Not sure what to do on the 180th day of the year? Do a 180 Day!
KOB weatherman, Steve Stucker, in Albuquerque, NM has an idea for this 180th day of the year he calls, “Do a 180 Day!” Steve says, “Do a 180 and turn your year around.” Of course, you can decide to do a 180 day on any day of the year.
It’s just that it waxes poetic on this, the 180th day of the year.
Transport yourself back to that first week in January. You know, when all the hustlers and all the overachievers were laying on the “Make This the Best Year Ever!” posts, videos, and what have you.
Oh, you’d rather not?
I’m with you, this annual ritual is the biggest set-up for failure there is. Why? It’s simple… because-the-universe-is-guilting-you-into-it.
If it’s not your choice… not something you’ve decided for yourself—you will likely fail.
I’ll admit that I do more reflecting starting with the last few weeks of a year and for a few weeks into the new year. Mostly because it’s a natural thing most of us do.
And depending on how you do your reflecting, and what you decide for yourself moving forward, it can be a rewarding practice.
The reality is the end of the year, beginning of the year, or halfway through a year are just marks on the calendar.
That’s not to say I don’t really like Steve Stucker’s idea—I do! I like it because nobody else is thinking about it right now, so there’s no outside pressure or expectations to mess things up.
All the January goal-setters won’t be thinking about any of this again until October when they realize they’ve let things slide. You get to make a change, set your goals, whatever you like… on your own terms.
It’s the perfect time to turn your life around 180°. If you feel you’re heading in the wrong direction—U-turns are encouraged.”
— Steve Stucker, KOB weatherman
Who says you need to be going in the wrong direction to do a 180 Day?
If there’s an element about Steve’s “Do a 180 Day” concept I’m not sure about, it implies that it requires going in the wrong direction in the first place. Maybe your life doesn’t need a full 180.
What if you just don’t like the annual January resolution/goal-setting/do-it-right-this-year frenzy?
You can use today to decide to begin any change you’ve been pondering. Use it to motivate that first step.
It can be as simple as setting yourself up for a fantastic summer with friends and family. Do that!
Because sometimes it does help to have a designated day or time of year for these rituals. And then again, you can set your goals or set changes in motion anytime your spirit moves you.
Steve said he did his 180 many years ago and has been grateful ever since that he did. Thanks for a cool idea, Steve!
Be untucked.
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It could be that you need an incremental 180. For example, the year itself has been going well, but the last couple of days could warrant a change in attitude – or, as the song goes, latitude. Another way to look at the mid-calendar-year 180 is that even if things are going well, you can turn things around just for a different perspective; to see what else you can add or improve on; to look through a different viewfinder for another solution you are stuck on. You can also do a 180 just to see all that you’ve accomplished (instead of what you haven’t). For all of these reasons, it’s good to consider a 180. Don’t conform – stay untucked!
Thanks, Dan! I absolutely love your perspective on this!! Especially the Jimmy Buffett reference! I almost feel busted for leaning more into the negative side of doing a 180. Thanks for reading and for adding powerful insight to the idea of doing a 180!