New Year? Move Slowly.

Hello, 2022. What will you bring into our lives?

Jan 03, 2022

PICK-ME-UP: HELLO, 2022

Hello! Greetings from Brooklyn. Greetings from the sunshine that comes with new days in a new year.

I spent New Year's Eve with two strangers named Devin and Austin. The truth is, I didn't even know their names until way after midnight. But we stood near each other, counted down from 10, and exchanged the words “Happy New Year!” with the kind of real-talk enthusiasm you'd share with people you've known your whole life.

How'd this happen? Adam, Goofy, and I headed to the oval-shaped park next to our apartment at 11pm for a silent disco that was happening. We put on our headphones and danced until Goofy ran toward a dog named Winnie she had met twice before. That's how we started talking and dancing and celebrating with two strangers, Devin and Austin, and rung in the new year with them.

We'll see them again around the park, I'm sure of it. But we won't become lollygagging friends for life. I'm sure of that too. Either way, that brief moment of exiting one year of life and standing so tall and hopeful about the next one, just felt so calming and exciting when shared with two people I hardly knew.

Life is about special moment and sometimes, too, the special people we meet in unexpected ways.

May your 2022 feel unexpected, special, and even a little bit strange.

In this issue:  How to ease into the new year without feeling like a lazy // lost soul, a book about money that's worth a read, and a little bit of a challenge.

Why you’re getting this: I'm Jen Glantz and this is my Monday Pick-Me-Up newsletter. I've been sending it for over 8-years, every single Monday morning, to thousands of awesome humans, just like you. Thank you for letting this email live in in your inbox. It makes my heart explode with joy.

The Pick-Me-Up: New Year? Move Slow.

Everyone is trying to tell you what to do.

It's only January 3rd but every Instagram post, email, advertisement from a brand feels like it's shouting at you to go fast! To feel different! To show up for this new year like you owe it something.

You don't.

The countdown clock fooled you. The end of the calendar lied to you. Nothing changes just because a new year starts. Things only change when you can look back, understand what you see, and have a plan to move forward.

failed at my goal in 2020 of running a half-marathon. I almost made it but after conquering 10-miles, I hurt my knee and couldn't even walk a mile without feeling ounces of pain. I felt that goal end in a rough way.

Just a few days ago, I took myself on a trip to the local track. I started slow but I started..again. I ran two miles and while I was moving my feet forward I couldn't help but think that we can't give up on goals just because our goals have given up on us - once, twice, a trillion times.

It's not that we're not ready to meet goals, it's just our strategy is usually filled with bruises. It's backward.

I went from running 0 miles to running 10 far too quickly. I pushed myself even when my knee showed warning signs of damage and pain. I didn't do any self-care to help the problem, I just stayed focused on that goal.

I will run a half-marathon, one day, but not before I hit the other goals that I needed to work on before making that dream come true. Goals around taking care of my body post-run, fixing my diet, and building strength in important areas.

Which is to say, HEY 2022! You got big goals for the year? Great. But do they make sense? Does your plan actually take into account the OTHER goals you need to hit first?

I've decided to approach this year in chunks = mini-years.

I'm planning my life in sections of 90-days, assigning goals for the first 90-days and breaking down those goals into steps to hit and achieve every month.

Why do we set goals for an entire year when we can set realistic and actionable goals that give us big wins every month - every 90-days.

Back to today….don't give into the hustle and bustle everyone is selling you. Go easy on yourself as you ease into the new year.

Cheering you on, dear friend.

All my love,

Jen Glantz

❤️

Random Links

Play This on Repeat:

I can't stop listening to this song. It's such a great and positive way to say hello to a new year.

Also, have this podcast for you if you need a quick hit of inspo.

Picked From My Shelf: I Will Teach You to Be Rich

Part of one of my grand plans for 2022 is to read allll the books on my bookshelf. I'll keep the ones I adore to the core. I'll give away the ones that I no longer need to hold.

I kicked this off with a book I've been eyeballing for a while (right here). Was it good? It was okay. I took away 5-7 actionable money next-steps that were important and game changing. So do I recommend it? Yes, I do.

Organize Your Stuff

I wanted to start the year feeling organized and also was tired of piles of papers falling on my head whenever I opened my closet door. I bought these 5 game-changing organization items:

Accordion storage

Electronics/chord organizer

Book organizer for my desk

Notebook that made me feel like it's back to school season

🖤

Mini Pick-Me-Up: The Confetti of Your Big Life

Years ago, I spent #newyearseve in Times Square, standing still for hours, waiting for the countdown, holding in my pee, looking up at the sky for the ball to slide down. Here’s what you don’t see on TV: after the ball drops, people run, scattering in all directions, like loose confetti. And if you don’t run too, if you just stay put, you might get stuck, you will feel elbows.

How about you? Run. It doesn’t matter in what direction. It doesn’t matter if you have no idea what you’re after. Do. Go. Move. Make. Because eventually you end up somewhere that’s different than you’re in right now. Look beneath you. Do you see the fallen confetti of your life? Stomp on it. Use fast feet. Electric slide to the left. Now the right. Okay. Go. You’ll stop again soon.

The End

Thanks for reading my Pick-Me-Up Newsletter.

I'm in Brooklyn working hard on fun things this first week of 2022. LMK if you have any recommendations for songs to listen to this week! If you're on Instagram, add me here: @jenglantz. I post interesting things every day to my story.

If you're new to my emails - welcome! I promise to work hard to bring joy and motivation to your inbox every Monday.

If you have a friend (or 2) who would love to receive this Pick-Me-Up, share this link with them.

Until next time... I'll be rooting for you and cheering you on!

Have a great week.

Jen Glantz

p.s. Here's the About Me on my website if you forgot who I am or where we met.