Every few years, scientists add a leap second to UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) so that it matches the rotation of the Earth, which is slowing down. If we didn’t make adjustments to our clocks, we’d be noticably off in a few thousand years.  (Not by a lot, though. When the Chicxulub impactor wiped out the dinosaurs (except for birds,) 66 million years ago, the Earth day was about 23 hours long.)

These leap seconds are rarely added, and no one notices when they are because we don’t measure our day-to-day life that precisely. However, computers do notice, and that is one of the reasons why some scientists think leap seconds shouldn’t be added. It might mess with precise programming.

Other scientists think it is necessary. They have many reasons, including that sundials would never work properly again. Clearly, that’s a big problem.

Leap seconds are added on either June 30th or December 31st. One was scheduled for the end of 2019, but it didn’t happen, so the last one added was in 2016. There probably won’t be one in 2020, but since I couldn’t find the next scheduled one, anything could happen.

I like the idea of a leap second. It makes a lot more sense than Daylight Saving Time.

One of the things I like about the first day of a new year (and I like a lot of things) is a fresh calendar. I usually have four or five calendars in my house, and they are all different. Right now I only have three, but I’ll be buying a couple more once they go on sale (I really want a Star Wars one.)

Calendars are a crazy industry. They can’t be that expensive to make because half the pages on every calendar are the same. It’s not like the calendar companies have to write a book, but calendars cost the same as an 80,000-word novel. Plus, there is a topic for everyone. Dogs, cats, pigs, goats in trees, whatever you want to see on your wall, there’s a calendar for you.

We bought a lot of calendars in Alaska, some for gifts and some for ourselves. Buying a 2020 calendar in August felt weird, but while putting them up yesterday, I was delighted we got them because they’re gorgeous and remind me of our great trip.

We all have calendars on our phones, tablets, and computers. We can connect our digital schedules to others, so no plan gets lost. You’d think wall calendars would be a thing of the past, but there are pop-up stores that just sell calendars. We’ve come into a time when we can have our wall calendar and a digital one too.

Do you have a wall calendar for 2020? Did you pick it, or was it a gift? What topic is it? Do you think wall calendars will ever fall out of favor? I certainly hope not. How can I count down the days to 2021 without one?

I love a good inspirational quote, so here are ten that you can tape to your bathroom mirror or email to your friends to inspire them in 2020.

Ten quotes to start 2020 off right:

• “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C. S. Lewis
• “We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity, and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” Edith Lovejoy Pierce
• “Every moment is a fresh beginning.” T. S. Elliot
• “Life’s not about expecting, hoping, and wishing, it’s about doing, being, and becoming.” Mike Dooley
• “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” E. E. Cummings
• “Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” Carl Bard
• “The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” J. P. Morgan
• “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Socrates
• “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go. They merely determine where you start.” Nido Qubein
• “What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” Vern McLellan

Every year I pick a theme and then make a goal list based on that theme. In the past, I’ve worked on finishing projects, old projects, and new projects. This year I’m working on projects that I have been procrastinating on.

That’s right. The theme for 2020 is procrastination.

I have written this blog for over three years and never missed a day. I’m going to run/walk every day in 2020. It might seem like I don’t procrastinate, but the truth is, I’m a master procrastinator, and it drives me crazy. Why is it I never forget to write my blog, but I can’t edit my stories? It makes no sense, and in 2020, I’m going to overcome procrastination.

“Turning pro is a mindset. If we are struggling with fear, self-sabotage, procrastination, self-doubt, etc., the problem is, we’re thinking like amateurs. Amateurs don’t show up. Amateurs crap out. Amateurs let adversity defeat them. The pro thinks differently. He shows up, he does his work, he keeps on truckin’, no matter what.”

Steven Pressfield

One thing that I know about myself is that I’m an obliger (otherwise known as a people-pleaser.) I write this blog because people email me when they don’t get it. I edit other people’s stories because it helps them succeed. But if I have to do something for myself, I probably put it off.

“I think of myself as something of a connoisseur of procrastination, creative and dogged in my approach to not getting things done.”

Susan Orlean

I need to find accountability buddies or websites that demand accountability. I won’t break my running streak because I won’t get the badge on Smashrun if I do. I need external deadlines for my writing and other goals.

Do you have a theme for 2020? I find having a theme keeps me focused on my goals. Why not try it out and see if it helps you reach your new year goals.

“Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.”

Napoleon Hill

I’m going to run at least one mile every day in 2020. The reason makes perfect sense to me. I have been planning this for more than a year.

Streaks are a lot of fun and easier than you think. When you’re doing a streak, all the excuses disappear. I’m going for a run each morning because I’m doing a streak. Not lacing up my shoes is not an option.

While running streaks are popular (the longest streak was for 52 years and 39 days), there are other streaks out there. You could journal every day, or take a photo of the same tree. Or you could read a book for fifteen minutes. Anything that you do every day of the year is a streak. It’s incredibly satisfying to see how much you did at the end of the year.

The most important thing to do, besides your challenge, is to record your daily efforts. A gold sticker on a calendar or a spreadsheet with Xs is all you need. If you want to do a running streak, I recommend recording it on  Smashrun. This website gives virtual badges for various runs and is why I’m running every day in 2020.

Join me in streaking. You don’t even have to take your clothes off.