I can’t reconcile the word ‘resolutions’. I don’t believe that some date on the calendar is any sort of impetus to start/modify foundational behaviors. However, there is a post-holiday feeling of change, as the insane calendars fall off a cliff. Read: there is time to focus on what’s next.
Mrs. RCS and I had a good conversation about this last weekend (over a bottle of Prisoner) and decided that we wanted to focus more on ‘habit-changing behaviors’. We are no different than anyone – we slip. Our diets get a little out of whack. Our focus gets diverted. We get lazy. No cause for concern, but I’m lucky that I have a partner whom I can talk to about this stuff, and is MORE than willing to go ‘all-in’ and help support/hold me accountable. Same for me (to her).
Here is what I’m thinking for 2024 and going forward. Again, these are more about changing habits vs. resolutions. Additionally, these are all over the place – but that’s how it should be.
- Up my dress code by one level in all situations. Post-covid athleisure is coming to a close in the natural menswear cycle. I’m excited to be ahead of the curve.
- More camera/glass use (vs iPhone). I have such wonderful camera equipment and glass, I need to get back into using them. Yes, the iPhone is amazing and convenient, but I do enjoy the process of camera photography. I went ahead and bought a waterproof pouch for my fly fishing bag to hold my X100T, and moved the rest of my equipment front and center.
- Raise my daily calorie burn by 50-100%. I’m getting old. Daily exercise, calisthenics, and stretching need to be an area of focus.
- Maintain a 32” waist. This is more about an intentional diet: cutting out the shit and focusing on consuming the good stuff.
- Buy an adult Tuxedo (and all the fixin’s). It’s time. I have a great tux from the early Ludlow line from J. Crew, but it’s time to up the game. I’ve already talked to my buddies at Miller Brothers, and we are cooking something up…
- Read an entertaining book a month. Reduce scrolling…especially right before bed. I’m starting with ‘Fare The Well‘, and have ‘Mile Marker Zero‘ on deck.
- Be more intentional about managing a daily routine – including scheduling (work focus, breathing, daily devotion, exercise, etc.). I have become very reactive in my daily routine. I always have a million things going on, and my to-do list is relentless. I intend to develop and implement methods to take back control of my day. Be intentional. Organize my time and focus. Prioritize.
- Take my boys on their first overnight camping trip. I am more excited than they are. It’s time for fishing, hiking, throwing rocks, learning about nature and creation, building fires, ghost stories… Yep.
- Avoid all mass media. At this point, I don’t know how anyone can argue that any form of mass media adds any value whatsoever. It’s worthless. Cut.
- More phone calls vs. Texts. Feelings and inferences can’t be replaced by text messages and emojis. I seriously value the art of conversation.
- Get to a single-digit handicap. I’m not too far off, but the story here is that my course has been closed for the last year for renovations. I miss it and want to ensure that I’m focusing on playing AND practicing when we open back up in March.
- HEAVY purge of my mountain of hunting/fishing gear. Get to fewer, high-quality pieces that are made for heavy use (vs. lots of cheap filler). My first quail hunt was eight years ago last week, and since then I have accumulated a TON of hunting and fishing gear. Time to reduce and refine.
What did I miss?
Great list! A few of mine:
Time limits on social
Phone on do not disturb from second I get home until I put the boy to bed
Start and maintain yoga cadence (new for me)
Great resolutions. The scheduling/intentionality one is big for me. I finally read Atomic Habits late last year and am trying to implement some of its takeaways.
And, re: upping the dress code, a lens that I have enjoyed thinking about this topic is, what is the upper boundary of dressiness I can pull off in a given setting that will still invite more compliments than the questions, e.g., “nice jacket,” “looking sharp” vs. “what’s the occasion?” “Was there a client meeting today I forgot about?”
You’re on the right track, and I think if you’re getting those questions, it says more about the person asking the questions than you. #raisethebar
Loved Mile Marker Zero, even a more timely read with the relatively recent passing of JB. Be warned though, your travel budget may take a hit as you’ll immediately want to hop a flight to EYW and hope to catch what little remains of that time on the island.
Also check out Irish Goodbye and his film about that time..
https://www.instagram.com/irish_goodbye?igsh=MWI4eDUxZnVlYmZyZA==
My wife and I are finally in a place in our marriage/lives where these types of conversations elicit more happiness than stress. Always a good idea to make sure you and your spouse are in the same page!
My resolutions;
1) Read more books for pleasure (aiming for 6 books this year, which is 50% more than 2023).
2) Keep iphone in my car when I get home from work until after kids are tucked in (I can’t believe how hard this has been for me so far).
That phone in the car idea is phenomenal.
Great list, RCS.
This year I’m aiming to leave my phone in the living room when I go to bed. So far so good. I bought an alarm clock and I wager to say my sleep had improved.
And as always….more books, less TV.
1) No electronics in bedroom (phone/ipad), go back to old school alarm clock, read before bed
2) Join wife for 6am workouts 3x/week (she’s been hardcore for years but I’m not a morning guy)
3) Wear every shirt and pair of pants in my closet before repeating (or purge)
4) Quarterly overnight/weekend trip or staycation with wife
Right there with you on #1. I went to an old school alarm clock and no devices upstairs and my sleep has improved.
Sleep. Need your 7-8 hours of actual sleep. Not going to bed at 10 and waking at 6, but monitored (I use a Fitbit) bc most of us are awake at least one hour a night. Sleep is numero uno when it comes to health.
Great list and approach. I like the opportunity that January 1 provides to refocus and reflect on what I currently value. I’ll second the comment about sleep made above; I’ve usually used my whoop to track my exercise routine and journal my daily habits, with sleep focus often being an afterthought, but have made a point to find some better balance there without being overly obsessive with the data.
I picked up the reading goal a few year ago after listening to one of the annual No Laying Up goals podcast (which are all great listens (and not just about golf) and, at least for me, are inspirational; those guys are all roughly my age and I like their approach). Reading in bed at night has a very positive impact on my sleep and helps me avoid scrolling Instagram for 30 minutes in bed.
I’d love a post-mortem post on these goals at year’s end.
Mile Market Zero is terrific. I’d also recommend Lords of the Fly for a riveting account of tarpon fishing in both the Keys and Homosassa (where I grew up). Some others you may enjoy: The Old Man and the Boy, Syntax of the River, Lonesome Dove, The Killer Angels, and the Painter.
I’m looking for a new camera to bring into the field, since I also want to take more “real” photos. Do you like the X100T?
1) read more books. Absolutely agree. Start with McCullough but Caro and Foote also worth a read.
2) Kill the socials. Did this in 2023 and gained days of my life back.
3) Arthur Brooks’ words to live by: love people; use things; worship the divine.
With you on mass media.
You had me at “bottle of Prisoner…”!!!
Joke aside, will have to steal some points on that list!