I saw this trend on Instagram, and I thought it was fun, so here I am!
Don’t get me wrong: I still have goals for this year. Some of them are habit-based (take XX classes at the yoga studio, hike XX miles, host XX Meetups, read XX books, etc.) and some of them are goal-based (contribute $XX to my retirement fund, run a 5K, set a record mileage backpacking trip, etc.). I like having goals to strive for because having an accomplishable objective does make me feel… well, accomplished.
But, with that said – I’ve been really into the idea of habits over goals lately. I read James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” last year and I love the idea of working toward consistency in healthy habits instead of working toward achieving a one-off goal.
I think both ideas can work together, though. Consistency in healthy habits can lead to achieving goals… and goals can always be moving targets, right?
I also love the idea of unmeasurable self-improvement. Metrics kind of rule our lives now. You have Apple Screen Time to monitor your phone usage, Strava to track your fitness progress, DuoLingo to measure your language learning progress. So it’s a lot easier to set a goal (decrease screen time by XX%, run XX miles monthly) when you have an actual progress report.
But, unmeasurable self-improvement? There’s no app that really tracks and promotes measurable progress on things like “pushed for an opportunity at work despite my imposter syndrome,” or “upheld a boundary even though it was really, really hard to do.”
So, I kind of like the ins/outs list for that reason. It’s less a series of checkboxes and goal posts, and more a guide for living better.
・・・
OUT:
AI. I know this is new, but I refuse to use it and I’m already sick of it. Web content produced via ChatGPT is clunky and awkward to read and generated images are uncanny valley. We should be embracing the arts and humanities instead of outsourcing them.
Incorrect bra sizing. Stop letting Victoria’s Secret put you into a bra with a band that’s too large and a cup that’s too small. Your gore should tack. Your back strap should support. Go get properly measured.
Fillers. There’s no need to artificially inflate your body, it’s perfect how it is.
Trendy water bottles. It’s a water bottle. It’s a bottle that holds water. Let’s not overthink it.
AirBnbs and short-term rentals. Why are we making homeownership inaccessible form the middle class while simultaneously displacing local workers and families?
Habits and slow progress. Again… I’m kind of over the idea of goals, because what happens when you reach a goal? You’re done. Instead of aiming for a finish line, I’m going to aim for consistency in my healthy habits.
Single use plastic. Forever an out for me.
Houseplants I can’t take care of. I’m so tired of killing jungle plants because I live pretty much in the desert.
Being monolingual. Let’s put in effort to learn about other cultures and communicate with other people.
Complaining about prescribed fire smoke. It’s either mildly inconvenient prescribed fire or unplanned and devastating catastrophic wildfire, take your pick.
Subscription models. Why are we pretending separate payments for Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Peacock, Max, Bally Sports, ESPN, Disney+, Apple TV+, Paramount+, YouTube TV and Sling are cheaper than traditional cable?
Athleisurewear everywhere. Flagstaff, I love you, but I’m sick of hiking boots and Smartwool being the norm at bars and restaurants.
IN:
Cropped pants. If Gen Z says we’re doing the loose-fit wide-legged thing, I refuse to let my hems drag in the snow and mud.
Maintaining boundaries. I am too damn old to commit time, energy and emotion to relationships — with work, myself and other people — that don’t benefit me.
Aging gracefully. Let’s not condemn it. Aging is a gift that many are not afforded.
Group fitness classes. Let’s socialize at the cycle studio instead of at the bar*.
(*I’m still gonna socialize at the bar.)
Maximizing retirement savings. Yes, climate change is killing us all, but to be honest, I was ready to retire five years ago.
Ice skating. …And pursuing other activities you’re not the best at but still loved as a kid.
Reading quality books instead of quantity books. Time to suck it up and read those hefty masterpiece tomes instead of those mediocre popcorn thrillers.
Finding hobbies that promote concentration. Why spend time scrolling when you can spend time building new neural connections by learning a new instrument or studying a new language?
Respecting indigenous peoples and land. The land you are living on was stolen from natives. Be respectful of that land and the people who have historically stewarded it.
Seasonal color theory. Stop wearing trendy colors and start wearing colors that harmonize with your skin tone.
Celebrating all accomplishments — not just weddings, babies and funerals. Finalize a divorce? Get a new degree? Let’s not wait for a funeral to celebrate our friends living their own non-white-picket-fence lives.
Reading newspapers. And watching actual documentaries. Let’s consume more long-form content mindfully produced by trained journalists.
・・・
And there we have it? What are your favorite ins and outs of this new year?
