Three Things

In the spirit of the Write a Novel In A Month challenge, I'm pushing myself to blog everyday. What was once a fun creative outlet has turned into another check on my to-do list. I'd like to find the pleasure in it again. Plus, sweet second-child Fiona deserves some of the same adoration as the first born.

The decision was made last night, and I wasn't about to get my toasty buns out of bed at 9:30pm to blog. So we'll just pretend I started on time.

I was thinking about my own personal rut. Stuck in the day to day drudgery of small children and wondering why it was so damn hard to do anything. I can see the light, flickering as it may be, of my children's growing independence. But I either set too many goals, or I make my definition of success so precise that I quit at the first stumble. So to jump start new habits, I made a plan that was simple, achievable, and easily measurable.

1. I would check our bank account everyday: We do alright, financially. But I'd like us to do better. More savings. Less credit card stall out. Pay for big stuff with cash. My normal status is to check the account, then freak out and call/email/text Kevin in a full out snit. Because this gets me all anxious and wired up, I stopped checking. I want to break this habit, feel more in control, and get back in the game. I don't want to feel like our money just disappears. (I'm also going to try a cash diet at the grocery store, my biggest contribution to money disappearance.)

2. I would exercise everyday, specifically outside: I'm great at finding other stuff to do that keeps me from exercising. But I NEED to get outside everyday. I notice such a difference in my mood and energy levels, regardless of how much I've slept. And the dogs need it as well. So I'm putting it at the top of my list. On days that I work, I thinking the 14 flights of stairs will count, even if it's not outside.

3. I would do something for myself without personal judgement of what that is: Yesterday it was watching the DVD extras for Two Towers. Hopefully soon it will be picking up my long neglected guitar and learning some chords. Sometimes the house will just be a little less clean, but that's OK.

So off I go, to walk the dogs in the sunshine as Kevin deals with a whiny child who is finished with his screen time, plus another who is refusing her nap. Cheers!