By Irene Conlan -

I think of this week as “sandwich week” – not because we eat sandwiches made of the leftover ham or turkey (although that’s a great idea) -  but because it’s sandwiched between Christmas and New Year’s Day and little gets accomplished. It’s also the week sandwiched between the old year and the new year. Sandwich week!

This is a great week to put things in perspective. Take a look at 2009 and do an inventory. What were your success and what were your failures? (failure is not a bad word. We all have them and are supposed  to learn from them).When you have listed them – as many as you can remember – go back and detail what you learned from them.

For example for me some successes in 2009 were:

1. This blog went from obscure to the first page of Google. What did I learn? That nothing happens to a blog unless you work on it and that means you must post original articles absolutely every day. It takes hard work and creativity. It is not the piece of cake I anticipated but much more worthwhile. I also learned that I love to write and I work on improving my writing skills on a daily basis.

2. I lost 70 pounds in 2009 and am still working on it.I gained weight when I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and just kept gaining. No program that I tried worked.  I was told by a doctor that someone my age can not lose weight and to forget about it. When my weight started causing serious health problems I changed doctors. The new one sent me to a doctor who could help me and has. I learned a number of things here: 1) you’re never to old for … anything;  2) there is almost always a way to get something done even if it’s never been done before. Find it; 3) the human body is amazingly forgiving and works at restoring itself to health if you give it half a chance. 4) every pound off makes me feel freer; 5) There are many new beginnings in a lifetime.

Now you look for your successes and the lessons they brought you.

Next I need to look at my failures. On this list, in addition to what you learned from it, state what you need to do about it. Maybe you don’t need to do anything, but at least take a look at it.

1 “The Book” I have made several attempts to write a book this year and have never gotten beyond the first chapter – sometimes the first paragraph. I have evidence of that in my computer.  I have learned that writing a book is a daunting challenge and not nearly as easy as writing a blog post; 2) I have a challenge staying focused and “on task”; 3) What I need to do is clarify my topic, write a comprehensive outline and go at it again.

2. Initiate an exercise program. I just didn’t do it. I hate to exercise – there the truth is out! However, I did begin walking. Now, instead of taking the car, I walk to the grocery store and back. I try to move around more but I have not started a structured program. I have learned that I will not be consistent about doing something I dislike unless I’m highly motivated and I’m trying to get there; when I DO exercise, I feel better; I can do anything I decide I want to do. Now I have to WANT to exercise. What I need to do is very gradually add exercise into my day focusing on both difficulty and time spent. I need to find ways to make it palatable. We  plan to get a Wii and my program will be some form of exercise. I promise and my fingers are not crossed.

See how easy it is? It will help you go in to 2010 with more foresight and with a plan. You know bout the 4 ps – prior planning prevents poor performance.

Use the sandwich week to get ready for a great new year – setting goals, mapping out a plan, making resolutions.