Somewhere along the past 35 years, I slid into the Type A category. Whims became detailed lists, often with notes on chronological order and potential barriers to completion. Some days of the week were broken into 30 minutes blocks of activity.
I was a really cool college student.
While adult life doesn’t allow from that level of detailed planning, it still requires a degree of intentionality to get anything done. With so many variables, setting New Year’s Resolutions of any kind are a mix of wishful thinking, good intentions, and a reassessment of what matters. I have a few resolutions I’d like to share with you — and you can keep me accountable.
1. Make Time to Go Slow. There are only so many hours in the day and days in the week. It’s easy to get stuck in a routine and miss out on unique rides and runs that don’t “fit.” This year, I want to ride with other parents and kids; a Tour de Trailers, pulling toddlers up to Suttons Bay for ice cream and back, or just a lap of the Boardman Lake Trail. There’s time to go slow, too.
2. Make Time to Go Big. Working a few jobs and trying to exercise isn’t easy; toss in being an average father, and the window for bike rides gets pretty narrow. As a result, I’ve gotten into a habit of saying no to longer rides or traveling to ride new places. Glacial Hills in Bellaire is one of my favorite places to ride in the world and I haven’t been there in four years; this is the year I get back there.
3. Make Time to Commute. While it may take a more substantial time and gear investment, I want to do daycare drop-offs by bike. We’re incredibly fortunate to live within two miles of our daycare, and I’ll admit, my real-life hero right now is a mom who shows up by bike every morning, rain or snow or whatever. Getting around by bike is a joy once you pick up the habit and, with so much construction on the docket this spring and summer, it might be a great time to get in the groove.
4. Enjoy the Ride. There will always be “better” ways to spend your time than exercising. You could be working, cleaning the house, running errands, spending time with friends and family, watching TV; there are myriad alternatives with varying degrees of productivity. Those things will be there when you get back. I spent way too many runs and rides this year half-exercising and mostly working or worrying. I walk in the door after a run with 25 things on my Siri-assisted to-do list. Sometimes, that’s helpful. But it’s often a well-documented example of letting real-life invade what should be an escape from that have-to-dos.
Goals matter, and goals can change with priorities. No matter where you are starting 2024, I hope you end the year a little happier, a little healthier, and a little more connected to the people around — list completed or not.