Happy 2019 Friends!
Yes, I know it’s a few days into it already (lol, so a little over 2 weeks, but who’s counting?) but I haven’t been quite ready to get things started yet, and have been relishing the time to just be with my family. And that is a-ok! If I’ve learned anything this past year, it has been to cherish the time that you have while you have it, and the rest can sort itself out.
So, how are your resolutions coming along? Or not. I’m not so much into making resolutions as I am just trying to get things done, trying to make small changes, and to achieve overall life change for the better. Sounds simple, right? Staring at the big blank calendar can be overwhelming while simultaneously being tempting as you rush to plan and fill in every available blank space. My first challenge to you is to NOT- see how much of your space/time you can leave free. What is the worst that would happen if you left one week-day day a week open? Then, at the very least, you would either have a day to catch up on the things you missed, or if you stay on track the rest of the days, you will have a true day of rest. What if you built that into every week, every month, all year long? What could you spend that free time doing instead? Maybe there is a game your children always beg you to play, but you just don’t have the time? Or there is something special you want to cook but again, don’t have the time? Whatever it might be, you will suddenly have the time.
Do you have a big goal that you would like to see happen this year? Maybe you have something you can’t wait to launch. Or a product that you just can’t wait to create. What if this is the year you finally write your book? Well, you could plan this out, carefully, step-by-step, and then forget about it because you never have the time to take that first step. Or you could commit to yourself that you are going to work on your big goal for 15 minutes three times a week- put it on your calendar, scheduled it in your planner, turn off your phone, shut off the wifi, and just DO it for those 15 mintues 3 times a week. If you want to write a book, just write, for 15 minutes three times a week. Set a timer, sit down with JUST what you need- pad and paper, a computer that has everything blocked EXCEPT your writing program, and do it. Even if you just write I don’t know what to write for 15 minutes. Will you get your book done today? No. But those 15 minutes add up. And before you know it, you have the first sentence, first paragraph, first page, first chapter. You just have to get started. If 15 minutes works well for you, then stick with that, if you find you want to continue and stretch yourself, add 15 minute increments to your plan, up to a full two hours (or break the two hours into one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon), and commit to it. If it starts to be too much, or you feel overwhelmed, start back with just 15 minutes.
No matter what it is you want to achieve, or get done, breaking it down into smaller, manageable chunks, helps to ensure that you will get it done. This works for your kids too! Getting everyone back into our rhythm and school routine was TOO big for mine, especially after how much fun we had with Christmas school. But, easing into the rhythm, by starting with just two subjects, and then slowly adding more in, until we had a nice balance back, made it so much easier, and ended a lot of the school blues. (Also, being sure to start our morning with a nice variety of fun, non-school specific picture books helps a TON!)
Maybe your goal this year isn’t so much doing something as it is having something, or maybe even traveling somewhere? Well, again, you aren’t going to just make all the funds you need for your project or vacation today, but what if you saved just $1 a day? Or $10 a week? Or whatever amount makes the most financial sense to you? Bit by bit, it will add up, promise.
So, what do you think? What are you going to commit to doing this year? What is something that you are going to give at least 15 minutes to at least three times a week? Maybe you have a habit that you want to develop in your kids (here, we are trying to get back to quiet after lunch reading time, so we are starting with 10 minutes after lunch, twice a week, next week, we will add three days, then the next week we will add 2 minuets to each session, with a goal of eventually having 30 minutes of reading time, three afternoons a week). When you break things down, and set a manageable time limit for yourself, it does feel so overwhelming and impossible.
I can’t wait to hear about your exciting plans for the year and how I can support you in reaching them!