mindset - Caroline de Posada

Mindset · Success Skills

Optimizing October

On Sunday I shared with you how I‘m using “Embracing the Pre-Season” as the theme to guide my October.

Themes are a great tool in living with intention because they help your brain get organized and focused on what you wish to prioritize.

Well, I couldn’t wait until next Sunday to tell you that I found a better word to use as my theme!!

Before I tell you what it is, let me share a great analogy my coaching client gave me yesterday as we talked about October.

(If you’re pressed for time, make sure you scroll to the bottom of this email for a great checklist I‘ve created for you!)

“October is like the part of the roller-coaster ride before the big drop!” she shook her head.

‘You know that feeling when you’re on your way up?

You’re not going too fast but you keep going higher and higher.

Suspense is building.

You know any second now you’re going to drop.

That’s how I always feel before the holidays. I know business is going to be crazy and add on to that school activities, parties, and a free-for-all with food and expenses. I feel like I‘m just riding a rollercoaster.”

That was exactly what I was feeling when I wrote about embracing the pre-season.

But then as I was driving my kids to school this week (during my 2 HOUR MORNING COMMUTE), another word came to me.

OPTIMIZE

To optimize means to make something as efficient, effective, or beneficial as possible by improving its performance, functionality, or quality. When you optimize something, you seek to achieve the best possible outcome or result within the constraints and resources available. Optimization involves analyzing, refining, and fine-tuning processes, systems, or elements to maximize their efficiency, productivity, or overall value.

PRE-SEASONS ARE FOR OPTIMIZING

It hit me that that’s exactly what pre-seasons are about. Pre-seasons are an opportunity to plan, prepare, creating momentum and enthusiasm. Pre-seasons are the build-up for the “thing.”

The better the pre-season, the better the “thing” goes.

In talking with my client, I realized that bracing yourself for the roller-coaster drop may be thrilling in a 2.5 minute experience, but it is way too anxiety-provoking and overwhelming to live like that all month!

That’s why I‘ve decided to get off the roller-coaster and instead focus on Optimizing October (which is just a funner way of embracing the pre-season)

How do you do that?

You start with the INTENTION and let the Universe open path for that intention.

Just for fun, I ran a search on chat GPT and asked for ideas to optimize October. I got such great ideas that I‘m sharing some of them below.

I won’t get to all the suggestions on this list — but the point is to spark new ideas to inspire intentional action for you and for me.

Wellness

Start a new fitness routine or set fitness goals for the month.
Explore outdoor activities like hiking, biking, or jogging to enjoy the crisp fall weather.
Incorporate seasonal fruits and vegetables into your diet for a nutritious boost.
Participate in a challenge. (I‘m doing the RejuvaFAST October challenge. Join me here.)
Prioritize self-care routines, such as meditation, yoga, or mindfulness.
Treat yourself to a spa day or a relaxing weekend getaway.
Practice gratitude journaling to focus on the positive aspects of life.
Declutter and organize your living spaces for a cozier atmosphere.
Decorate your home for the fall season with seasonal decorations.

Mindset

Enroll in an online course or workshop to acquire new skills.
Read a book or listen to podcasts on topics that interest you.
Attend seminars, conferences, or networking events. (I‘ll be attending and speaking at Spark Summit. Join me here!)
Review your yearly goals and make adjustments if needed.
Set new goals for the remainder of the year.
Break down larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks.
Create a detailed plan or schedule for the month to stay organized.
Consider journaling to track your progress and thoughts.

Relationships:

Plan special outings or activities with loved ones.
Reach out to old friends or family members you haven’t spoken to in a while.
Practice active listening and improve communication in your relationships.
Plan a weekend getaway to explore new places.
Take a scenic drive to enjoy the fall foliage.
Visit a pumpkin patch, corn maze, or apple orchard for a fun day out.
Find local volunteer opportunities and give your time to a cause you care about.
Donate to charities or collect items for those in need.
Join community events that focus on helping others.

If you want to follow along, I‘m going to do my best to post all the fun ways I‘ll be optimizing October on Instagram and our What’sAPP Community.

Now I‘d love to hear from you. Will you add any of these ideas to optimize your October? Write back to this email and let me know.

October 10, 2023

Inspiration · Mindset

Embracing the Preseason

Happy Sacred Sunday

What a beautiful day it is today! It’s Sacred Sunday and the first day of October.

Today I’m thinking about entering fall.

September 23rd marked the first day of Fall, and the autumn equinox (a term I just learned this year), but Miamians experience little seasonal changes in the weather.

Hence, in this part of the world, we kinda have to fabricate our seasons.

When I think of fall, my brain immediately triggers a sense of coziness and warmth. I think of scented candles, warm colors, cozy sweaters, and baked goods. But that feels more like a November vibe to me — not so much October.

Maybe because it’s still 93 degrees Fahrenheit outside.

PRE-SEASON

Pre-season events are important in sports, entertainment, and business to build momentum and enthusiasm.

October is like the pre-fall/holiday kickoff. It’s the month we’re gearing up to be in full-fall mode.

In the past, I used to bypass the pre-season altogether.

For example, by the time I was ready to visit a pumpkin patch in November, they had all happened in October. Whoops.

That’s the one thing that has changed drastically since deciding to live with intention.

BEING INTENTIONAL

Intention requires planning, reflection, and awareness. It inspires you to pause — carving out a little time to look at the past and the future.

It’s slowly taking me out of the “everything just springs up on me” kind of lifestyle.

So today, on Sacred Sunday, as I sat with my coffee and my journal, I reflected on entering a new season — the last quarter of 2023. I took some time to think about what I want the next 3 months to look and feel like. What do I want to accomplish, what should I prioritize, and what do I get to release?

HOW YOU DO ONE THING SHOWS UP IN EVERYTHING

During the last few weeks, I’ve been taking a social media class with a group I met at Randy Gage’s Tribal event. This week’s class was all about creating a social media action plan. So much of what Nataly, the teacher, outlined for us, showed up in this morning’s reflection.

I found it comical that I could use the same framework for social media content planning as a framework for life and other business projects. But that’s what’s fascinating about life: How you do one thing shows up in everything. Like when you’re training for a marathon, writing a book, or going through some challenge, suddenly you find it analogous to everything else in your life.

EMBRACING THE PRESEASON

This October I’ve decided to embrace the pre-season. In fact, this is my theme for October. I don’t want to emotionally bypass the month. Instead, I want to savor it. To me, this means I’m going to focus more on planning ahead, wrapping up loose ends before the holidays, and doing my 5-day mimic fast.

What about you? What do you want your theme to be for October? Do you embrace the preseason or avoid it altogether?

I’d love to hear from you and find out what October means to you — just hit reply to this email and let me know!

Sending you a lot of love on this Sacred October 1st Sunday.

October 10, 2023