Getting Personal ~ Habits to Make & Break

First off, this is a lot more personal that I usually am on this blog--which is mostly just to update far away family and friends on the kids and general goings-on around here. But I figured why not? I haven't been good at writing in a journal for a long time, and now this is how I do it for my kids. I should use it for myself too.

I've never been much for New Year's resolutions. I do believe it setting goals, but saying I'm going to start it on Jan. 1st and do it every day until Dec. 31st of a certain year doesn't really make sense to me. Or simply having an entire list that you just check things off doesn't always make sense either. I got in the habit of actually writing down certain goals/projects/habits I wanted to do/change/accomplish around Senior year of high school and on into college. Just like I heard, it honestly helped to have them physically written down and look over them every few months to see how I was coming along. Then I'd add to them so that I could grow more in that area, and yes in certain cases cross it off the list and call it done. Already doing this really came in handy when I started teaching and needed to plan the year out for my students. I knew where they needed to be at certain times in the year and it was easy to plan it out and reevaluate as needed.

Somewhere along the way I definitely dropped the ball on doing it for me personally. Such is the life of a teacher I guess! Then I had kids and I just didn't take the time for myself that every person--married, single, parent or not--should. Finally after Owen hit about 3 months old I was having a really hard time not feeling like "Lisa" anymore. I was a wife, mother, and still a teacher off and on. {Not teaching full time, but subbing or teaching preschool part time.} I loved all of those things {still do}, but feeling like you've lost yourself isn't good for yourself or those around you. I sat down one day and starting thinking of things that would help me to feel more like me, and things that would also help make me a better me. I should have kept a more formal list, but I just grabbed a post-it and started writing.

On list started in about Feb. of 2010 and a little evaluation of each:

• Eat breakfast w/kids -- I am not good at this! I get things for the kids then busily start my day, thinking of all that needs to be done and how to get it all done. Some months are better than others, but almost 2 years later this is still a habit I need to MAKE!

• Read 2 books a month, book club book + my choice -- My goodreads.com profile shows I read 11 books in 2010. Not the average 2/month I was going for. In 2011 it shows I read 18 books, so that's closer! This doesn't count all the books I read to my kids! But I wasn't really counting those anyway. ;o) There are just sooo many books I want to read, I have a hard time choosing one. Still trying to MAKE this one stick.

• Go back to church - In March '10 I finally got us to church and we've been going ever since. I still have a long way to go in finding myself spiritually, but it's a start and I'm still working on it. The kids love Primary & Nursery. I enjoyed teaching Primary for a year {7 year olds and then 4 year olds} and since June '11 have come to feel more comfortable working with the Young Women {girls ages 12-18} as the Secretary in the program. Paul goes to church because I want him to, and that may be all it ever is, but he does enjoy working in the Cub Scouts program.

• Exercise at least 3 times a week - In May '10 I joined the gym and lost 20 lbs in 3 months...on a $20 fundraiser membership I bought from a friend's daughter. Best $20 ever spent! We decided it was really worth it and important to me, so we extended my membership and I continued to go on average 3-5 times a week over the next 15 months until my membership expired in Nov. '11. I miss it! Trying to figure out what to do next...join back up at the gym or start doing personal training/boot camp sessions with a cousin's husband. But definitely a habit to get back into! It's such a great release for me, allows for much needed "me" time, and has helped my self-esteem a lot.

• Donate hair to Locks of Love again - In Dec. '10 I donated 14 inches for the second time to Locks of Love. Might not seem like a big deal, but it's something I feel good about and I get a new cut that I keep for a while until I want to grow it out again. I plan on doing this again and again over the years.

Now again I realize that this was list from 2010...I am not sure that I added much to it over that year, but I evaluated it every few months and I felt so good that I was working and progressing on each item. And I honestly can't find the one I had for 2011. I know it consisted of many of the same items, but just advanced a little more by developing more specifics in certain areas.

Now here it is the 3rd of January in 2012 and I realize that I was in a bit of a rut towards the end of last year. My birthday is also in January so it always made sense to edit/recreate my list (and I did when I was consistent). So why not jump on the bandwagon and get a new list going to start the year off?

As of January 3, 2012 my list looks like this:

• Update blog at least 1 time/month - Just because it's easier than going back 2 or 3 months and trying to play catch up.
• Read at least 2 books/month - Reading is my favorite! Always a chance to learn something new or escape from my world for a bit.
• No white sugar for 1 week/month - Both pregnancies my dr advised having little to no white sugar/white flour foods. I thought he was crazy! I figured if I tried a little each month then if I get pregnant again I might actually be able to do it and see what difference it makes. Even if not pregnant, still would like to see how it goes.
• Exercise 3-5 times/week - It's good for me and I really have come to love it!
• Family Night 1/week - In our church we are encouraged to have Family Home Evening on Monday nights. We have yet to start this, but I really want to. Now I just have to get Paul on board.
• Read scriptures daily - For personal/spiritual growth and understanding.
• Pray daily - For help and guidance in personal/spiritual growth and understanding.
• Sleep - Make a consistent bedtime routine for myself to get more sleep! I need to BREAK the habit of going to bed so late after everyone else is asleep. It's usually the only time I can get things done or read and relax, but sleeping less isn't helping anyone in this house.
• Reach out/talk to friends more often - I often assume everyone is so busy and at times I also just get sucked into my own little life and problems. I need to make more time to check in with people. It's always good when I do! People and relationships are important to me, and I need to BREAK the habit of thinking that everyone else is too busy for me. Who cares if they are? At least they'll know I'm thinking about them.
• Get moving on starting my Masters - I decided a year or so ago that I want to get my Masters in Speech & Language Pathology. It offers a lot more options, but I can still work with young kids. I looked into it a little, just enough to know that it would take me 3 full years and not 2 since I don't have a lot of the prerequisites. It seems that I have more time now to do it, but less money...and if I go back to work full time I'll have money to do it and less time. But my wise best friend told me that I just need to get started. 1 prereq at a time so then I will be ready to just dive in and do the 2 years. So I need to look more into this!

Now I know where my list is and that it shouldn't get lost!