I have been hesitant to share my 2013 New Year’s Resolutions with you because I rarely if ever accomplish my year goals. Like last year, my only goal I actually completed was reading The Book of Mormon. I exercised great for 5 months than hit a few hiccups and lost momentum and never really picked it up again. My bank account isn’t any stronger than it was a year ago despite a year of trying to be thrifty. So yeah, I am a little disappointed in myself and a little gun shy.
But then I got thinking. Well, at least I did read the Book of Mormon and exercising for 5 months is better than not exercising at all. And maybe I don’t have more money, but I do have some better habits and awareness as they relate to thrift. I mean I wash out my Ziplocs! That has got to count for something, right?
What I am saying is, I believe it is better to start and not finish, than never to start. I am better off than I was a year ago, even though I am not where I wanted to be.
So with that being said, I am going to officially declare my one word (or two) for 2013…
My focus for 2013 is HEALTH and WELLNESS.
Different topics just speak to me at different times and HEALTH is screaming my name right now. And when I say health I am not necessarily talking about my weight. Rather I am talking about managing stress, moods, sleep, nutrition, energy, relationships and general well being. I think health has my attention right now because I am turning 40 this year and I hear the clock ticking. And my mom’s cancer last year really gave me a wake up call. Not to mention the fact that I am tired of feeling like a slug…make that a grouchy slug.
To optimize my chances of success, I am doing my New Year’s Resolutions differently this year. I am not saying I am going to lose 30 pounds or I am going to exercise 4 times a week. Instead of setting goals that I fail at 3 months (or 3 days) in or that require diligence day in and day out, I wrote a long list of things I can DO in 2013 to bring me closer to my overall goal of better health. My list includes some simple tasks like phone calls, field trips, and appointments, but my list also includes more time intensive tasks like experiments, research and habits.
This to-do list goal approach allows me to ebb and flow with the craziness of motherhood as well as my own energy cycles (some might call it ADD.) I might rock it in January and February and cross 10 things off the list. Then I might get sick in March and go on vacation in April and cross nothing off. But this time instead of feeling like a failure, I can pick right back up in May by just looking at my to-do list and seeing what I can do that month. I will have good weeks and bad weeks and more productive months and lazy months, but in the end I will still be progressing towards health and wellness.
Here is my 2013 Health/Wellness list in no particular order. Read at your own risk.
-check out yoga studio in Alpine
-call yoga teacher in ad
-get a mammogram
-get foot doctor’s name from Jessica
-take care of growth on foot (tmi?)
-get TV and office out of the bedroom
-attend 2 classes on essential oils
-read “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan
-read “Eat to Live not Live to Eat”
-organize healthy cooking group
-2013 fruits and veggies in 2013 (This is a family goal that the kids are helping me with. More on this later.)
-try a recipe for a homemade yogurt
-add 1 meatless meal a month to the dinner rotation (12 new meatless meals by the end of the year)
-go check out the new Trader Joe’s store
– perfect my homemade wheat pizza crust
-visit health store in Alpine/Highland
-ask Karalynne about olive oil
-join produce co-op
-order locally raised beef with Chelsea
-taste test healthy peanut butters; find one the kids will eat
-make travel size essential oil key chains for me, Elle and Chad
-run a 5K (Gasp! Chad actually laughed out loud when he read this one. Don’t worry I am laughing too.)
-visit a farmer’s market
As you can see some of these goals I can knock out in one afternoon and some will take months or all year. Some are baby steps and some are giant leaps. But I like that I can move at my own pace and have good days and bad days. And if I accomplish even half on my list, I am moving towards my larger goal of better Health and Wellness.
Last year I did a Thrifty Thursday in conjunction with my New Year’s Resolution to strengthen finances. So this year I will do something similar. I will have more health related posts on my blog because that is what I will be doing with my time and energy.
Maybe I will call it Wellness Wednesday or Fitness Friday or Too Hot to Trot Tuesday…
So here’s to a Healthy 2013!
And good luck to you with all of your New Year’s Resolutions. Remember at least you started.
Great resolution! I live by Trader Joe’s so if you need any pointers, let me know! It is a bit overwhelming at first but there are a lot of options for quick family meals! I even have a cookbook that uses their food only. 🙂
Happy New Year!
Wish I could go on a field trip to Trader Joe’s with you. Happy New Year back at ya!
I’ll run a 5k with you… I guess I better start running.
Ummm…you were a state champion track star and you are underweight. And I couldn’t even run a mile and a half in my athletic prime. You would lap me.
I’m interested in going in on the locally raises cow meat with you and Chelsea. Let me know the details on pricing and stuff when you find out.
Costco carries a brand of P.B. I like that is straight up peanuts (“Adams” is the brand). I think it’s good but your kids might not like it because its not packed full if sugar like all the other brands are. You can try mine before buying some…
Good post as always. And good Resolution. I’m with you on the health and wellness kick. Got some good vegetarian recipes if you’re interested. 🙂
Will you bring me a sample of the peanut butter to the next family dinner? I have tried other healthy brands and the kids can’t get over the green color as they call it, but I will keep trying. And bring the vegetarian recipes too. Thanks, Leah.
Have you tried a massage for stress relief? Did you know that getting a good nights sleep is a side effect to getting a massage? It can also get rid of the grumpies, and give you clarity of mind. Invest in your body, you only get one to last you a lifetime.
check out http://www.massagetherapy.com
To be a little more thrifty about it try searching for massage schools in your area, they typically have student clinics and you can get a basic relaxation massage for about $20.
Good luck with the rest of your goals for health in 2013! I do hope you try atleast one massage this year.
Oooh. A massage is a great idea. Thanks Jennifer!
Thanks for the motivation Tiff. I look forward to the health tips.
If I can run a 5K 11 mon. postpardum after baby #5 – you can do it! I was never a runner of endurance either. I found an 11 week outline that starts from walking that worked well for me. I was able to tweak it a little for what I needed, so I added a week or so.
Stac, send me the outline please!
My new year’s resolution was partly inspired by your Staying Home post.
I am a Tourism Supervisor here in our small town and I always know all the cool things to see and do and participate in. And I like to GO! all the time. But that leaves our house messier than I’d like and leaves much less time for the kids (2,4 7) to relax into being at home and explore their own interests.
I have resolved to plan less and take more things day by day, trying to let things happen more organically.
We’ll see how long it lasts….
I also think when we stay home more it allows our kids to learn how to deal with boredom and down time and they learn how to be creative. If mom plans everything, our kids don’t learn how to plan and manage their own time and schedules. Good luck!