Happy October, Everyone!
October is both a fun and important month for a few reasons:
First, it’s typically a great month to get outside and enjoy nature while getting physical activity. Maybe this month you take fall photos on your walk, for example (one of our members, Kimberly, does this regularly as a way to stay motivated to take walks).
Second, it’s the last month before the often stressful and rushed holidays begin. This means ideally you will be able to find ways to both enjoy this month while also planning ahead, as in the next point.
Third, these two points come together in a fun way. Ask yourself: how can I prepare now to lower my chances of stress during the holiday season and end-of-year rush? Here are some questions you might use as a guideline:
Do I have any big goals to complete by the end of this year? If so, write these down and break them into small, manageable chunks that are realistic for you to achieve. If you do this now, your odds of success go up, and you won’t face the last-minute stressful rush to complete items.
What small goals can I start now that will help me stay on top of end-of-year stress? These can include doing as little as 10 minutes of fitness most days, making one more healthy food choice each day, building a bedtime routine for improved sleep, journaling, and more. October is as good a time as any to turn these small goals into habits!
What can I do with my calendar to increase the odds that I reach any of the steps in the first two points? Examples can include either scheduling times for specific action steps or blocking out times in your calendar when you commit to working on these areas. For example, you might schedule your physical activity time or schedule specific project time. A way to visualize this is to think that if you don’t control your calendar, often your calendar will control you.
I hope these tips help you have a fun October and set you up for a great end to 2025!
Chris “SparkGuy” Downie
PeopleOne Health Co-founder & Motivation Expert
