I wrote a long post on reviewing the past year but changed things around a bit after reading Nate Green’s post on retrospect last week.
A wrap up of the past year is a nice way to look at what worked, what went wrong, what did you learn and what do you have to get better at in 2016. It’s also true that once something is made public it’s easier to stick to it as there’s all that accountability and stuff. Let’s begin.
Warning: this is a long one.
What Did I Learn / What Went Well
Stopped Picking Nails
I was more of a picker than a biter. This was huge. I still have brief relapses but catch myself doing it within five to ten seconds. Here’s the blog post to go with it.
Being More Content
I am really happy with what we’ve got in life. The more I focus on the upsides of our life the less things I feel we need. Roof over our heads, food on the table and we’re healthy. Everything else is just a bonus.
Learning to Relax
I don’t feel like I have to be productive 100% of the time. This is still a constant battle but I am getting better. If you’d know how much I used to stress about everything you’d know how massive this is. For those who say you can’t change by just reading a book, I say it was this book by Brené Brown that made all the difference. But yes, you don’t change by just reading. You have to act on it as well.
Mindfulness
This might sound silly but just by acknowledging the warmth of the sun, a certain smell, a taste, a feeling and being really grateful for each one has made big difference. Leo Babauta’s short book had big impact on me.
Gratitude Journal
I finish each day with a positive note. Sure, it’s not all unicorns farting rainbows but this does make a difference. You’ll find positive in every single day and try to finish on a high note. It takes about 1-5 minutes each night and it works. You might as well do it too.
51 Blog Posts
I penned 50 of them and one was a guest post. I’d like to think that I got better as the year went on. Got some positive feedback along the way as well as few stories how my writing made a difference in someone’s life. So I had an “Internet impact” on someone. And that is why I write.
Work
I honestly think that I’ve got one of the best jobs in the world. I mean, I hang out with amazing clients and teach people about training. Well, sometimes we talk about movies and music. But mostly training. I get to make a positive impact on people’s health and fitness. That’s pretty sweet.
Other Random Highlights of 2016
- Visiting Berlin. I love history, food and beer. I loved Berlin.
- Having a three day weekend every single week of the year. Sure, I still wrote and did
other stuff on Mondays but I got to do it from home. While drinking coffee from my Anaheim Ducks mug. - Structuring my days so I can get to bed early and wake up early. I get up at 5.30am even if I don’t go to work. This is when I am the most creative with my writing.
- Realizing that going for a walk undoes my frustrations, anxiety and the feeling of being “stuck”.
- Dan John sharing my article on Gracefulness by saying “This article should be printed out and referred to a lot in your life.” This was sort of a big deal for me.
- Not watching commercial television for the whole year. This one’s a keeper.
- Accepting that not all my learning and reading has to be about personal or professional development. I have a curious mind for a lot of seemingly non-related topics: all things health and fitness, human behavior, psychology, history, music, philosophy, science… The list is long and only keeps growing. Maybe there’s a way to tie them together, maybe not. It doesn’t matter. The key to being interesting is to be interested.
- The power of accountability. Having a weekly guitar lesson keeps me on track and focused when the motivation occasionally fades. And it does.
- If possible get up when the sleep cycle finishes instead of waiting for the alarm.
- Watching the full series of Breaking Bad. Best series ever.
- Having my best mate living in Sydney since April.
- I ate more potatoes than in any year in the history of life. Tough (but possible) to beat in 2016. I am up for the challenge.
Focus for 2016
Increase Traffic to My Site
I’ve been writing a lot but promoting it very little. In 2016 I want to grow my blog to 10 000 weekly readers. Ambitious? Very, but you’ve got to aim high. You could help me by taking this 30 second ‘Help Me to Help You’ – survey telling me what you’d like to read about. And I really appreciate each share, like and such that some of you have been kind enough to do.
Recreating Focus Once It Fades
I can be very productive for 2-3 hours and then do absolutely nothing for the rest of the day. To be honest, I think this is because of lack of direction after the most important task is done. I need to experiment with different routines and habits to be able to focus anywhere at any point when it’s required.
Differentiating Between Easy, Medium and Hard Training Days
I still struggle with the fact that I attack each training session like a bat out of hell. I need to focus more on better instead of tired. This is what I tell my clients but seem to have the hardest time grasping myself. All that, and my body can’t tolerate a lot of daily training volume. After 15 years of lifting weights I am slowly coming in terms with it. For the first quarter of 2016 no more than 16 work sets per workout. Then reassess. Planning on doing two lift a day program from Pavel.
