Making resolutions is all well and good but unless there is a structure to meet those resolutions, they won’t happen. So in work and in play, I have tangible, reachable goals. I focus on something new every month and keep the habits that improve my life and my mood. It’s amazing what a little mind power can do!

Previous posts: April Goals and Healthful, Happy, and Loving Project

So, two months in, I have realized a few things. A list of commandments that I read every day just doesn’t work for me. In fact, any goal that adds to my list of things to do every day isn’t going to stay long-term. Therefore, I have kicked out the list of commandments. And I’ve kicked out my daily walks. From now on, I will define what I want to focus on and set out things to try to accomplish my goals.

Also, after a little inspiration from my boss, I will be continuously working on nine areas of my life: family/relationship, career, finance, spirit, body, intellect, friendship, environment. Each month will emphasize a specific categories that I think are slipping. A balanced life is a happy life 🙂

Previous Goals That Have Stuck:

• Family: Set up weekly phone dates with every immediate family member. (Read about it here)
• Spirit: When I’m sad, stop thinking of the future. Just smile and try to make that moment happier.
• Spirit: Remember to be happy when I succeed. (This is a work in progress but I’m getting there!) 
• Body: Eat at least one raw meal per day. (Usually my smoothie)
• Body: Have at least one entirely vegetarian day per week. (This is actually becoming multiple days per week)
• Intellect: Create a folder for design inspiration. (I rearranged my Pinterest page to make this easier. Still working on the physical, non-digital folder)

May Goals:

• Relationship: Surprise him.
  I’m always bugging Mike to surprise me with nice things or take me on dates. I recently (five minutes ago) realized that I can’t expect him to do that for me if I don’t do it for him first. I’m going to work on treating him like the love of my life that he is.
• Career: Stop being late.
  When I first start a job, I’m never late to meetings. Usually I’m ten minutes early! But once I settle in, I figure out where I can squeeze in extra activities and it makes me late. Only by a few minutes but then I’m wasting someone else’s time.
• Finance: Purge the crap.
  I’m tired of having things around that I don’t need or use. I’m trying to keep from buying unnecessary things and I am constantly donating or selling the crap I already have. Man it’s liberating! So I will continue like this until I’m at the bare minimum.
• Spirit: Be mindful when driving.
  I get in such a rush and fluster that I forget to actually experience the day. Driving is currently my main transition between activities so I will practice being aware while driving. If I’m especially flustered I will sit in the car and breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds before turning it on.
• Spirit: Start a treasure box.
  I’m not a pack rat, but there are a few small things that I keep because they hold wonderful memories for me. Instead of having them scattered around the house with the risk of eventually getting lost, I will keep them together. Right now they are gathering a shoe box but I’d like to find some way to display them in a non-gaudy way.
• Body: Have at least one entirely vegan day per week.
  I love my new loosely vegetarian lifestyle (so much more energy!) so I’m going to up the ante and see how my body responds to eating vegan one day a week.
• Environment: Stop using paper towels.
  They’re wasteful and unnecessary. Instead I cut up some old towels that needed recycling. We now have two bins under our sink, one of clean rags and one for dirty. So far it’s been a week and it’s working pretty well!

I know that’s a lot of goals but I’ve already started some of them and they’re not so hard. As long as they only affect my daily efficiency in a positive way, I can make it happen!

What are some resolutions you’ve been working on lately?

Love and a big smile – Ash