So, this resolution thing…….
Last year I was fairly focussed and decided to try a different tack with the old New Year’s Resolution thingy. Mine was to smile more. Not as much a cop-out as you might think. Smiling I find helps me focus on the positivity, something we all need in this life. OK I confess I can be rubbish at coping with stress and I’m also a born worrier. It doesn’t take an expert to figure out that one of the first things that goes is your ability to smile. The thing I discovered was that I didn’t notice this happening – so I set out to change it, and I did.
This year however, as I sit at my desk having returned to work I might still be kind of smiling but I have no resolution (lets face it it’s just ridiculous to attempt more than one, isn’t it?) I have no resolution because I haven’t even had the time to give this any serious consideration. Mmmm what does that say about me eh?
Ok let’s think about this. The holiday was a kind of holiday, but those of you who have a family will know that your commitments during the holiday go through the roof and your time is seriously challenged. Sure I got time to put my feet up but my days were void of routine and that my friends is where it seriously unravels for me.
I need routine – OK not a rigid routine, but I find that routine helps me balance things. Towards the end of the holiday I could feel myself getting stressed and edgy at the thought of returning to work. Interestingly instead of looking forward to the routine I was dreading it. So, maybe my resolution should be to give serious consideration to a routine that works for me. Should I be writing more lists? I’m not really a list person but I do think I need a plan. I mean what kind of person can’t find time in her head and her day to come up with a New Years Resolution?
I like to think of resolutions as things that are positive, rather than denying yourself something. So, for example, instead of giving up chocolate or losing weight then I would be more likely to think of eating healthier – and hopefully the rest will follow. So what positive things would I like for 2012?
I would like to have more protected study time – I need this if I am truly going to knock my amazing capacity to procrastinate on the head.
I would like more quality time with my husband – just him and I. Sometimes life just keeps happening around about you and it gets difficult to just stop and be.
I would like to read more. Sure I study but I mean read stuff that I just want to read, not just the stuff I have to read.
I would like to sleep better. Me and 3am are just too friendly for comfort.
I would like to get back to running.
OK so there is a bit of a pattern here. Routine. If I managed my routine better then most of the above are more likely to fall into place.
So folks I think I’ve just had an epiphany moment. My New Year’s Resolution is to learn to prioritise and to dig deep and say no to some of the things that get in the way of me studying, spending time with my husband, eating and sleeping better and getting my trainers on and hitting the pavement.
Oh and as last year’s resolution was such a success I think I’m going to keep it going. In 2012 I’m going to be smiling more – fancy joining me?
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Ooh! Excellent resolutions. I want the big books bag. And I’m going to have to steal your 3 a.m. sign today!!
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Thank you. I loved this sign, it just says it all really!
Bravo! Saying “no” is hard for people like us, but there comes a time when it’s harder not to say “no” because, like you so aptly said, there are too many important things that you push to the wayside while doing things not that important because you didn’t say “no.”
When I learned to say “no” and not ooze with guilt over it, my life transformed. You’ll be smiling automatically!
It is hard but I know I need to have a serious attempt at getting better at it!
Running or hiking rejuvenates me. Smiling does more for my positive attitude than almost anything and saying no opens the door to eing pro-avtive. You have a great blog.
Thanks for stopping by Doug! I’m pleased you enjoy my blog. Thanks for taking time to leave a comment.
All sounds good Jacqueline. Personally, I think trying to sort out sleep will have a positive effect on everything else. Keep smiling – I’m up for joining you!
Sue
Sue you are so right! Glad your joining me on the smiling bit
I only get things done when the deadline is so close I’m terrified by it!!
I’m the same I need deadlines and actually they encourage me rather than scare me (most of the time
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resolutions and routine ? hmm, not sure about. Smiling more? Yes that’s true it influence the approach to daily life. As what concerns routine I decided for 1 or 2 hours walk every morning (at least, almost every morning). I’ll probably alternate this with swimming (shorter time). This works, but I do not like to tight routine!
robert
Hi Robert, thanks for stopping by. I find I need routine to avoid the chaos – but smiling is much more fun that following a routine
I relate to your routine comments. I love the holidays but I can’t seem to get anything done, including sleep, because I need routine. And, like you said, I’m stressed now as if I resent having to get back into a routine. Thanks for reading my blog.
