But, back to New Year resolutions. Or commitments, as Meghan calls them. I kind of rather like the term commitments, since there is no pass/fail. And I’d like these changes to stick. I don’t really have too many changes I want to make, but I’ll review a few of them below.
Commitment 1
Be more organized. This is pretty much the main commitment I’d like to make. I used to be completely organized all the time. At one time I was very Type A. Then I went to Honduras, learned to relax, and can’t go back. I don’t actually want to go completely back, because it’s so much better being a Type A-. However, my life could use an organization make-over. Mainly because I am SOOOO busy and there really is barely enough time to get things done. Here are things I plan on organizing:
a) My Apartment: Yes, things are still in boxes and bags and hidden in closets. I just never got unpacked all the way because I had to go to Vegas for a week right after moving and then was too pregnant-tired, and then the baby came, etc. Yeah, so many excuses. However, I am done. Things have to find a home in this apartment and that’s the end of the story. How am I going to do this? I have this plan of assigning weekends to rooms. For example, this weekend coming up will be the dining room. There is one big box left in the dining room and I’d like to unpack it. The following weekend I will do the kitchen, etc. When I’ve finished each room, then each weekend I will clean/straighten each room.
b) My Time: I waste a ton of time just thinking about things and not actually doing them. And let’s face it, I don’t have much time. When I work, I get home at 6:30pm, the baby gets a bath at 7pm, and goes to bed by 8pm. And somewhere in there I have to cook dinner, prepare lunch for the next day, wash diapers, stuff diapers, fold clothes, do laundry, wash/disinfect pump parts, etc. Thankfully I can work from home two days so on those days I finish at 4pm – but somehow I always find it to be 6pm and I haven’t done anything. Plus, the end of this month I am starting classes again so I’ll have class on Mondays and Wednesdays. Even less time! So, I really need to organize my meals far in advance – and prepare as much as I can on the weekends (cook chicken, cut veggies, etc.). And I need a system so each day I’m doing something but not everything – Mondays fold laundry, Tuesdays wash diapers, etc.
c) Money: This is a big one. It is hard to organize something you don’t have. Or don’t have enough of – we are super short on money these days and it’s about time I organized a budget. Now that we have to pay for daycare, any extra money we had is gone, gone, gone. If we want to still buy gifts for people, get the dog groomed, etc. we’ll have to put money away each paycheck. I am determined to get our finances in order and not spend above our means. I knew having a baby was going to be hard financially but the cuts we’ll have to make are totally worth it. At least our car already broke and cost us a fortune! One less thing to worry about! Plus, golf starts up the end of April so I can build our small savings account back up to where it was…before maternity leave, the car, and Christmas depleted it!
Commitment 2
Be healthier. I am a pretty healthy person, I admit. I have a small sugar addiction, but so far a decent metabolism that allows me to eat lots and lots of candy without too many repercussions (although I’m getting old so that may change). However, I am trying to make a few changes to improve my health.
a) Eat a fruit or veggie with every meal. This is hard because I pretty much hate vegetables. I love fruit, but really need to work on the veggie side. Yesterday night I had broccoli with dinner. Yes, it is practically a miracle because I HATE broccoli, but I did it anyway. Now I have a son and I need to be a good example to him – and eating vegetables is good for you.
b) Have snacks on hand. One of my main problems is being hungry all the time. When I get home from work at 6:30pm, I shove a ton of food into my mouth because I’m so hungry. I can’t wait to prepare dinner – I have to eat something right away. This usually means a bunch of chips. If I had something already prepared to munch on when I came home, maybe I could skip the five servings of tortilla chips. Or maybe I will eat the prepared snack AND the chips. It’s worth a try though.
c) Floss my teeth. More often. No explanation needed.
I think those are pretty much it. Nothing too crazy or ridiculous. Nothing I can’t possibly achieve. Just a few things that will make my life easier and happier and more relaxed. Right?
What resolutions or commitments are you making for 2013?
