Turning Post-Holiday Blues into Optimistic Anticipation

The holidays often come with a mix of joy, planning, and creativity, providing us with something to look forward to. As the decorations are packed away, you might feel a void. The good news is that you can harness the same sense of anticipation and optimism by setting meaningful goals or planning events that inspire excitement. Here’s how:

Plan Micro-Goals That Spark Joy

Instead of waiting for big events, focus on smaller, achievable goals. These could be as simple as learning to bake a new recipe, reorganizing a room, or taking on a hobby like painting or gardening. Each milestone gives you something tangible to anticipate.

Example: Sign up for a beginner’s class in a skill you’ve always admired, like photography or knitting. Websites like Skillshare or Coursera offer a variety of courses to explore.

Transform Less-Desirable Events into Opportunities

Not all events in life are inherently fun, but you can change your perspective by attaching a reward or positive twist to them.

Example: If you dread tax season, plan a celebratory dinner or day out for when you’ve completed the paperwork. Or, if you dislike your morning commute, turn it into a time to listen to engaging audiobooks or podcasts. Check out Audible for inspiration.

Create a Personal “Bucket List” for the New Year

Having a bucket list doesn’t have to mean grand adventures like skydiving. Focus on small, meaningful goals. Write them down and actively plan for them.

Example: Decide to visit a local museum, hike a nearby trail, or explore a cultural event in your area. Apps like Eventbrite can help you find activities near you.

Plan for Seasonal Celebrations

The New Year is full of lesser-known celebrations you can look forward to. These events can provide fun themes for activities, gatherings, or personal challenges.

Example: Plan a Valentine’s Day craft project, or participate in a National Library Week event. Mark your calendar with quirky holidays like National Cat Day or Pi Day to plan lighthearted celebrations.

Engage in Giving Back

Focusing on helping others can provide purpose and fulfillment. Volunteering gives you a sense of contribution but helps build anticipation for events like food drives, charity walks, or community projects.

Example: Volunteer at a local shelter, or organize a neighborhood cleanup. Websites like VolunteerMatch can help you find opportunities nearby.

Visualize Your Goals with Creative Planning Tools

Use tools like vision boards or digital planners to map out your aspirations and events for the year. Seeing your plans come together visually can boost motivation.

Example: Create a digital vision board on Pinterest, or use apps like Trello to organize your ideas and goals.

By finding ways to anticipate meaningful activities, you can fill your post-holiday lull with excitement and purpose. Whether through micro-goals, creative projects, or community engagement, there’s always something to look forward to—and every step can help shape a positive outlook for the year ahead.

Anticipation as a motivator

 Having something to look forward to now that Christmas is over, can be a powerful motivator and mood-booster. Here are some ideas on how to use this sense of anticipation to change our perspective on less-than-desirable events:

Instead of dreading a task or event, try to see it as a chance to learn, grow, or achieve something new. For example, if you have a big project deadline looming, instead of feeling overwhelmed, focus on the sense of accomplishment you'll feel when it's completed. Resource: "The Power of Reframing" by Dr. Carol Dweck (TED Talk)

Break down a daunting task or event into smaller, manageable steps. Celebrate each small victory along the way to build momentum and anticipation for the next step. Resource: "The Pomodoro Technique" by Francesco Cirillo (article on Medium)

Identify the positive aspects of an event or task, no matter how small they may seem. Focus on those aspects to shift your perspective and build anticipation for the benefits that will come from it. Resource: "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale (book)

Develop a pre-event routine that signals to your brain that something exciting is about to happen. This could be as simple as making a favourite snack, listening to a specific playlist, or doing a quick workout. Resource: "The Power of Rituals" by Dr. Dan Ariely (TED Talk)

Close your eyes and vividly imagine yourself successfully navigating the event or task. Visualize the sense of pride, relief, or accomplishment you'll feel when it's over. Resource: "The Power of Visualization" by Dr. Denis Waitley (article on MindTools)

Share your goals and plans with a friend or family member and ask them to hold you accountable. This can provide an added motivation to stay on track and build anticipation for the event. Resource: "The Power of Accountability" by Dr. John C. Maxwell (article on Inc.com)

Set small rewards for yourself after completing a task or event. This could be something as simple as a favorite meal, a relaxing bath, or a fun activity. Resource: "The Science of Rewards" by Dr. Alfie Kohn (article on Psychology Today)

By using these strategies, you can harness the power of anticipation to transform your perspective on less-than-desirable events and build a sense of excitement and optimism for the future.

Anticipation of a full year 1

 Christmas is over, and the anticipation of the day was a key driving force in motivating you as you looked forward to something that gave you a sense of optimism. Planning for the holidays gives people a goal and meaning. For most of us, it gives us an outlet to use our creative energy and look forward to an event that’s fun or meaningful. 

So, as we settle in for the upcoming new year, think about having something to genuinely look forward to as doing so stimulates your brains in positive, dopamine-releasing ways We can use this sense of new anticipation to strategically to change our perspective on less-than-desirable events. Over the next two posts, I will share some ideas and resources to help rebuild a sense of anticipation

Congratulations!

 My birthday is this month and one of my friends sent me the following, so I thought I would share it with all of you who were born in my year.

We are One-Percenters (No, Not That Kind).

If you were born between 1930 and 1946, like me, you’re part of an exclusive club: the rare 1% of your generation still alive and kicking. Forget hedge funds—you are the true "old money."

You’ve lived through the Great Depression, World War II, and the invention of... everything. You remember when “Google” was a noise your toddler made and “streaming” involved a creek and a fishing rod.

Your childhood wasn’t filled with smartphones—it was filled with smudgy ration books and the excitement of finding a sugar coupon. You saved tin foil like it was gold and poured bacon grease into cans, proving you were eco-friendly long before it was trendy.

Milk was delivered in glass bottles (and occasionally stolen by a thirsty cat), phones were mounted on the wall (in a spot where everyone could hear your conversation), and TV arrived in black-and-white glory… with only three channels. You were the remote—“Turn that knob, kid!”

Your parents didn’t hover—they were busy building a post-war world. And you? You played Jacks, Monopoly, and Marbles unsupervised because, frankly, nobody had time to supervise you. It was glorious.

Sure, polio loomed, but your generation was too busy walking uphill both ways to school to let that stop you. And when highways expanded, you discovered the thrill of going into the city to shop—a far cry from today’s "one-click checkout."

You've witnessed a world of change: typewriters gave way to computers, radios morphed into Spotify, and now your grandkids think milk comes from the store.

So, take a bow, you golden oldies. You climbed out of a global depression, survived world wars, and rode the wave of prosperity like champs. You’ve earned your spot in history—and in the 1% club.

And remember, if anyone under 50 calls you “old,” just smile and remind them: you’re vintage, not old. Cheers to us, the last generation to truly know what it means to live “in the best of times.