2017 ~ Focus

I've spent this first week of 2017 trying to set direction.  I went backwards for much of last year and that is not the direction I want to go.  I've been very active this week thanks to some amazing Southern California winter weather.  While I've been out I've had time to really think.  There are a lot of areas that need attention and I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed.   My list looks something like this:

All of these are things I need and want to work on, but doing them all at once feels like a recipe for failure.  I can't help myself, when I have a to do list everything must be checked off!  I stumbled on this quote from Steve Jobs that I found very helpful:

So my plans for 2017 aren't plans for the entire year.  For now, I am focusing on two areas for the month of January.  I'll reassess at the end of the month and make adjustments if needed.  I've picked carefully and here is my focus for January:

Running ~ Increase Endurance.
My running is off in so many ways, but my endurance seems to have really taken a hit.  To increase my endurance, I know I need to ignore pace.  That's a tough one, but that's what I'll be doing this month.  I plan to run 2 or 3 times a week and ride my bike 2 or 3 times a week.  My preference would be: Week 1 run 3 times, ride 2 times, then Week 2 run 2 times, ride 3 times.  I will take at least one full rest day and the other day will be an optional walk day.  Yes, I know I need to add strength training, stretching and foam rolling, but that won't be my focus this month.

Health ~ Decrease Sugar Intake
When I talked to my doctor about my anxiety/heart palpitations/hormone craziness, he asked me about stress.  My life is very low stress so that is not what is triggering these issues.  His next question was, "Had you eaten a lot of sugar?"  Oh.  Oh yeah.  I use to be really good about desserts - Les and I would split one a week.  That has not been the case lately.  I know sugar is in so much of our foods, so my focus for January is to not have any desserts.  I'm working on other areas, but this is my focus.

What does 2017 look like for you?  Big plans or take it as it comes?