The Next 361: A Year in Preview
Posted on January 4th, 2009Last year was great. It ended off kind of poorly with a dismal pattern of not going to the gym; I think it has been over five weeks since I have been there last. (For those paying attention to the last post, I lost a good deal of muscle mass and got back a bit of fat.)
This is not to say that I’m some whale or that I’m concerned about being overweight. I’m not. But if I am serious about toning my body and being healthy (and I am), then the bad habit of skipping out on the gym has to end (and it will).
This next year will be a year about me. It won’t be the selfish, self-gratifying, self-indulgent kind of year, but more the kind of year where personal advancement and improvement will be a key focus. This will come into play in a number of ways:
1. Professionally. On Tuesday, I am going to have my first big evaluation; my manager and his manager will be there and they are going to assess my job performance over the past year. While this happens annually for other employees, this will be the first time in over 18 months of work because of my two previous stints as an intern. Because of that, I have had a lot of time to do things (good or bad) without this kind of assessment and goal-setting. I am anxious about it (just like any other time when I am being evaluated), but I feel that it is an important opportunity to use it as a springboard for my career at Bloomberg. It is very important to get the momentum started early and I hope that this year will help propel me to great heights.
2. Physically. A lot has already been said about the gym but being healthy and fit goes far beyond pumping iron. My caloric intake is probably quite high (which is not horrible for someone who [theoretically] exercises regularly), but I have to be more careful about what I eat and drink. The days of getting the most bang for my buck are over; by going to all-you-can-eat places or getting meats like shrimp over chicken, I may be getting good value for my money but not good value for my body. So I have to eat smarter and work out harder, and that all starts tomorrow.
3. Intellectually. Of course, there will be a lot of learning at work (and work-related education such as the CFA). But I plan on stretching my mind on other facets too (like cooking!). Over the past year, I feel that my culinary expertise has diminished greatly (thanks mostly to a tiny kitchen); since moving, however, I now have access to a much more functional kitchen and I really have to make the most of it. A lot of New Yorkers eat out nearly every day but you can count me out from that group now.
4. Socially. I will be quick to admit that, in general, I am pretty poor at keeping in contact with people who I don’t encounter regularly. Sadly, in addition to being aware of it, I have been called out on it on more than one occasion. (I’d wager that some other people may have thought it but haven’t said anything to me.) I’d really like to keep in touch with my friends better and to meet more awesome people here in the city. Even with a terribly busy schedule involving work, the gym, and the CFA, I have to make this a priority.
So, there you have it: resolutions. Hopefully I will remember to gauge my success 361 days from now (or so)…
