I know everyone seems to steer clear of setting new year’s resolutions these days. I never like making them becauseI never seem to stick to them, so why set myself up for failure right? Well this year I have a more positive outlook in hopes for a more positive outcome. I need to set some practical things that I need to do to improve in '09. Simple practical things, not things like be positive and go with the flow, or work to be happy.
I recognize that I have a real problem with consistency, because of this problem I just hate to make my intentions public information because when you do that, you have a whole bunch of people watching what you do and making sure you stick to doing what you said you would do, and I hate that!
Well, deep down I know accountability is very important. It is easy for me to be inconsistent if I don’t have anyone to answer to, so my number one resolution is:
- Be Consistent! I need to do this in order to resolve all the other things on my list.
- Be Accountable
- Create a weekly meal plan. I found that when I did this in the past it saved time, helped me be more organized and we ate healthier just because I planned what we would eat in advance. Meal planning makes my grocery shopping more efficient because I am shopping with a list for specific meals, so I am not just wandering around the store wondering what to buy and coming home with crap. In order to keep me accountable, I will probably join the Meal Plan Monday group and post here on the blog.
- Go to Bed Earlier. In my head I know I need to prepare everything the night before. I used to be so good at this when Gavin was younger. We had a good routine for everything in our house and I want to get back to that. I say good routine because all routines are not good. Now I find myself running and frazzled every morning. Which makes me impatient with Gavin because I am too focused on just getting out of the door. It’s become routine because it happens almost everyday. Not a good routine. The other day I was trying to get Gavin to hurry and finish dressing and I said to him “Gavin push the fast button, Mommy is running late today.” His response was an eye opener to me: “Mommy you late everyday and I push the fast button everyday”. What could I say, he was right. It’s all because I didn’t prepare the night before and I did not go to bed a decent hour.
- Eat Less Fast and Instant Foods. No I am not going on a diet. I am not ready for that type of commitment. Could I stand to loose a few pounds, certainly. But not a diet, not now. I love Oprah, but I am not getting back on the wagon with her. I thought about it watching the show last night (when I should have been asleep) but she started asking questions like what are you really hungry for and why do you eat what you eat and you know what I realized? I eat because I love food, I am hungry for food and not balance and I think she should just admit she likes food. Yeah she may be lacking balance in her life, but what she really loves is food.
I am not obese or a glutton, but food is not fuel for me, it is pleasurable, and what is so wrong with that? This is not because I am not getting enough pleasure in other areas of my life, either. Food pleasure is a different kind of pleasure and I am not ready to sacrifice carbs or sweets, or salty chips. It’s not deep and emotional, I like the way things taste.
Ok, back to my point. Because I don’t plan right, I end up eating a lot of fast food and buying instant type stuff that costs more. When it really doesn’t even taste as good as what I can cook in my own kitchen if I weren’t so lazy. Like the salads I buy for lunch when I am at work. I could always make them better and cheaper at home with my own ingredients and it is healthier for my family. I am not saying that every once in a while I wont grab a burger, because I will. But if I plan my meals, I won’t be grabbing something that’s not good for me because I have to. It will be because I want to. This falls right into line with my meal planning.
- Get Moving! Ok I said all of that about the pleasure of food but I know that I need to be more active physically. I want to start walking more or join some sort of class, maybe a beginner’s yoga class or something. Again, not to loose weight, but to feel better. If getting a move on helps me to burn off some of that pleasurable food, great! I also need to get moving on some of the plans I had last year, some of the visions I need to get down on paper and act on!
- Get My Butt up for Sunday school! Ok so this one is totally not in line with the others, but it is important for me to add this to the list. I am a person of faith, I am a Christian, grew up in church, and met my husband in church and all. I grew up going to Sunday school every Sunday. It is the foundation of the faith I have today, and my son who is about to be 4 years old has only been to Sunday school maybe 3 times. Sunday school at our church starts at 9:30! So that means I would have to get up earlier than I would for church. It is a great sacrifice but I am going to attempt to do it….at least once a month, Sunday school.
- Re-connect with Family and Friends. I didn’t really stay in touch in ‘08 like I used to and there is really no excuse.
- Blog More….I love connecting with the blogging community. I find that I do more reading blogs than writing because I don’t have much to blog about.
I guess I will end my list at 9 for 2009. I was inspired by Karen’s post over at Chookooloonks. I believe that my list of 9 things will be help me be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend ME. These things will help me be a better ever evolving Sylvie! Let's hope she evolves a little bit more this year!
Other inpiriational new year's resolutions posts click Check Here and Here.
