I've made a bunch of them. I know they are not for everyone, but I like to use the new year as a springboard for change. I like the idea of clean slates, a chance to start again. Having said that, I am not making huge life-changing resolutions and I'm certainly not against making more throughout the year. It's just that the dawn of a new year gives the perfect opportunity to take stock of where you are in life, and where you'd like to be this time next year.
So, what are my resolutions? Remember how in my post the other day I said I love lists? Consider yourself warned!
* write a to do list every evening for the next day, including fun things as well as the mundaneI function so much better when I have a list of things to tick off as I go about my day. Otherwise I get totally overwhelmed with the length of my day and start to go a little crazy
* one pilates or gym session a weekI didn't manage this when DH was working part-time, and now he is back to full-time so it's going to be a struggle. But there is a mum's and kids exercise class in the park that I am going to go to if it isn't too hot. And there's a Saturday morning pilates class I can do if we don't have anything on. I can also book out the little gym at my physio at a time that suits me (which is limited to when DH is home unless DS will sit happily in the pram while I exercise - I haven't tested this yet).
* do shopping every weekThis may sound like a weird one, but it's not, not for me! DH has always done the shopping. He used to stack shelves at Coles so he was always so much quicker at it! He and DS have done the shopping together every week since DS was old enough to be apart from me for that long. So it will be a huge adjustment for me to do it each week.
* menu plan each weekWe already do this, but I'm going to be taking more responsibility for it, and try to do it earlier than right before bed the night before grocery shopping day! It might be a little more inspired if I am awake when I do it
* cook one new recipe a monthSee, as well as shopping DH has always done most of the cooking - he knows how, I don't! Well, ok, I do, but it is a struggle, I'm not confident, but I do find I enjoy it if I am organised and not rushing.
* do 15 minutes of exercise every dayI need to get fit, and I need to lose weight, but I'm not going to go all gung-ho about it. I have a bad habit of not getting out of the house unless I have something that I *need* to go out for, then I get all depressed because I get no exercise or fresh air. So, whether it's chasey in the backyard, a walk around the block (even if it's at toddler pace), or a walk around the zoo (we got memberships for christmas), it's all counted. I'll reassess this one in a couple of months time.
* read 1/2 hour 3 times a week - minimumI love to read, but I do so little of it.
* blog 20 mins 3 times a weekHoping this means my poor little blog won't be so neglected. I've not yet scheduled in blog-reading time yet... Need to do that. Hopefully then I'll be less inclined to come on the net randomly throughout the day - I seem to spend more time on here (doing nothing in particular) when I feel I have no time. So by allocating time-slots I hope to be on the net less but be more productive when I am on
* sew 4 hours a week. Starting small and working from there. Also going to plot in the calendar one day a month for boys day out so I get the house to myself for an extended period of time.
* see one friend a weekYes, that's another minimum. Again, I get into ruts where it gets too hard to get out and socialise. Well, enough of that! I always have a great time when I make the effort, so this year I am rewarding myself by doing it regularly.
* make one phone a weekI hate talking on the phone. Well, I don't really, but I hate making calls. I have a real aversion to it. I don't know why (I used to be a telemarketer lol, and quite enjoyed the job!). But with all this email, FB, blogging and chatting, the art of the telephone call has disappeared. So I am making myself pick up the phone. Human interaction is good for the soul!
* start printing photosDigital cameras are overwhelming. Take today for example. Went to the zoo for 2 hours. With a film camera we would've taken a max of 24 photos. Today we took about 90. Sigh.... So I'm going to set aside a night in the first week of each month to print out 20 photos from the previous month. They are going to go in an ordinary album. This way I figure I will have enough for the full year, plus room for extras for special occasions. Did I mention I think about things too much? A few months down the track we'll reassess this one and maybe incorporate some scrapping goals.
Well there you have it, my resolutions. They are all really about the day to day things, the basic stuff that will keep me happy and my life rolling along nicely. There'll be a big adjustment for me this year with DH going back to work full time so I want to set myself so I survive, and hopefully, thrive. I haven't even begun to think about the big important things... that's another post. I think I've revealed more about the real me this week than I have in the entire rest of my blog. Enough for now!
