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Anyone Else Planning a New Self-Discipline Challenge for 2021?
As a perpetual list maker and planner, I used to fill pages with ideas for New Year's Resolutions...because there were so many, I became overwhelmed with the number, hadn't prioritized them and soon gave up entirely.
However, the single self-challenge I set for myself for the year of 2019 proved successful. With filled closets and drawers, I wanted to see if I could go the entire year without buying a single additional piece of clothing, shoes or jewelry. It worked!
Fluffing my feathers for that achievement, I set a goal of 3 walks/week on specific days (Tues/Thurs/Sat) because after the loss of my beloved 4-legged walking companion, I'd found it very difficult to take walks alone. This proved harder than the 2019 challenge but with one more day of 2020 and one more walk to take, (some days wearing out the house carpet!) so far so good and I plan to carry this challenge forward into 2021. The discipline required rather than the length or number of steps made this one far harder to reach because I can so easily procrastinate about some tasks.
During this last year, I became lax about sorting through, discarding and recording paperwork information needed for accountant and income tax filing so added a new challenge: Setting a timer for 30 mins and stopping when the timer went off, I set Mon/Wed/Fri to tackle some of the paperwork. Stopping when the timer goes off is important for me because I can tend, once started, to keep going until reaching burn out. Alas, I haven't succeeded here as consistently and "excused" the lapse with prep for the holidays. On the last Wed. of the yr, today is a good day to resume this.
I've been thinking for a few weeks about a new challenge for 2021. My first choice is to see if I can re-teach myself to knit. I used to enjoy making simple hot pads and slipper socks to share with friends and nursing homes. However, arthritis in my right hand and particularly thumb, may mean I may need to set something more achievable. I have the basket of yarn, needles and instr. manual out but have yet to see if I can handle the needles.
So I'm contemplating a "back-up" challenge if this doesn't work. If it does, I may pursue this one, too. Some observe "meatless Mondays" and I'm considering setting no added sugar and no added salt 2 days/week as a challenge. Diagnosed with pre-diabetes , high b.p. and kidney disease, I began restricting meats, sugar and salt with the diagnoses but would like to double down on the sugar and salt because they are easy to ignore.
As with the past too many N.Y. resolutions, I tended to make too many and too lengthy "to do lists". A few years ago, I found that jotting down just three achievable "to-do tasks" for the next day in a spiral notebook not only works but also gives me a quick "starting point" each day.
Anyone else else up for sharing a self-challenge for the New Year???
Filled with hope that this next year will find us all in a much better and more normal life!! Best to all!
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I will be doubling down on my clearing out venture. My first place to tackle in 2021 will be my sewing room. The ultimate goal will be to remove everything so the room can be painted and the carpet can be replaced with vinyl plank flooring. Then I will "curate" everything before I put it back to make sure there is a likelihood I will use it. Then, in the Spring & with my husband, we will do the garage. We need to get rid of a lot, but especially to need rearrange everything we keep for safe accessibility. Many things are stored in opaque boxes on high shelves that neither of us should be climbing up to reach.
My second goal, as an avid reader, is an extension of my Covid resolution earlier this year. For every familiar author I read, I read one new author. And every 3rd book is a history or biography instead of fiction. I have done pretty well so far.
And third, I will do at least one reading of inspirational content every day - this is an increase from my current twice a week.
Sue
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2 Reactions@feisty76 You have set goals that seem to be so lofty, to me. While not as specific, here is what I have come up with.
1. Yesterday I opened the first of my three "project" totes in craft room. Partially done quilt items were tagged with a sticky saying what has to be done to complete, handwork or machine, and logged into a spiral notebook. Seven in first box. Others were repurposed [fabric returned to stash, pattern to pattern tote], others set aside for a "whatcha got" box to be circulated with quilty friends. This chore will continue today with associated floods of memories and inspiration.
2. Finish hauling rocks for the front easeway, from the north downslope. This will be easier to do when drier weather comes, and fallen leaves can be leaf-blowered out of the way.
3. Set in the bricks to widen driveway and give vehicles an "oopsie" place to land, instead of uneven rocky dirt/grass. Most rocks have already been moved to easeway. Will be making a screen to help separate soil and rocks easier.
4. Curate [I love that phrase @sueinmn!] my clothes. No longer working, there is no need to keep all the clothes in the closets. Will encourage my husband to follow suit.
5. Read more, craft more, write more. Be grateful for each day.
Next?
Ginger
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1 Reaction@sueinmn, I was so disappointed when my favorite charity donation/resale center was closed that it dampened my "good intentions" for more culling. Will just continue to drive the intended donate items in car until it reopens.
I usually have 3-4 different types of books "going" at once and mix non-fiction with the mysteries. Like the idea of making a concerted effort to make every 3rd book a different genre. Like the several Netflix series I watch, my mood dictates "which" book or netflix I read or watch each evening.
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1 ReactionAw, shucks, @gingerw! No way can I consider these lofty, just attempts at increasing self-discipline...my little child within so much prefers to play!!!
I'm reading a great deal of purpose along with added elbow grease in the resolves you listed. Congratulations and Good for you!
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3 ReactionsI'm going to walk more with those fancy shoes that talk to my smartphone! recoding my steps. the news just said that doctors have proven that these monitoring devices push us, and we walk more with a device that measures our steps!
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5 Reactions@Erinmfs, Sounds like a great plan, MGMolly!
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1 Reaction@Erinmfs I have not heard of shoes that talk to your phone, but I have an activity monitor, an Apple Watch, that does push me. I have goals set in it and I really want to achieve those goals every day. I don't worry too much about steps, I rarely get all of the way to 10,000 but I do much other exercise that I figure it makes up for that, plus that number was arbitrarily set by a Japanese pedometer company, it was never something that was set by medical experts! The Apple Watch does count steps and I generally am at about 8000.
My husband laughs at me and says I am controlled by a device, but I think it really is helpful to goad me on to do more.
JK
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2 Reactionswe had 9 inches of snow, so I had my boots on, not my smart-shoes. A smartwatch would have done a better job today counting my steps in my snowy walk! thank you for your input.
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1 Reaction@Erinmfs I also have a pair of smart shoes but they are sandals. I won't be wearing them for few months in Michigan!
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