To-Do: January, 2019

Here we are! A shiny New Year. I’m attempting to be proactive and institute new habits (because if the calendar rolls around without any attempt at self improvement, did New Year’s even happen?? Asking for a friend…).

I’m trying something new this time around, though. Rather than make a whole long list of intentions for the year, up front, I’m going to make lists for each month - actionable items that can be easily measured. So often it’s easy to push things off, thinking we have “12 whole months!” to complete them. And then it’s suddenly December, and we haven’t even looked at that list in eight months (or longer). So! I’m taking baby steps to help myself build some momentum, and establish a routine that makes building upon my list a monthly accomplishment in itself, until I have an entire year’s worth of self improvement and accomplishments to look back on.

For January, I’d like to:

• Write More (at least once a week)

• Read More (finish at least one book)

• Move More (minimum 8k steps a day)

• Sleep More (at least 6.5 hrs a night. This could be pushing it, but I’m going to try for even more than that!)

• Take a bubble bath, once a week

• Give myself a manicure at least twice this month

• Round up all of our tax documents and send to our CPA, early!!

• Try at least two new Pinterest recipes

• Have at least one phone date a week, with a friend

• Start a new creative project, purely for fun

• Create a weekly schedule for myself, and adjust it as needed so that it becomes habit

Something I did start doing towards the end of last year (<— so weird already having to say that) is taking on more creative endeavors. I started practicing hand lettering again, and it has been so therapeutic having a creative outlet! It made me realize that I need more of that in my life, because it make me really, really happy. I even took an online writing course last spring, which is where this entire blog came from. I had all of the intentions in 2018, but the execution just didn’t quite pan out. I feel like the theme for myself in 2019 though, is going to be ‘Self Love’. The last few years have been a blur, and focused entirely on the kids. Which is to be expected, with how young they are.

But, they’re turning three on Sunday. Three!! They’re not ‘babies’ anymore. And I need to feel like some of my energy is being spent on me. And my relationship with my husband, and my family, and my friends. Not just giving them the leftovers, after my kids are done with me for the day. I haven’t been extending enough grace to myself, whereas my expectations for myself lie, and where reality puts me at any given moment. I know that needs to change, and I’m hoping that putting all of this in writing will help hold me accountable to those good intentions for this next year.

With this list I’m also trying to do the ‘responsible’ thing, and be somewhat balanced with fun, meaningful, and necessary goals for the month. Because obviously, adulting doesn’t ever go away, as much as we wish it would sometimes.

I’m feeling energized going into 2019. I’m excited for all of the possibilities, and hopeful for all of the good things we have ahead of us. 365 pages to write and live, and one down so far. Let’s do this!