19 for 2019 Check-In: August
/It’s August. Seriously, though. How the heck is it August?
It’s over halfway through the year, and I’ll be honest, I have not done a great job of keeping track of my goals this year. Ugh!
Isn’t that how it works, though? The New Year arrives all shiny, and white (or bright, depending on what part of the world you’re in) and you have all these fabulous intentions. Then February arrives, and the snow has turned into gray mush, and along with it… several of our well-intentioned goals.
Okay, I may be being a bit overdramatic (Me? Never.), but you know the routine.
I’m generally pretty good with goals. I enjoy tracking them, and checking things off lists. This year, however, things got a bit out of hand. My April check-in went pretty well. I’d kept up with most of my Happiness Project, and I was making my way through my 19 for 2019 pretty steadily.
Then May happened. And all the changes that came along with May.
I’ll be honest. These last three months I have felt like I’ve been doggy-paddling as hard as possible to keep my head above the water. So needless to say, when I looked at the calendar today with the middle of August staring back at me, I was almost surprised. How is this possible? Did I really lose 3 months of my life?
Okay, no, I didn’t “lose” them, but looking back, it almost feels that way. And I’m having all the feels about that.
I’m scared, angry, frustrated, and determined. If three months were able to slip by so easily now, how easily could that happen when we have kids? I am determined to live my best life possible (a FRICKin Good Life, in fact), so it was time to go back to my list to evaluate what I’ve been doing, and what needs some work.
Serious Introspective List
1. I will love and appreciate myself the way I am now. I am SO PROUD of myself with this one. Even with all the ups and downs of this year, I have really improved in this area. My three months of confusion got me “off track” slightly with my personal health and fitness goals, but I reminded myself that it was a season. And I’m already back on track. And I don’t feel guilty about the last couple moths. This, my friend, is a win.
2. I will be more serious about relaxation. #thestruggleisreal. I needed this reminder. I’m scheduling some down time on my calendar for this weekend, stat.
3. I will prioritize sleep. Always. This got off a little bit, but I still receive gold stars regularly..
4. I will work out the way I want to work out (aka follow my own advice). This may be the best goal I made this year. I am LOVING this. I am resting when I want, lifting heavy when I want, and going for more walks. Seems to me that I’m actually pretty good at this fitness programming thing. I should have listened to myself sooner!
5. I will feed my body good things; physically and mentally. Check!
6. I will limit contact with negativity and drama. Check!
7. I will acknowledge the value I bring in my work. This one is still a work in progress…
8. I will nurture friendships. After my reality check in April, I’ve gotten much better at this.
9. I will allow friendships to fade. … or allow them to be smaller than what they were.
10. I will try to take myself less seriously. Why is this so hard?
11. I will sing. Check!
12. I will talk positively about myself. Especially to myself. I have my days when I get off track, but overall… I’m doing really well with this one.
13. I will honor my body. Check!
14. I will make daily efforts to strengthen my relationship with my husband. Yes! We’ve been doing really well, especially considering all the wrenches that have been thrown at us the first 15 months of our marriage. We’ve done, and continue to do, a lot of things right.
15. I will put effort into trying at least 3 new activities. This hasn’t really been top of mind lately, so I need to focus more on this. I am going to try incorporating more yoga (real yoga, not PiYo) this month. Now I need two more.
16. I will read continue to read books, just for fun. Check!
17. I will shorten my to-do list. This may be my other best goal. Check and check!
18. I will develop a gratitude practice. And stick to it. I’ve been writing a gratitude note to my husband once a week since our Anniversary, but I want to build on this current gratitude practice.
19. I will give myself grace.
Fun, Actionable List
1. I will organize and keep my desk organized. So my desk came out of the basement two weeks ago, and I am full on Marie Kondo-ing it. I’ve taken everything out, and am de-cluttering and organizing. I’ve got a pile of notebooks from conferences and who knows what to go through, but that’s actually on my to-do list for this weekend!
2. I will do the Golden Trio Challenge. I need to update my list. I’ve definitely achieved “Ron” status by now, but… see my wrap-up below
3. I will put together a “words of affirmation” notebook or box. I need to do this still.
4. I will go through my clothes and keep only those that make me feel good. I’ve started working on this. But my plan is to really go through things when I bring it all upstairs.
5. I will buy wardrobe pieces that need to be purchased so I can get rid of anything that makes me feel bad about myself/my body. See above.
6. I will finish and launch my ebook. Yes, yes and yes! I have two in mind. Now I just need to do the first one. But, I’m so excited about the second…
7. I will take a dance class. Oh yes! One of my three new things! I need to schedule that (I think I said the same thing back in April)
8. I will create a functional special occasions calendar so I can keep up with anniversaries, birthdays, and other special dates. Need to do.
9. I will switch our products to non-toxic cleaning supplies. Working on it.
10. I will take a relaxing hot bath at least twice a month. Fail. There are no other words than absolute fail for this one. I better get on it!
11. I will host a Holiday “open house.” I can’t wait! I’m already talking about it to people, so it’s going to happen!
12. I will take classes for a new activity (Tennis???) Working on it.
13. I will try my hand at lettering (and allow myself to buy the correct tools to do it right!) I bought the tools! Now I need to find the time to do it. Once my office is back together I can give myself a creative space. Yes, I’ll do that.
14. I will put together a playlist of my favorite musical theatre songs to sing. Check!
15. I will complete a new course that will contribute to my career. Check!
16. I will schedule friend “dates” at least twice a month. Check!
17. I will schedule one “date weekend” a quarter with my husband. Check!
18. I will learn how to use my Sous Vide. Not yet. But my kitchen should be done by the end of the month at the latest. I’ll start looking up recipes. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.
19. I will give myself grace. See below…
Okay. Considering that these last three months have felt like they were spiraling out of control, I’m pretty happy about how well I’ve done. I’m realize that I have some goals that I still want to work on. Some that I still need to start. But I’m also realizing some of my original goals I may not accomplish the way I originally intended. And that’s okay.
For example, #2 of my actionable list is the Golden Trio Challenge. I thought this would be a great goal for me to help me read more books, and especially more books for fun. And you know what, it was a good goal for me, just not how I thought it would be. What I’ve realized through the process is that I enjoy having a number count of the books I’ve read through the year, and I enjoy keeping track of them. However, I don’t love feeling like I need to read a specific book or type of book because it fulfills a requirement on a list. So, I’ve started keeping track of my books in Goodreads. And I. Am. In. Love!
What it comes down to, is there are really five things on my list that I haven’t started, but I’d like to. These things are:
I will put together a “words of affirmation” notebook or box
I will create a functional special occasions calendar so I can keep up with anniversaries, birthdays, and other special dates.
I will take a relaxing hot bath at least twice a month
I will learn how to use my Sous Vide
I will take a dance class
Yes, I have several things that are works in progress, but that’s okay!
So my challenge to you today is this; when was the last time you checked in on your goals? Don’t wait until the end of the year to pull out last year’s resolutions. Don’t wait until 60 days through your 90 day goal. It’s time to check in.
Whether your goal is health and fitness based, business bases, or like me general overall life you’ve got to check in. So pull out your goals, and get going!