mean literal (life-or-death) survival.
Please note: The comments in my blog post assume that a person is in good health and active in their day-to-day life. This blog is geared towards those who may feel stuck in their lives due to habits and long-term thought patterns. Health concerns (or other circumstances) can certainly impact a person’s choices, habits and behaviors.
Start here:
It’s pretty easy for me to write a blog like this – especially as this was me. I’ve learned about myself that as long as I’m learning, have a creative outlet, believe in my environment and the people around me, then I was in group 1 (Energized)! But as the years passed and circumstances around me changed, I could teeter anywhere between groups 2-4 (depending on the subject). And not only did I see it within myself, I saw it in the people around me which deepened my discouragement. This ultimately contributed to me leaving my corporate career of 15 years… a career that came with a six-figure salary and allowed me to travel and make friends around the world!
But it wasn’t enough for me. I chose to walk away. I had no clear plan of what was next. I had (internal) work to do. Luckily, I rolled up my sleeves and chose to do it. I made mistakes, and am a bit stubborn so I’ve had to learn the hard way. (I’m not proud of that.) But, that path led me here and for you to be reading this now.
My path required that I develop a relationship with myself, on my terms and timing. The cliché is true: It is a journey. And like starting to exercise… Different parts of me were stronger than others. Some parts were (unhealthily) overcompensating for others. There were good days, and days that I wanted to run in the other direction! I had things to unlearn, and things that I had to finally see and acknowledge that were pretty unique and spectacular about me. I finally found my own voice… and more.
As I mentioned in my blog earlier, if you’re in categories 2-4 (possibly lacking engagement in your life), chances are there are things about your day-to-day activities or environment that you need to shift. The things that need to shift are unique to you. There is no one-size-fits-all.
If you’re willing to do the work of learning about yourself and exploring developing a relationship with yourself, come visit me here.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post, learn a bit about my experience, lessons, and journey. Best wishes to you and you finish out the last few months of the calendar year!