Awesome Results for ALL My Clients
Some get great results, some a little bit less and few very little. Which means that there’s work for me to do. Like I’ve said before, it doesn’t matter how much knowledge one has if you can’t get people to implement it.
Don’t Buy New Clothing in 2016
Not really an issue for me but let’s see what happens if I don’t buy new clothing for a year. Underwear, socks and work shoes don’t count.
Review Books That Have Had an Impact on Me
Don’t start a new personal development book until I’ve reviewed all the old ones. The more I read the more it feels like it’s the same stuff with a different spin. Focus on quality instead of quantity. Pretty good advice for most things in life.
Start Offering a Small Group Training
I really want this to work. I just need to find time to do it. Alternatively I could do a weekly free group session where I can participate as well.
Constantly Re-Value What I Am Doing
Ruthlessly eliminate the unnecessary. “If it’s not a HELLYEAH! It’s a no.” – Dereck Sivers
A Month of Only Eating Meat Once a Week
I think we can all improve the planet by eating less meat. As much as I love meatballs.
Play ‘Wild Horses’ on Acoustic
The above was the meat and potatoes of this post.
But as I like ‘lists’ here’s my Best of 2015 on few things for those mad readers who haven’t dropped off yet.
I read roughly 30 to 35 books in 2015. Quite a few but not nearly as much as some people do. Still, pretty happy with it. Here’s my winners and runner ups on few categories:
Best Personal Development Book
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown
One of the best non-fiction books I’ve ever read. Touches on a lot of subjects that are important for me. I will be referencing back to this for years to come.
Runner Up
The Little Book of Contentment by Leo Babauta
Learn to be happy with what you’ve got. You can read this in one sitting and it’ll change your life.
Best Professional Development Book
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
If you struggle with negative habits or need to insert new positive habits in your life (or teach your clients) this book is a step by step guide. All tied in with interesting stories and the science behind it all.
Runner Up
Easy Strength: How to Get a Lot Stronger Than Your Competition by Pavel Tsatsouline, Dan John
For fitness professionals and fitness enthusiasts as well. Why make something simple into more complicated than it has to be.
Best Non-Fiction Book
Red Notice: How I Became Putin’s No. 1 Enemy by Bill Browder
True story that reads like a fiction. I finished this book in a record time. Read it and once they make the movie you can be one of the purist saying “I read the book when it first came out. It’s sooo much better than the movie!”
Runner Up
Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character) by Richard P. Feynman
Fascinating life story of a man who had an endless hunger for knowledge. A story of working on the atom bomb during WWII among other highlights throughout his life.
Best Fiction
Shantaram: A Novel by Gregory David Roberts
I really wanted this to be a true story. Set in India, this guy goes through some amazing adventures. Hard to put down.
Runner Up
– I really need to read more fiction –
Also, I re-read these two books. Which means they are in the “special” category, you know, in the box with the padlock.
Never Let Go: A Philosophy of Lifting, Living and Learning by Dan John
Perhaps the best fitness (and motivation) book ever written. I always get the unstoppable urgency to go lift weights when reading this.
Unknown Soldiers by Vaino Linna
I try to re-read this each year and I pretty much know it back to front by now. It is my all-time favorite book. A novel about World War II, Finland and a riffle company full of epic personalities.
Professional Development Workshops I Took:
Tony Gentilcore – Because Heavy Weights Won’t Lift Themselves
Functional Movement Screen Level II (2nd time)
Professor Stuart McGill – Building The Ultimate Back
My Favourite Music Discoveries of 2015 – Not necessarily new music, rather new for me:
- Refused – Freedom LP (Punk/Rock/Metal/Whatever)
- Superjoint Ritual (Metal/Hardcore)
- Karma to Burn (Instrumental Rock)
- J Mascis (Rainy day chill-out music)
Best Live Gig:
- Faith No More at Soundwave in February – All because of the stage presence of Mike Patton.
- Runner Up: The Stones. Sure, they’re not spring chickens anymore but it was worth it just because of KEEEEEEIIIIITHHH!!
So that’s it for my retrospect of 2015 and re-focus for 2016. What’s yours?
I can hear the echo of emptiness as I doubt there’s anyone reading anymore!
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