I know, I know...New Year's Resolutions don't work. People hit the ground running with good intentions, but then start to lose steam about the time February rolls around. Just take a look at the local gyms and you'll see what I mean.
I, too, have had good intentions when it comes to the new year. I have vowed to eat better, exercise more, spend wisely, and pray diligently. The results? I pray often for God to give me the will power to stop spending money on mocha's and cheeseburgers so I won't have to workout as often. Does that count?
Change is hard. Really hard. To make it a little easier, I've decided to create some goals for myself for 2010 and then list specific ways to meet those goals.
Goal #1: Stick to our budget
a. Limit the trips to Starbucks to once a week, and only if I am working on balancing the budget while I am there. (Peppermint Mochas make a terrible chore seem not so bad, you know.)
b. Cancel the gym membership. I was one of those aforementioned people that flood the gym in January and then slowly stop going about mid-February. But I had good intentions. Honest!
c. Start going to Food-4-Less instead of Albertsons. So I'll have to bag my own groceries. Big deal.
d. Have a monthly finance meeting with Nathan. Hmm, I wonder if we can do that at Starbucks...
Goal #2: Eat healthier
a. Stop buying soda and other junk food at the grocery store. If it's not in the house, we can't eat it!
b. Use substitutions such as whole wheat flour instead of white, unsweetened applesauce instead of oil, ground turkey in place of beef, olive oil instead of butter.
c. Limit eating out to one meal per week. This would also help with Goal #1.
Goal #3: Use time more wisely
a. Limit my time on the computer to two sessions each day: one while Benjamin is eating breakfast and the other immediately after putting him down for a nap, while I eat my lunch. Turn off the computer and hide it during all other times of the day!
b. Be in bed by 10:00. By getting more hours of sleep at night, I will have more energy to get things done during the day and less likely to feel the need for a nap.
c. Stay home two days per week. By designating Monday and Friday as "stay-home days," I am more likely to stay on track with my routine.
Goal #4: Have a short daily session with God
Um, anyone have any ideas for how I can do this?
So that is my list. After reviewing it, I find myself sarcastically asking, "While you're at it,Allison, why don't you go for world peace too?" But then I remind myself that Rome wasn't built in a day. That is why I have a whole year to work on this list. I'll try to give updates on my progress as the year goes by. Just try not to judge me too hard when I sometimes fail. I'll be hard enough on myself for all of us.
I, too, have had good intentions when it comes to the new year. I have vowed to eat better, exercise more, spend wisely, and pray diligently. The results? I pray often for God to give me the will power to stop spending money on mocha's and cheeseburgers so I won't have to workout as often. Does that count?
Change is hard. Really hard. To make it a little easier, I've decided to create some goals for myself for 2010 and then list specific ways to meet those goals.
Goal #1: Stick to our budget
a. Limit the trips to Starbucks to once a week, and only if I am working on balancing the budget while I am there. (Peppermint Mochas make a terrible chore seem not so bad, you know.)
b. Cancel the gym membership. I was one of those aforementioned people that flood the gym in January and then slowly stop going about mid-February. But I had good intentions. Honest!
c. Start going to Food-4-Less instead of Albertsons. So I'll have to bag my own groceries. Big deal.
d. Have a monthly finance meeting with Nathan. Hmm, I wonder if we can do that at Starbucks...
Goal #2: Eat healthier
a. Stop buying soda and other junk food at the grocery store. If it's not in the house, we can't eat it!
b. Use substitutions such as whole wheat flour instead of white, unsweetened applesauce instead of oil, ground turkey in place of beef, olive oil instead of butter.
c. Limit eating out to one meal per week. This would also help with Goal #1.
Goal #3: Use time more wisely
a. Limit my time on the computer to two sessions each day: one while Benjamin is eating breakfast and the other immediately after putting him down for a nap, while I eat my lunch. Turn off the computer and hide it during all other times of the day!
b. Be in bed by 10:00. By getting more hours of sleep at night, I will have more energy to get things done during the day and less likely to feel the need for a nap.
c. Stay home two days per week. By designating Monday and Friday as "stay-home days," I am more likely to stay on track with my routine.
Goal #4: Have a short daily session with God
Um, anyone have any ideas for how I can do this?
So that is my list. After reviewing it, I find myself sarcastically asking, "While you're at it,Allison, why don't you go for world peace too?" But then I remind myself that Rome wasn't built in a day. That is why I have a whole year to work on this list. I'll try to give updates on my progress as the year goes by. Just try not to judge me too hard when I sometimes fail. I'll be hard enough on myself for all of us.
Hi Allison ...
ReplyDeleteDon't know what your needs on the computer are ... but during one of your planned sessions (probably after putting Benjamin down) you could listen to a Beth Moore, Chip Ingram, or ??? lesson online :) they are great !!
Just a thought ... Jodi
Good idea Jodi...that would help with #4. I love Beth Moore too. I'm a little sad that I will be missing her study this quarter. Perhaps listening to her online will make up for it.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I wish I could say that my computer time is very important, but mostly it's just for FB and blogging. :}