2017 - Fresh Start

     Well here we are again at the beginning of a new year. I made the resolution last year that I would become a consistent blogger. And that went the way that most resolutions go. Well, maybe not completely because I did manage to write several articles. Oh who am I kidding? I didn’t maintain the momentum I hoped I would. But this is a new year. 2017. A Fresh Start.

     So here we are again. Wait!! I just said that. Ok let’s try this again. Resolutions. Goals. Changes. Whatever we want to call them they are the same. Things we want to accomplish in the year that’s just starting. I’ve tried the whole year resolution thing and frankly, it just doesn’t work for me. I get distracted. I have Adult ADHD and anything “shiny” will completely grab my attention from where I want it to be. So this year I’m going to try something new. I’m going to have Monthly Resolutions or Goals. I think I like the word goal better because the word resolution has a bad reputation. Mainly, resolutions are those things we say “This year I am going to . . . “ and we start off great and sometimes don’t even make it through the first week before we’ve totally blown them off. So I’m sticking with the word Goal as it has a more positive vibe to it.

So here we go. My January 2017 Goals are –

Finish my second semester of the online classes I’m taking for my Construction Management degree

Participate & complete Katrina Kennedy's Capture Your 365 (I better cause I paid for the class)

Save $100

Blog weekly although I’m going to try to do this daily.

Complete two projects (I have SO many started and planned to do - I really need to get this done)

Exercise regularly, Eat healthier and Drink 4 bottles of water a day

Complete my December Daily album (another class I paid for so I better complete)

Do Project Life and keep up with it

Participate & complete Ali Edwards One Little Word (and still another class I paid for so I better complete)

Read / Listen to 2 books

Complete 4 scrapbook layouts 

     Wow!! I have A LOT of goals for the month. And I may not get them all completed. That’s ok because I’ll be further along than if I hadn’t tried. I like having a list. It’s a way that I’ve learned to manage my ADHD. Besides I find it very satisfying when I mark a line through something I’ve completed. That makes me want to push myself to complete something else. Then before I know it, I’ve crossed everything off my list. 
     To help me keep track of my goals I bought the Creative Year Goals Spiral Planner By Recollections™ which are available at Michael’s. I’m not sure how well this will work out for me since I just started using it but so far I’m liking it. I’ll give you more feedback as time goes on. I’m also using the Create 365 Happy Planner I got from Michael’s to keep me on target for everything else I have going on. I’m also keeping track of my goals there. I know it’s redundant but the more I put something in front of my face the more likely I’ll remember to do it. And then get it done. I used a Happy Planner last year to keep track of my life and it worked great. I did get on a kick of decorating the pages but this turned out to be too much for me. I found a Facebook group that decorated their planners and the pages were just awesome. So then of course I had to give this a try too. After a while instead of being excited about doing this I became “weighted down” and dreaded it. So I stopped and I’ve been fine since. I decorate with stickers and washi tape and that as far as I go. 
     So what have I done today towards accomplishing my January goals? I’m glad you asked that question because I got some good answers.

 

Capture Your 365 class –

Today’s prompt was Happy New Year

1/365 - One of my resolutions for this year is to drink more water. As I was thinking about that it occurred to me that a new year is much like water in a glass. Clear and clean. But when you look through the water there are things that you can see but they are blurry. You have an idea what they are. This is like having plans for the future but those plans aren't quite clear. The light shining through the water made me think of the good times that the year will bring and the shadows represent the times that are going to be difficult. I didn't edit this photo. Just took it and posted. I wanted something that was "as is" and a little messy because that's what my life is right now.

Blog weekly or daily –

See today’s post. Oh wait, you’re already reading it. 😀

Drink four bottles a water a day – I’ve drank two but the day’s not over yet.

One Little Word class – I’ve read the worksheet and have started watching the video. I’m also thinking about the prompts and writing notes in my OLW journal.

Read / Listen to 2 books – I decided that I wanted to give going to a book club a try. I found one on Meetup.com and the book they are reading is “Wish You Well” by David Baldacci. The book is set in 1940 in a town located in South Western Virginia and is about two children who go to live with their great-grandmother who lives in the Appalachian Mountains. My family is from Southern West Virginia and also lives in the Appalachian Mountains. This book definitely hit a chord with me. I recommend this book if you are looking for something good to help pass the time. Granted I did read most of this book over the last week but I did finish it today so it counts towards my two.

     Not a bad start for the first day of the month (remember I’m not doing this goal thing by the year). The day still isn’t done so I might be able to squeeze a couple more items in. But hey, I do have all month so no need to burn myself out trying to get them all done in one day. Besides, some of my goals are daily goals. BUT I don’t want to procrastinate (something I’m really, really good at doing) and wait till the end of the month and try to play catch up. My experience is once I start playing catch up I end up losing the game.

Thanks for visiting with me at "Down Home at Dee's"

Deana