- watch a movie and drink coffee
- read my Bible
- work a puzzle
- knit a scarf
- do yoga
- make memories with my kids
- paint
- bake something
- write something
- read the book I got for Christmas
- scan social media (kind of, but not really)
- go back to bed (yesterday was a full day with a late bedtime and I still woke up at 7:00)
- clean out the kitchen cabinets (time to get rid of the complete set of plastic restaurant cups)
I want to do it all...and I want to do it now!
I don't know about you, but I feel a sense of urgency in the week after Christmas. The magic of the holiday has ended and I am keenly aware of the looming to-do lists and fast-paced days. I am afraid if I don't do all the things I want to do in the next few days it will be next Christmas before I have time to do them. I am looking forward to the new year, the new decade with excitement and faith that this is going to be the best year yet, but I also want to hold on to the slowness, coziness and contentment of the holidays. Can you relate?
How do I find a balance? And how do I keep that balance on January 6 when my husband and I return to work and our 16 year old returns to finish out his sophomore year (as college sister lives it up in an empty house as she enjoys one more week of break).
My journey in 2019 has taught me that the answer lies in setting goals and creating healthy habits. It's not always easy, it takes perseverance and sometimes it means getting out of my comfort zone. As we journey into 2020 I plan to continue what I started in 2019, and I believe that with a few tweaks I can live daily life with the same peacefulness as I feel on lazy winter break days and so can you!
Start each day with quietness and gratitude...
My quiet morning time is my favorite time of day. I actually get up at 5 a.m. on school days so that I have an hour to myself before the rest of the family is up (I know it sounds crazy, but quiet time just doesn't work for me at any other time of day). I have my cup of coffee, my Bible, my journal and whatever book I am reading at the time. Spending time in God's word is best way for me to start my day. I don't always read a long passage; sometimes it is just a "Verse of the Day" to copy down and meditate on. I then move whatever non-fiction book I am reading. I really love a good self-help book! As a life-long learner, I enjoy working on different aspects of my life so that I can be the best version of myself. I end my quiet time in prayer. This is one way for me to be thankful and set my intentions for the day. One thing I hope to do better with in the new year is setting and reviewing my goals. I did this occasionally in 2019, but doing it daily never clicked. I think I will start setting weekly goals -long and short term. Maybe on Sunday morning before church, this way I can review them on Saturday when I have a little more time to hurry up and get one or two accomplished if need be!
Carry the coziness and gratefulness to work...
Honestly, this is where I slip up the most. I have this wonderful haven set up at home where I am surrounded by the people and the things I love. It's easy to be content and love my life here. But my entire life does not (and should not) take place in my house! Like most of you, I have a job that I have to do in order to maintain that cozy set up I have at home. Oh, and there's the fact that I really do enjoy my job! It is part of God's plan for my life, I have no doubt. It is one way he uses me to bless others. The problem lies in the fact that anywhere there are people, conflict is going to arise; disrupting my peaceful vibe. Problems are shared, disagreements occur, bad decisions are made causing disappointment, dreams and ideas are not fully realized or brought to fruition. Any one of these things can kill a good mood. We are not promised an easy life, but we can still live a contented, grateful one. My goal for this area of life as I continue my journey in 2020 is to truly share the things that make a difference for me. Share how God's love allows me to be grateful, even when days are long and nothing seems to be going right. So many times people comment on my kindness and I dismiss it. I want to start giving credit where credit is due. That kindness, that calmness...that is God! There is no way I could keep my cool if it weren't for Him. I want to share the healing power of yoga, breathing and meditation, actually practicing it during those stressful moments and guiding others to do the same rather than to panic and over-react. And I want to grow. I want to focus on how disappointments and things not going my way can still be reason to praise. Maybe not being put in charge of that new thing is just a way to save me from stress I don't need. Maybe conflict is a way for me to practice problem-solving skills and show myself (and others watching me) that I am stronger than I thought.
Making the most of my time...
Tell me this? How do we live in a world of social media and not let it take over our lives? I really want to know? Seriously, I NEED to know. I struggle with this so much. I know there is good out there on the World Wide Web (is that even how we are supposed to say it anymore?), but there is also so much that sucks away our precious time. Until someone shares the magic formula with me here is what I plan to do in 2020: prioritize my electronic usage. No Facebook or Instagram (my only two social media sites) in the morning until I have done my Bible study, read a book and prayed. If I run out of time before I have checked them? Oh well, the world most likely will not come to an end! The worse that will happen is that I will spend the day with someone and not be aware that it is their birthday. Once at work, idle usage is usually not a big problem because I have very little down time, personal usage is discouraged and I try to not use data on my phone. If I do have time to read for pleasure I plan to only take time to look at one or two of my favorite blogs. This is much more beneficial than scrolling through photos or posts of people I barely know. Once home is when the challenge begins: I have a real problem with snacking and scrolling. A.REAL. PROBLEM.
Enter goal number 1: Limit social media site time to 30 minutes a day or less. This means paying attention to the fact that Insta tells me when I have caught up. This means shutting down Facebook when I see something that makes me compare my life to someone else's. My screen time is much better spent reading things that will build me up and writing things that are meant to build others up.
Goal number 2: Know when to unplug. I profess to be a lover of hygge. If you don't know it, please look it up (or let me loan you a book on it). However, my actions do not always match my words. The hygge life is all about making memories and being present, for me this has to mean getting rid of the distractions. Turning off the tv and making a meal for my family, reading a book, knitting, visiting with a friend (in person), leaving my phone upstairs when we retreat to the basement for family time because there is no reason to look at Facebook during commercials (see, I told you I have a problem!).
End each day with gratitude...
One thing that I started this fall that I love was to journal three things I was grateful for each night. This is all thanks to a Secret Pal at work. She gifted me a simple journal that is full of pages with quotes about thankfulness and lines for recording what you are grateful for. I really try to be specific with my three things. Yes, there are days that I am most thankful for coffee, health and a comfy bed. But I want to remember and be thankful for family game night interrupted so that we could all make an enchilada dinner together and how excited Wil was when he had Texas de Brazil for the first time and how it made Avery want to be vegan for life!
It's now 12:40 on December 30, 2019 and I feel much better. A little more settled and ready to see what the rest of the day holds. What have I done? Since I had already done by Bible study and had my coffee before beginning this, I did a little yoga to center myself and set my intentions. Even though I was nervous, I just jumped in and started this post. Even now, I am tempted to hit publish and not let anyone know I have written it. This goal of mine to write is a scary one. I don't have a ton of experience or training beyond being a Jr. High English teacher for several years, but if I don't try I won't know what is possible. I hope you like what you read. If it builds up one person it was worth it. Now I will probably let this be for a bit while I go make lunch and will give it one more look later before publishing.
Best wishes to you and yours in 2020. God will do incredible things if we just trust Him and step out in faith.
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