I have noticed the last couple of weeks have been quiet in the PF blogging world. What I mean is it seems like there is less engagement and dialog with our readers and other sites in general, resulting in far less comments. Our blog site is a good example of that. Is it because of attention to the holidays and other matters, financial concerns have been placed on the back burner? Maybe we have a case of the New Year Blahs. Maybe it is the winter blues?
In our area, we have had rain and snow for many days the last few weeks. It is unusual for us to have cold conditions at this time of year. The El Nino cycle has definitely had an effect on our weather pattern.
For me having many days without sunshine brings my spirit down. I enjoy the 300 plus days of sunshine that is typical in northern Arizona. Rain and snow for 5 days in a row is a real bummer. There is something to be said about a clear sunny sky to brighten the day and the mood.
Does the New Year bring promise or remind us of past disappointments?
Maybe the notion of starting a new year is affecting our emotional attitude. We were driven to finish the year and leave many tasks and memories behind us. We now have new hope for a brighter future and are beginning plans to make our lives better.
Rather quickly, we find that unless we have habits of creating new goals and sticking to them, any New Year’s resolutions begin to unravel at this point in January. It is easy to daydream of how great things will be with our new plans however it is difficult to remain dedicated and motivated and to follow through. I can’t think of a single New Year’s resolution I made in my life that I have accomplished at this point. (This is an excellent reason to write them down.) Certainly I must have accomplished at least one of them – I just can’t remember. More recently I have been publicly declaring some of our goals.
Are these the reasons for having a case of the New Year blahs?
Concerns about our diet, weight, and budgets
Making changes and resolving to improve in the next year typically involve improving our diet, losing some weight, and adhering to budgets, at least reeling in the spending a bit. None of these endeavors are particularly fun to undertake. (However, for me I do enjoy budgeting!) 🙂
My mind has the ability to reminisce and provide selective memories. It also has a knack to focus on the negative and some past failures. I have to catch myself in these cycles and change my focus to the positive. In reality, the negative experiences and past are probably only 1% – 2% of my life. For whatever reason, I probably attribute a multiple of 10 in my thought processes to reviewing and rerunning those old mental tapes. To be sure – this is not a very productive use of my time or way to stay positive.
Do these reasons legitimize having a case of the New Year blahs?
Moving on in this year
I am already noticing a change in my attitude and focus since becoming debt free. It is amazing how much time I dedicated to becoming financially independent and debt free. The last 18 months it has literally consumed my life.
I am making my own changes to live a more balanced life, being careful on where I place my focus and intention. It is something I need to work on to develop healthy habits.
Maybe being too focused in one area of my life and then accomplishing that goal, has lead me to experience the New Year’s blahs? Maybe it is a lack of balance across all aspects of my life that is missing. Time will certainly tell.
How about our readers out there, are you suffering from the blahs like my blogger pal Abby? If so, do you know the reasons why?
Photo copyright : Sherrie Smith (Follow)
Financial Velociraptor says
I have to say life is good in the new year. The market not so much but I feel in a good place.
Bryan says
Glad to hear things are going well for you! Looking at the big picture for us, it really is not that bad. I just can’t identify to source of why I feel the Blahs.
I can relate with the market the last couple weeks. However, it could present some excellent buying opportunities. 🙂
Abigail @ipickuppennies says
Haha, well thanks for the shout-out, I think. My blahs lifted around the time I started back up using the SAD light. (Yep, I’m so good I can apparently get SAD in Arizona.) So I think that was part of it. But also some burnout in there.
I think bloggers spend so much time hyping frugality amid the holidays, then resolutions for the new year, that we’re tired and out of subjects for mid- to late-January. Just my theory.
I’m back more or less into the groove. Then again, my groove still consists of flying by the seat of my pants, generally lucky to think of a post two days ahead of time. Usually writing the night before or the day of.
Bryan says
I think my grove and yours is about the same at this point. I seem to be going with the flow the best I can.
It is interesting to look at frugality from a bloggers point of few. We put out our opinions, thoughts, and emotions out there for all to see in its glory and splendor. Trying to live up to some form of mythical PF perfection since we should no better, is very hard to maintain. Add in the holidays and turnover at work, it all took a toll on me.
I think I will look into the SAD light. We had nearly 2 weeks of rain/snow/overcast weather up here. Hard to believe living in AZ we could use them.
Stockbeard says
“The last 18 months it has literally consumed my life.”
Same here. I’ve mentioned my own struggles with this on my blog recently: http://howtoretireearly.net/are-you-obsessed-with-money/
I’d also like to reply about the “Winter’s Blah”. for me it’s simple: I had much more free time in November/December. January is the “no kidding around anymore” time of the year at work. Much less time to answer on my blog etc… I’m sure a significant amount of PF bloggers have similar constraints (or, rather, less constraints in December due to vacation)
Bryan says
I was commenting to Abby about the same thing with PF bloggers. I really had not thought of it that way until you and her mentioned it.
I just could not put my finger on why the Winter Blahs or whatever it was causing me to feel the way I am. Hard to say for sure.
BTW – I loved that article of your’s that you posted last year. The McDuck image of diving into piles of money caught my attention immediately. News Flash: I am a fan of money! 🙂