Plans! I have such plans! The road ahead is so blank and beautiful. White and wonderful. High, high hopes have I.
Unfortunately, like my dad used to say, “Jennifer Lynn (that always makes me think I’m in trouble), excuses are like belly buttons…everyone has one.”
Now, my mom used to say, “Start out like you can hold out.” With that in mind, pick one or two and run with it.
Get organized: Here is an unbelievably comprehensive collection of printables. Meal plan worksheets, chore charts for kids, writing planners, and on and on.
30 day challenge--see what changes!
Get healthy: Maybe you need to eat healthier, move more, tone up, stretch more, run a 5K. Start somewhere, have fun and make it happen. Everyday is another chance to try again, so don’t give up! I love the Nike Training Club iPhone app for “anywhere” workout plans and the MyFitnessPal app for tracking my food.
Read more: Why? It’s good for your brain, it’s good for your sanity, it’s good for your vocabulary! And I’m not talking about a “how to raise a perfect child” book. You need to read for your enrichment. I was in a book club and each year we would try to read a biography, a non-fiction book, a classic and then various fiction books. If you can’t join a book club, you could start one or sign up for Shelfari. Shelfari is a great way to keep track of books people tell you to read, find books you want to read, and share books you’ve read with people.
More music: You know the value of Kindermusik for your children, but I would be willing to bet that you have either musical talent in mothballs or musical aspirations on the back-burner. Maybe this is your year to challenge yourself to work through a piano concerto, take voice lessons, join choir, pick up the guitar. I recently had to practice my bass to play in our Christmas program and with the busyness of the season, it was the last thing I thought I had time for. I was so surprised to realize that by engaging a different part of my brain through an hour of practicing, I had such a new brain for accomplishing the rest of my to-do list for the week. Who knew? Music is good for our grown-up brains, too!
This is a short-list. Maybe you want to make a new friend, have people over for dinner more, practice being still and quiet, be more positive, learn a new language, not put your hair in a ponytail more than once a week. Happy new year and happy Monday! Go forth and be an excuse buster!
This post brought to you by Jenny Leggett who even now is visualizing herself in the gym…on a machine thingy or something.