Waiting Until the Last Minute

For this not-so-little project I've embarked on, I have devoted an entire notebook to writing down my thoughts, ideas, and goals.  Every week or so I take the time to check in and look through the pages I've written on.  I am a self-proclaimed Type A person, so all of my thoughts are organized into their respective categories.  Each week I have taken a few of these goals and put them on my weekly to-do list.  At the end of the week, I am tracking my progress.  So far, so good.

Last week we tackled the unpleasant task of cleaning out the refrigerator and embarked on our journey to become debt-free and live on a budget.  Bet you can guess which task I saved for the last-minute:  yep, the refrigerator.  Not my favorite activity, but my husband pitched in and we were done in no time!

I've set my weeks running from Sunday to Saturday.  Within that time frame I will achieve all I set out to do that week.  There really are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.  If I'm going to get sh*t done, I need to follow through with my goals.  Given the unexpected now four-day long baby illness, I'm behind but I know I can finish.

Tonight we're going to tackle the biggest and most important project on my list this week:  my daughter's fleece tie blanket.  The material has been sitting in the closet for a year, she's asked me numerous times to make it, and darn it, I'm going to make it (with a little help from my husband I hope!).  Tomorrow morning when my daughter wakes up I'm going to surprise her with that blanket.
I can see the joyous look on her face already!

If you're struggling to meet your goals, set which days your week will run from and create a realistic list of goals you can achieve in that time frame.  Don't let anything get in the way of meeting those goals.  Lighten the load and let the guilt, regret, and stress go.  We're going to have an amazingly awesome year of meeting our goals, no matter how big or small!

Sweet Rewards

My first step in this journey was to set goals.  Rather than focusing on one particular goal, I came up with several goals in many areas of my life.  It's kind of how I operate, a very "all-or-nothing" type of gal here.  If I'm going to declare 2015 The Year to Get It Done, then that's exactly what I'm going to do.  Keep in mind many of those goals are on the less-grandiose side.  For the most part I want to make sure I am using my time wisely and making connections with others.  If it takes writing them down in a notebook to ensure they happen, then so be it.

So far this month has been a win in many of the areas I set out to improve upon.  My husband and I have gone on not one, but TWO date nights, we are working together on our finances and paying down debt, we have scheduled fun family time for the weekend, and I've spent time with my friends...all this and it's only the 15th!

To switch it up I bit I have been finding ways to make the mundane housework a little more fun.  I busted out my iPod filled with my favorite songs, cranked it up, and worked on cleaning and laundry.  The kids had a blast dancing and I enjoyed the little pick-me-up, so it was a win-win for us all.  On top of that, I cut a little deal with myself.  I devoted Monday and Wednesday to getting the big chores done (laundry, cleaning bathrooms, putting clothes away) and rewarded myself with some time with friends on Tuesday and Thursday.  The kids got to play, I got social time.  I admit I was a bit more motivated to tackle what I needed to do knowing if I did I would have time with the girls.

It is so very important to set up a little reward system to stay motivated.  Lost ten pounds?  Buy an outfit that makes you feel good.  Completed your daily to-do list?  Take 30 minutes to sit down and relax.  Stuck to your budget?  Set aside some money next month to do something fun with your spouse.

There are countless ways to reward yourself.  Make sure you take the time to do so!  If you're using a notebook, write down rewards that are meaningful to you and create a plan.  It can be so hard when you finish one task and set your eyes on the next, but we all deserve a little pat on the back here and there.  Go ahead, bask in the glory, if only for bit.  I bet you'll find yourself tackling your next goal with a little more enthusiasm.  After all, who doesn't enjoy a little reward here and there?

  
    

The Mantra

I am nearing two weeks into The Year to Get It Done and feeling very optimistic and driven.  This year-long journey is not about the extraordinary, but rather the ordinary every day opportunities to do something positive and fulfilling.  I want to be present and intentional.

I want to follow through with the projects I've meant to start but haven't.  The dates with my husband I mean to plan, but don't.  The fun family time I want to carve out, but regrettably don't because I am too busy with this or that.

I want to feel alive and at peace rather than burnt out and burdened.  This journey is about all of the baby steps that, when put together, add up to a remarkable outcome.  They make a difference and will eventually lead to a freer way of living.

I want to strengthen my friendships and spend time with those important to me.  I will strive to follow my heart and pursue a life path that is not only fulfilling, but brings joy and peace to my life.

No longer will I be swayed by what others may think or succumb to the societal pressures lurking around every corner.  Each decision will be carefully weighed with our family's best interests at the center of our decision-making process.  The days of "I wish" will be replaced with "I did."  Regrets will be replaced with contentment and satisfaction.

Those dreams that seem too big really aren't.  If you have passion and put your mind to it all things are possible.  At this particular time in my life I feel like I can do anything if I really put enough effort into it.  Each day is fresh with many choices to be made.  I can choose to manage my time wisely, connect with those around me, and pursue my goals and dreams or I can sit idly watching life pass me by.

I think I'll choose the former.  There's not better time than now.

