See my previous post for what DID work for me in 2019.
What Didn’t Work for Me in 2019
I’m such an optimist that this answer is always smaller than its companion reflection. All the same, there were a few standout things I tried that did NOT work.
- My gym membership
I used to have at least one patient a month who came in to my office to get a note to help them cancel their very expensive monthly gym membership. My situation isn’t quite that extreme, but I did buy a half-price membership to the rec center. Sam is really good about using the rec center’s gym, and I’m… terrible. In past years, I’ve gotten my money’s worth (mostly) because I used the gym (or even just the locker room) while my kids were at swim team, but they’re not doing that any more.
Since last February, when I bought my pass, I’ve used the gym once. That’s a $184 visit to the gym.
According to mapmyrun, I did manage to work out 126 different times outside the gym, which is a work-out every three days (more or less). I think next year I can pay the daily fee if I decide to use the gym on top of that.

Scenes from a recent run outside the gym…
- Trying to use my two hours in the morning to accomplish All The Things
I’m not sure why I think this is going to work, but I consistently expect to write for an hour, work out, plan for the day, begin my food prep and have a devotional time, all from 5-7am. Oh, and sometimes meet a friend for tea. Weirdly, I can’t seem to fit it all in.
I’m pretty sure variations on these themes were what didn’t work for me in 2018, either. At least I’m consistent. What about you- what didn’t work this year?
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