GHDR Report 0707: Resting Before Acting

Posted Tuesday, July 7, 2026 by Sri. Tagged GHDR
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SUMMARY // After burning three weeks writing the last Groundhog Day Resolutions report, there are a lot of new things to put in motion. I am taking time, though, to replenish my energy.

About the Picture // To kick of my July break, I made this red-cooked braised pork shoulder over two days, requiring an overnight rest to be as delicious as possible!A bowl of Chinese-style red cooked pork shoulder, swimming in broth with green scallions. Title image for July 7 GHDR ReportA bowl of Chinese-style red cooked pork shoulder, swimming in broth with green scallions. Title image for July 7 GHDR Report (full size image)

About Groundhog Day Resolutions

For those of you new to Groundhog Day Resolutions, it’s simply a system that helps you remember when to do regular review. You can technically start on any double-day, not just February 2nd; the important thing is that you review monthly.

02/02 Feb 2

Groundhog Day! Lay down the strategic plan!

02/14 Feb 14

Valentine’s Day - Optionally, use 02/02 as the start of planning, and finalize your goals on February 14 as a valentine to yourself!

03/03 Mar 3

Monthly Review #1

04/04 Apr 4

Monthly Review #2 - Adjust goals as necessary

05/05 May 5

Monthly Review #3

06/06 Jun 6

Monthly Review #4 - Adjust goals as necessary

07/07 Jul 7

Monthly Review #5 - Review strategic direction. Optionally take off a month to enjoy the summer.

08/08 Aug 8

Monthly Review #6 - Optionally take off a month to enjoy the summer, or adjust goals as necessary

09/09 Sep 9

Monthly Review #7

10/10 Oct 10

Monthly Review #8 - Adjust goals as necessary to gain closure on the year?

11/11 Nov 11

Monthly Review #9

12/12 Dec 12

Final Review #10 - Summarize achievements for the year, break for holidays.

13/13 Jan 13

Postmortem + Planning - One month after the last report of prior year

As I mentioned in the June 6 Groundhog Day Resolutions Report, I am taking a break from GHDR for July. It took me three weeks to research and write the June report, and it turns out that I’m really burned out. I need some time to reset and ramp up slowly.

To recap, though, these are the main things on my mind:

  • To break the “execution gap” between theory and action, I have to find activities that meet my needs.
  • There are a lot of old attitudes to unlearn.
  • There is a lot of effort I need to make to mix and meet with new people.
  • I have to balance my social uncertainty against the need to create social interaction.

Rather than overthink it, I am thinking of working on some very simple things. I have a tendency to imagine elaborate interconnected systems that require far too many resources to resolve quickly. Quick feedback is important, as is having fun in what I’m making. The wager I’m making is that by making small easy things that I might otherwise think are not that impressive…

It’s the making itself in small ways that is the seed for greater things.

So that’s the plan, such as it is, drawing on ideas from emergent produtivity and making a ton of small unrelated things.

I’ll see y’all in August!


INDEX of GHDR 2026 POSTS

Kickoff Pt 1: A brief overview of the “four acts” of 2025

Kickoff Pt 2: Identifying the big questions to explore in 2026

Kickoff Pt 3: The Plan

Blunting Fear and Anxiety

Shrinking The Execution Gap

Reframing Chores as Ship Operations

Setting Sail!

A New Story from Inverted Assumptions

Jul 7

Aug 8

Sep 9

Oct 10

Nov 11

Dec 12


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