  

  

Don't Let Another Year Pass You By...And a Giveaway!

Today marks the end of another year.  It sounds so cliche, but the older I get the faster the years seem to turn.  Can you believe it was already fifteen years ago we were preparing to celebrate the millennium with such great anticipation?  I certainly cannot.

Time can be so hard to manage.  Our generation is stuck in the rat race.  We are pulled in so many directions, distracted by modern conveniences, over-scheduled, and living in excess.  Unfortunately, we are passing this lifestyle on to the next generation and if we don't make a conscious effort to slow down and bit and simplify, our children will more than likely live at a speed even faster than ours, if that's even possible.

Perhaps you're a little bit confused:  here I have declared 2015 "The Year to Get It Done," yet I am talking about slowing down and simplifying.  Let me explain.

Each day I find myself wishing I would get this or that done around the house.  Instead of making the decision to work on it, I tend to put many of these tasks off.  Little things, like cleaning out the pantry or catching up on the kids' photos, add up to what feels like an insurmountable amount.  If I rid myself of distraction and designate some time each day to tackle these projects, not only would they get done, but it would be so fulfilling to turn the "I wish" to "I did."

Let's look at another angle.  We have many great ideas to spice up our family time.  By carefully managing our time both during the day and week, our weekends and evenings will be freed up to either resume or start back up some family traditions.  We used to play a game every night with our older two kids before they went to bed.  Once we expanded our family, that tradition sadly went away.  While it may not be realistic to play a game each night before bed, we certainly could slow down and designate one night a week as family game night.

While it may be The Year to Get It Done, that does not mean adding more to our overly-filled schedules.  Instead, we need to evaluate our lives.  We should choose to spend our time engaging in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment and let go of those that don't.  We need to find what motivates us.  We need to consider all of those projects, ideas, and goals we have put off until the right time comes along and make 2015 the right time.

Let's band together and let go of complacency.  Let's make 2015 The Year We Get It Done!

To start the year off right, one lucky reader will win a copy of one of the inspirational books I love:  Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider.  Here is how you can qualify to win:  "Like" my Facebook page and share it with your friends.  Leave a comment below stating one goal you'd like to achieve this year.  For an extra entry, sign up via email to follow my blog.  The contest will end at 7:00 P.M. CST.  The winner will be announced January 2nd! *This contest is now closed!

It is my hope we can create a positive, supportive online community.  When life gets in the way, we'll be here to pick each other up.  I hope you'll join us!

 


    












   

The Declaration

This year I hit the magical number:  35.  Some theorize this is the age people start to feel an urgency to pave a solid path to walk on.  Many find it is a time to contemplate this very important question: what do I want to accomplish in this life?  If you've hit this age,  you may find yourself in a similar place.  The carefree years of our twenties are behind us.  We've had our share of fun, made plenty of mistakes, worked our first "real" job, and perhaps gotten married and started a family.  We've transitioned into our thirties and now found ourselves smack dab between thirty and that "f" word. You know.  Forty.

I am not sure if it's the number or my current season of life, but I have been struck with the desire to stop making excuses, mismanaging my time, and putting things off until the timing is right.  The truth is, the timing will probably never be any better than it is now.  All of those nagging little "to-do's," dreams, and goals need not be put on hold anymore.  I have dubbed 2015 as, "The Year to Get It Done"...and I have every intention of doing just that.

You might be thinking this sounds like a lofty declaration.  You may also be wondering what the heck I'm talking about.  What is it I want to get done?  I have been taking the month of December to carefully consider my goals and dreams and jotting them down in a notebook.  Thus far I've come up with several categories which encompass nearly every facet of my life:  finance, business, home organization, home projects, health and exercise, traveling, family time, relationships, faith, and service.  Within each category I have written my ideas and goals.  It's been very therapeutic.  I have strategically placed it on my nightstand and some nights when my mind is racing, I take the time to write down my thoughts before drifting off to sleep.

Naturally this journey includes my husband as well, so amping up the communication is a huge component.  We've spent some time discussing where we currently are and where we'd like to be in many of these areas.  In order to fulfill our goals and make some of our dreams come true, we're going to have to be on the same page.  This year will be a wonderful opportunity to grow as a couple and strengthen our relationship.

The bright yellow notebook has become the blueprint for the year ahead.  Items will be crossed off, new ideas added, and a whole lot of notes will be taken in the process.  There is no set schedule.  I have no plan for focusing on one particular area each month nor have I devised any systematic way to tackle my goals.  Instead, I am looking forward to committing to the journey and letting it unfold as it may. While there is a need to set some short and long-term goals in some areas (like finance and travel), the majority of the other areas are open to flexibility and growing as a person, wife, mother, and friend.  

Are you tired of putting things off?  Have a bucket list you'd like to tackle?  Then join in the journey. Follow along on Facebook or sign up for email updates and keep yourself on track to make it a fun and successful year.  Grab a notebook, jot down your thoughts and goals in the areas you find important, and see where you end up a year from now.  2015 is right around the corner and it is, after all, the year to get it done.