March

Some of you may have noticed that I didn't post any goals for this month. No, I didn't just forget to do it. February left me feeling a bit like a slacker...there were so many random things that I didn't get done that I had wanted to, and I don't think it was just because of having only 28 days in which to accomplish them instead of 30 or 31. We were just plain busy, or at least it seemed so at the time.

I've also seemed to get better at some of the goals that were reappearing monthly: making our bed every day, trying new recipes, and being purposeful in taking Lane outside are just a few of them. In short, I feel like the purpose of my making the goals in the first place has been fulfilled: I'm more organized and I prioritize my time better. Our home feels more 'put together' because I've gotten better at multitasking while Lane is awake (I can make the bed and fold/put up the laundry, as well as vacuum). Part of this I'm sure is because she's becoming more capable of entertaining herself, but I also feel like by just purposing to get it done I'm actually getting it done! I've been able to meal plan for a month at a time, spreading out our meals over the weeks so that I use leftover produce well, we eat vegetarian meals twice a week, and I make easier things on days we're busy and easier things on days we don't have class. And we've actually been going to bed earlier, which has been a huge help in my feeling rested and ready to conquer each new day. I'm still working on getting up earlier (help, help, HELP!) but I seem to have mastered at least getting a shower in before Lane gets up. That's helped my time management as well.

There are, of course, still things I'm working on. I welcome any and all suggestions as to how to get myself out of bed in the mornings. I'd really like to be getting up at 6:00. I just have the hardest time dragging myself out of bed in the mornings, though, no matter how much sleep I get. It just doesn't seem to matter. Anyone out there have any ideas to help me out? I have a friend who once told me that she used coffee as her "reward" for getting out of bed. Yeah...that doesn't work for me. I don't like coffee enough to get out of bed for it! Please offer me your insights into how to drag my lazy carcass out of bed in the mornings!

This month I've "given up" facebook. Yes, I still log on on Sundays to check my messages and to read a few status updates. I've gotten on a few times during the week for various reasons (needing to send someone a message whose email address I didn't have, wish someone a happy birthday, etc), but for the most part I've stayed away. I like that Shannon changed my password, so I have to get him to log me on. It helps keep me accountable to not logging on for "just a minute." I don't want to give up facebook for good...I like being able to keep up with my friends who don't blog or send emails. But I know I have a propensity (ooh, big word, huh?!) to waste time on there. So I'm considering trying out a new thing in April...maybe giving myself 20-30 minutes per day on there. I log in at 8:00 pm and out at 8:30. No matter what. Do you think it'll work? How do you keep yourself from wasting time on the internet?

So, this month I didn't set any big goals. I haven't been keeping track of how often I take Lane outside, make our bed, or offer Shannon a back massage (for those who are wondering why that made my goal list, Shannon has scoliosis and a massage, even just a 4-5 minute one, works wonders for his pain level and ability to sleep well). And I think I'm doing just fine at all of them. I may resume monthly goal-making in a few months, but since April and May are looking a tad bit crazy, I'm surely not going to make them for awhile. Instead I'm going to continue working on these current goals relating to organizing my time and my home better. And then I'll decide what to tackle next.