2024 September Update

We all know the feeling. You set out with a goal in mind—whether it’s eating healthier, exercising regularly, gaining a new skill, or staying on top of your finances. The first few days or weeks go well, but then life happens. You slip up. Maybe you eat a little too much cake at a family gathering, miss a couple of gym sessions, or book over your monthly money meeting.

The familiar voice of doubt creeps in, whispering, “Well, you’ve already messed up, so why bother continuing?”

This is where many of us fall into the trap of perfectionism. We convince ourselves that if we can’t do something perfectly, then it’s not worth doing at all.

But here’s the thing: perfection is not the goal.
Continuity is.

Lapses are Inevitable

No matter how motivated or disciplined you are, lapses are a part of any long-term goal. You will have days when things don’t go as planned. Life will throw unexpected challenges at you—busy workdays, family emergencies, or just sheer exhaustion. And guess what? That’s okay. That’s normal. That’s expected.

The most important thing to remember is that a lapse doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It simply means you’re human. Everyone stumbles from time to time, and the key is not to let those stumbles derail your progress.

The Power of Continuity

When it comes to achieving long-term goals, continuity is far more important than perfection. Continuity means showing up, even when you don’t feel like it. It means making progress, however small, and not letting a single setback snowball into complete abandonment.

Let’s say you’re trying to build a habit of exercising regularly. In the first week, you hit the gym five times, but the following week, work gets busy, and you only manage to go twice. Instead of beating yourself up for missing those sessions, recognize that two workouts are still better than none. The key is to keep moving forward, even if the pace slows down. (This is a personal story, by Julia, who definitely does not achieve all of her exercise targets but has an amazing personal trainer who reminds her every single time that it’s still worth it even though, every time, it doesn’t feel like it.)

Continuity is about focusing on the long game. It’s recognizing that every step you take, no matter how small, brings you closer to your goal. It’s about resilience. The ability to bounce back after a setback is so much more powerful than the ability to get it right every time.

Be Kind to Yourself

One of the biggest obstacles to continuity is the way we treat ourselves after a lapse. We tend to be our own harshest critics. We tell ourselves things we would never dream of saying to a friend. “You’re so lazy.” “You’ll never get it right.” “Why even bother trying?”

But this kind of negative self-talk only makes things worse. It creates a cycle of guilt and shame that makes it even harder to get back on track. Instead, we need to practice self-compassion.

Think about how you would respond to a friend who had a similar setback. Would you criticize them and tell them to give up? Of course not. You’d encourage them to dust themselves off and try again. So why not offer yourself the same kindness?

Remember that progress is a journey, not a destination. You’re allowed to have bad days. You’re allowed to mess up. What’s important is how you respond. Instead of dwelling on your mistakes, focus on what you can do next to keep moving forward.

How to Recover from a Lapse

When you do experience a lapse—and you will—here’s how to recover without letting it derail your progress:

1. Acknowledge it: The first step is to recognize that you’ve had a lapse without beating yourself up over it. Remember, it’s normal to stumble.
2. Reflect on it: Take a moment to reflect on what led to the lapse. Was it stress? A lack of planning? Does the plan need a change because something has changed?
3. Get back on track: The most important step is to resume your routine as quickly as possible. Don’t wait for the “perfect” time to start again—just take action.
4. Adjust your expectations: If you find that perfectionism is holding you back, adjust your expectations. Focus on consistency over intensity. Small, manageable steps are more sustainable in the long run.

Perfection isn’t the goal—continuity is. Life is messy, and setbacks are inevitable. But if you can learn to embrace occasional lapses without giving up entirely, you’ll find that progress is not only possible, but inevitable.

So the next time you slip up, remember: it’s not the end of the journey. It’s just a moment. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep moving forward. Continuity is the key to long-term success—perfect or not.

Your Spring Planning Team

Practice Notes:

“Free” Fridays remain booked permanently in our calendars. These days are free to us at Spring because they are our opportunity to work on becoming better planners, whether through collaboration and discussion, education, research, or even a little down time. It’s been a regular practice since the summer of 2017, and we will continue to set aside the time to become better versions of ourselves every week. Even 1% better is solidly worth it, because we know that will be reflected in the work we do for you.

Julia will be out of the office between September 14 and 23, attending the FutureProof conference in Huntington Beach, California, and sneaking in at least three concerts at the same time. Please get in touch with Ashlee for any support you need, even if it’s from Julia!

Our office will be closed on Monday September 30th, in honour of Truth & Reconciliation Day. In October, our office will be closed Monday October 14th for Thanksgiving.

Julia will be speaking at the Minerva Summit, hosted by Burgundy Asset Management, on October 29 in Toronto. The event will be webcast for those outside of Toronto. The theme of the summit is Generational Wealth: Minding the Healthspan-Lifespan Gap. Speakers include: Dr. Laura Carstensen, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University & founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, Dr. Sharon Straus, Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto & Chief Medical Officer at Unity Health Toronto, Dr Ashley Verduyn, VP of Medical Affairs & Chief of Providence Healthcare, Lucy Main, Partner at WeirFould LLP,  and many, many more. If you’d like to attend, please email [email protected].

The Spring schedule is 100% booked for 2024. We are doing our level best to fit everyone in who needs support, as it’s been an intense year for many people. If you need urgent help in 2024, please email Ashlee and we will try to help find a solution. We are booking into March and April in 2025 at present.

Spring in the News:

Julia spoke with the Globe and Mail’s Helen Burnett-Nichols to chat about Why paring back your business services can help your practice grow. Check out the full article here.

Why do advice-only planners have waiting lists? Julia discussed the topic with Rob Carrick from the Globe and Mail. Find out all reasons here.

Women are increasingly stepping into leadership roles, yet still face unique challenges. Julia spoke with the Globe and Mail’s Saira Peesker about how these transitions can be a success. Read the full article here.

Please check out our media page here for videos, podcasts, interviews and more.

Planning News Digest:

• Home Maintenance: A shadow cost we don’t think about: Maintenance costs come at you from all sides of your home, and then there are improvements and renovations that need to be planned for… an older article that still holds up! Get all the details in the full article here.
• Managing your parents’ finances won’t fully prepare you for wrapping up their affairs: Even with careful planning, the process can still be surprisingly complex and time-consuming. Learn how to make this challenging process more manageable.  Explore the complete article here.
• A parents’ guide to home down payment gifts and loans: Many parents loan or gift money to their adult children for real estate purchases. Here are the legal and tax implications, as well as some practical ones. Learn more by checking out the full piece here.

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