Thank you for stopping by and reading. At least no matter how much we’re dreading getting back to the routine for most getting back to it is actually a good thing. Kids are always better if they have a routine I find – no matter how crazy that routine is
I’ve also just discovered just how much I need routine, and so do my kids. It’s school holidays at the moment, and even though I hate the rush of getting everyone fed, dressed and out the door at school time, without it we’re lost! We just sort of battle our way through the day with no goals or objectives and so everyone just fights – ALL DAY! So I decided last week to get a membership at my local gym (which we can’t afford, but my sanity is worth more than money!) and every day I go at the same time and the kids go to the crèche and we’re all so much happier. We know what we need to do for the day, we all get a break from each other for an hour and, as a bonus, I get some exercise and time to rejuvenate!
Sounds like a fantastic plan
You really made me think. In fact while I have been in Cambodia I have done nothing but think about how I should change my pattern of thinking and being. It is just that thinking about it and doing it are two different things. I also am a bit of a worrier and am worrying like mad at the moment about growing older. I want to do so much… I think you hit the nail on the head with those wonderful things you came up with. I think I will focus on being healthy, giving as much as I can and aiming to make the most of my life while I can. Thank you for a great post.
Happy new year to you and your family.
xxx
Hello there Lynda, I’m pleased you liked my list and I’m pleased it got you thinking. As for the worrying about growing older bit I think that is something we all share – but alas is also something we have to accept. For me it’s not so much a worry about growing old, but more what the quality of my life will be. I hope you come up with some great resolutions for yourself.
Great list J. How are they going?
I’ve never made resolutions before, but this year I got the urge! Mine are all things I take pleasure in doing anyway; it’s just a matter of making time, much like you!
Here’s to 2012!
Here’s to 2012 right enough Rosie. My resolutions are going fine, however in order to achieve them I’ve discovered that those close to me have to be on-board for them to truly work….. we’ll see how things go. I’ll pop over to your blog and catch up with yours. I hope 2012 is kind to you and yours.
I read an interesting article recently (sorry, I can’t find it) about how the key to more effective working is to cut down on the amount of decisions you have to make every day. So for example, instead of waking up on, say, Tuesdays and thinking ‘shall I go for a run or stay in bed or maybe go swimming at lunchtime’, you decide in advance that every Tuesday you will, say, go swimming at 12 noon and you do not change that. And so on. I haven’t been very good at putting this into practice yet but I can really see how it could reduce stress and free your brain to concentrate on more important things. One thing Julian and I have managed, though, is that every Friday is ‘date night’ (I’m sorry that sounds so corny.). It goes back to when the children were small and we couldn’t afford to go out and also pay a babysitter. We have both found it really helpful to know that on that one day we will have space to ourselves, open a bottle of wine and cook something delicious which, however extravagant it seems, costs only a fraction of a meal in a restaurant. Wishing you all the very best for 2012. I shall certainly join you in trying to smile more. In fact, I’m having a bit of an insomniac phase at the moment so next time I’m awake at 3am I will send you a big smile across the border!
Joanna, thanks for this it makes a lot of sense and I’ve never thought about it like that before. Oh and good luck with the 3am thing – I woke at 3.30 this morning – maybe that’s progress and I’m edging my way to a more reasonable hour to be waking at. Thanks for the smile across the boarder
Oh and date night doesn’t sound corny at all – it sounds delightful. I shall try to aim for that.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this Jacqueline. I especially liked ….Dear 3am we have got to stop meeting this way… I would much rather sleep wit you. I was rolling laughing! Considering it’s 2am and I have just finished studying, I had better try and sleep before I end up having an affair with 3am too. It doesn’t matter what I do, I always end up meeting 3am from either side…can’t sleep, stay up…hello 3am. Cant sleep, wake up…hello 3am. I am the master of procrastination…we should start a club.
I think I might just pip you to the post on the procrastination award and it looks like I might be joining you on a few all nighters to get this TMA in. The things we do to ourselves