New Year’s Resolutions

Happy New Year! I hope this Monday morning finds you well. It feels so great to be publishing posts again. Thanks for existing out there.

I read something in passing that only 8% of New Year’s resolutions are kept so why bother?   

For me, it’s empowering and comforting to commit to do something, make a plan for getting it done, and then to put one foot in front of the other to make it happen. I definitely don’t follow through with everything I say I’m going to do (like my Master Plan for Moving which resulted in Matt throwing everything in boxes until 4am the day before we moved while I breastfed newborn Tate through the night). But when I do envision something and make it happen it’s one more way to strengthen my courage muscle and build my trust in myself.   

So what do I want to make happen for myself this year?

I want to strengthen my habits of health and wellness: 

• run at least three times a week and go to yoga once 
• drink at least 80 ounces of water a day 
• add new meals to our weekly rotation 

I want to continue to put down roots and connect with those around me: 

• attend church potlucks 
• sign up to support people by delivering meals, etc. 
• regularly invite people over 
• send birthday cards 
• completely organize our house 
• finish our front- and backyard landscaping 
• do acts of service with Henry 
• start a garden 

I want to create the kind of school I want to send my own children to.

I threw an impromptu Reflection & Rejuvenation party on New Year’s Eve day and two lovely friends came over. I printed out three different reflection forms for them to choose from. We reflected and chatted. After they left, I continued to refine my goals and created a visual representation of the kind of year I want to have. I pasted the collage inside my new notebook, so that I’ll see it frequently.

None of my resolutions are particularly daunting or difficult. The main thing I need to do is a) make time every month to set my goals for the month. I did this regularly for half of last year, and once I gave birth to Tate everything flew out the window!

Once I set my goals for the month (that connect directly to my goals for the year), I need to record them in a place that I frequent regularly. A couple places come to mind: my electronic action plan (I’m loathe to use it because I kind of want to keep the personal separate from the professional), the giant whiteboard we’re putting on the wall in our kitchen, in my new yellow notebook. Honestly, I think I need to put them in my electronic action plan because I use it all the time.

So what do I want to accomplish in January?

• Plan Henry’s birthday party
• Plan my birthday party
• Set up a housecleaner
• Get a robotic vacuum
• Join the YMCA
• Get security system installed
• Request addresses and birthdays from dear friends
• Get whiteboard hung
• Plan dinner party with Diana
• run at least 12 times and go to yoga or Pilates at least four times 
• drink at least 80 ounces of water a day 
• add at least one new meal to our weekly rotation

I’m excited for the month and year ahead!