20 Resolutions for 2014

I am not good at sticking to resolutions.  Never have been.  I have great ideas, and usually start out well, but I am a creature of habit, and habits are really hard to break.  However, I do think it’s a good idea to look inward and see the many ways in which I can improve and become a better person.  That is not to say that I am unhappy or that resolutions are a way of making us feel bad about ourselves.  But the New Year is a fresh start and I could use a few of those.  So here I go.  I’ll try to check in every three months or so with a progress report to see how I’m doing.

I got this idea after reading it on Amy’s Real Life. Thanks for the idea, Amy!

Resolutions for 2014

1.  Follow Through – If I make plans, I will do my best to stick to them.  I’ve become a bit of a homebody and would rather stay home than go out.  So friends, I’m enlisting your help.  If I say I’ll go, then try to back out, call me on it.

2.  Limit Computer Time – When I do get  spare minute, my instinct is to reach for the computer.  Often I’ll put off the kids for 5 mins (or an hour) because I’m caught up reading something online, or checking Facebook or email.  5 minutes too easily becomes 45 minutes for me, and other things around the house suffer, too.  I need to put time limits on my own computer use, just like I do for my kids.

3.  Get Outside – I am a fair-weather runner, which means I’m only exercising outside in Spring and Fall.  My body and my mind need more time spent with nature.  Whether it’s a walk around our neighborhood, a hike in the woods, or simply playing basketball or hockey in the driveway with the kids, I need to spend more time outside.

4.  Knit Something – I know, I’m not eighty years old, but when the kids got their Rainbow Looms, I realized that I like the catharsis creating something with my hands.  Last month, I started a test square and it’s almost finished, albeit with many many mistakes.  I’d like to start a real knitting project, even if it’s something as simple as a scarf.  Maybe if I start now, it’ll be finished in time to give as a gift next Christmas!   

5.  Listen to more music – I love music.  All holiday season long, I’d tune into the OnDemand music channel and listen to Christmas songs.  I get more done with music playing.  It boosts my mood and spurs me onto to accomplish more things.  I need to turn on the tunes more often in the house.

6.  Take guitar lessons – My son wants to learn and so do I.  I’ve had an acoustic for almost ten years, but I can only play the intro to Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive.”  I want to learn chords and how to read guitar music.  Anyone know of a good local guitar instructor?

7.  Write my next book – Or, at the very least, START it!  I’ve had the idea for my next book for months now, but haven’t written a single word.  With all of the indoor time I’m facing now this winter, I resolve to get it done.  Or at least started.

8.  Teach More, Do Less – This one is a parenting skill I need to improve.  With three kids under the age of 10, I tend to do more FOR the kids in the interest of saving time and mess.  Whether it’s shoe-tying, taking out the garbage, setting the table, or cooking, I tend to be a control freak.  I know that I’ll do it the right way, so I just do it all myself.  Then I get angry that no one helps out around the house.  My fault.  My daughter is the “Teach Me!” kid and she’s reminding me just how capable children are if we simply show them how.  I need to slow down and teach.

9. Make my bed every day – Seems silly as an adult to have this as a resolution, but I need it.  On days that I make the bed first thing when I wake up, the day seems to go more smoothly.  Maybe it’s seeing that one, restful space, all neat and tidy when so many other areas of my house and my life are a cluttered mess that puts me in a good mood.  I don’t know.  But I need to make the bed every day.

10. Get a colonoscopy – Yuck, I know.  But as my family reminded me over the holidays, colon cancer took my maternal grandmother way too young.  I was shocked to know that every one of my cousins had already done this.  I need to get on the ball.

11. Go skiing – I used to LOVE skiing.  I learned when I was 4 years old and went all the time. I was on the ski team in high school and even coached my racers when I was a teacher.  It shames me to admit this, but I haven’t been skiing for over 13 years.  I need to get my kids on skis and teach them how much fun shooshing down the slopes can be.

12. Keep receipts – I did an okay job of creating a tax folder this year for things like medical records and charity donations, but I need to be better at remembering to put everything in that folder.  Tax season comes and I know I’m throwing away money with all of the missing receipts.

13. Eat more veggies – I love vegetables.  When I actually make the effort to cut up raw veggies or prepare cooked ones in tasty ways, I eat a ton of them.  It’s not that much effort, but I need to focus on getting more veggies into my diet.

14. Keep an indoor plant alive – Plants are supposed to be good for healthy air.  I like plants.  I just tend to kill them.  So I’m going to see if I can find an indoor plant that I like and remember to water it enough to keep it alive.

15. De-Clutter – This one goes on every resolution list every year.  I guess it will continue to show up until I get it under control.  I have too many piles of everything (mail, folded laundry, books, etc.) on too many surfaces.  When my house is clutter-free, my mind is clearer.  This is one for my whole family to tackle.

16. Find and hang curtains – We’ve been in this house over 7 years and still only have sheers on our dining room windows.  I’m too picky.  I need to finally just choose from what’s out there and buy and hang them.

17. Drink water every night – When I remember to do this, it really helps.  One full glass of water before bed really helps me to sleep better and wake up feeling refreshed.  I’ve heard it’s good for your skin, too.  I need to do this every single night.

18.  Figure out how to use the Cloud and give each kid their own Apple ID – We currently all share one iTunes Apple ID (mine) and I’ve done that on purpose so I can get notifications and see everything that the kids do on their ipods, etc.  However, syncing iTunes, games, and keeping track of everything is getting difficult.  I need to learn how to use the technology we have to make life easier, not harder.

19.  Schedule real date nights with my husband – My parents have offered to babysit the kids for an overnight once a month.  We know this, yet our schedules tend to get so crazy that we don’t make it happen.  We need to go out, just the two of us, as least once a month.  We love each other and date night helps us remember why.

20. Set-up my coffee maker every night – I insisted on a programmable coffee maker so I could set it to brew my coffee every morning on a timer.  I love waking up to a fresh, hot cup of coffee every morning.  However, it only works if I set it up the night before!  There’s that follow-through thing again.

What do you resolve to do this year?