A Day in the Life

One of my resolutions this year was self-care with slowing down. This is my second year of retirement, yet sometimes I don’t feel retired at all. I realize that I am a schedule oriented person and that if I don’t have a plan, I often crumble and don’t feel productive. Must have been all those years of planning as a teacher. But it is never too late to reset priorities and I have.

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Here are some of the things that I have committed to this year:

1. Go back to the gym with a commitment: I was going less and less every week and always making excuses. But my excuses only made me suffer and I can feel the difference in myself after not being diligent for over a month. Eating over the holidays did not help. So in January, gym or a quick workout in my basement is a daily on the schedule. And I want to stick to it!!
2. Get back to healthy eating: We all fall culprit to holiday eating but then your body gets so used to it that you continue. I know that I am not successful when I am on a strict diet so I give myself the opportunity to “cheat” just a bit when we go out for dinner. Then, I don’t mind really watching what we are eating when we eat at home.
3. Reading more: Last year I did well in this area and read 33 books. My goal is to read more this year. My goal is to also spend less money on books, use my Libby app and maybe even go to the library. I have joined book clubs on Facebook and enjoy talking to others about books we are reading. And I still belong to the book club at my former school.
4. Having fun: This is a priority that all of us should have. Take time to relax, listen to some music, look outside at a calm view, and just relish being alive. We often keep running all day long that we never remember to enjoy the simple things. Music is one of my favorites and why I do Zumba at least three times a week. Having fun also means spending time with people you care about and learning to say no to obligations that are played out and not necessary. Yes, we can make choices and we should spend time with those we want to spend time with and who want to spend time with us.
5. Enjoy memories: I just finished (a goal for a few years now) putting together all my VHS tapes of my children and sending them out to be digitized. I feel so accomplished and like a huge weight is being lifted from me and now I can enjoy these memories and leave them to my children and grandchildren.
6. Continue decluttering: Yes, I am going to sell all those things I have been talking about or donating them to others who could use them. Why do things sit in our closets for years and years? Why are we afraid to get rid of them? If there was a fire in your house and you had an hour, what would you grab? These are the things we keep. Not boxes full of things that we have accumulated either thinking they would be worth something or just because. For example, I have a bin of collectors plates of Honeymooners, I Love Lucy and others. I have held on to these for years and they are worthless. So I am adding to my list of either selling or donating. I love decluttering?

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What plans/goals have you made to made your life better?

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