I am very anti New Year's resolutions. I think all the jokes about how long they really last and the reality of how long they last make me shy away from something I feel like I won't accomplish, and will just make me frustrated and overly critical of myself.
This year everyone around me was talking about resolutions, and at first I felt no different than in the past. I had no intention of even thinking about any resolutions. But as the talk went on and the weeks went on, my attidtude slowly began to change, until the result is this post. I have thought about self-improvement and goals I want to make in my life. I've thought about how I think I am moving in the right direction, but how maybe I could move a little faster.
It has taken a few weeks of pondering and thinking about what it is I want to commit to, but I have finally--for the first time in years--decided on some--um--Ideals for 2011. I'm refusing to call them resolutions. I decided this would be a good place for me to write these down, give them a name in some concrete form rather than random thoughts in my brain. You don't have to read them, it's not any entertaining story about the kids (even though I am going to write as if you were going to read--it's an easier writing style for me than regular journal-type writing). But obviously, I'm posting them in a public place--so if you want to--read on.
I have also decided that as I strive to live within these "Ideals" I am NOT going to beat myself up over mess-ups. How productive is making a goal only to get depressed and regress when you mess up? Seriously. There is something wrong with us all beating ourselves up too much. So we're human--we make mistakes. Move on.
First--Physical
Sleep:
My Mom has always said that I needed more sleep than others to be happy. During High School I was always the first one to fall asleep at parties. In college I called home crying about how I was so tired in class all the time and couldn't keep my eyes open to do my homework. Of course the obvious followed "How much sleep are you getting? Your roommates might be able to stay up late and still function. You can't." David called 10pm my "pumpkin hour" for a very long time. For some reason I have driven myself past that lately, and stay up too late. Actually, I know the reason. It's all the little messes (and BIG ones) that need cleaned up after the kids go to bed, it's needing some "me" time to recover from the constant "mommy" this and "mommy" that, the budget that needs balanced, the RS lesson prepared, all of those things that don't get done during the day. I haven't quite determined how to solve those problems--but I'm working on it. Don't look at the time of this post. Obviously today isn't a make-it day.
Exercise/eating:
I have never put myself on a real "diet". I gave up chocolate for about 5 months one time, but other than that I've never said I "can't" or "must" eat something. Because I'm pretty sure I would fail. I've always just tried to be moderate and exercise. However, as I approach 30 faster than I would like to admit, I have a feeling I am going to need to pay a little more attention to what goes in, and calories that get used. Though I'm still not quite ready to count calories, etc. I'm pretty sure I would actually eat more if I told myself "can't"--so instead I say "can" and half the time I don't feel like it anyway. So the Ideal is fruit/veggie at EVERY meal, whole grains when possible, and limit treats.
Winter is a hard time for me and exercise, since I haven't yet found a suitable indoor solution. The jogging stroller is my Perfect summer solution--and if it was just me I would brave the cold, but taking the kids out in it just isn't an option. I would like to run at least one 10K, perhaps even a half-marathon by this fall.
As I have mentioned before, my running time is my sanity time. In the mean time, the winter dilemma continues.
Cleaning:
To put it lightly, I am not the world's best housekeeper. I try, but it just does not come naturally to me AT ALL. This is one of those gifts I'm going to have to work really hard before I'm blessed with it. I'm too big of a daydreamer to remember to put the book away or pick up my clothes. And when things get rushed around here--I start throwing things all different directions. The kids? Well, I believe they take after me. David is the lonely organized-mind in the house.
So the Ideal? Teach the children to clean up after themselves, and try REALLY HARD to do the same. Throw out clutter. Organize the basement (which will require some building of shelves down there). Floors and bathrooms once a week. For some reason laundry isn't an issue for me. I have a laundry day, and once a week I do the laundry...wash, dry, fold, and put away then I don't worry about it the rest of the week. It's the only housekeeping chore I do well.
Spiritual:
Scripture reading: Personal Study/Family daily. This has been going well the last few weeks. Rah Rah! I hope we keep it up! And by family scripture reading "going well" I mean to say we do it. Not that the children listen, but that we read and they run crazily about the room, stopping only to repeat their verse (Keith even does a verse now. He's so cute trying to say some of the big words!)
Being prepared for Sunday lessons. Being a RS teacher has made be realize the importance of being prepared for the lessons on Sunday, and it is making a difference in my Sabbath experience.
As you can tell I'm loosing steam, and you're not getting near as much detail as when I started out this post.
Personal Improvement:
Piano Tuning course/certification. (someday)
I would love it, I think.
I have a few other things but I am getting tired, giving up, and am going to go to bed.
