Let's Talk Resolutions

Here we are in a brand new year. Have you made a resolution? Or picked a color for the year? Or a word, a phrase, or a new habit. This is the time for fresh beginnings. Out with the old and in with the new and all that. 

Having trouble getting motivated because you despise, hate, and loathe winter? Read How to Cope with January. 

There are so many popular ways to use the clean new calendar to break old habits or start new ones. And let's face it, if we had formed any new habits during the past year a lot of us break them during the holidays.

Because, hey:  It's the holidays, Silly and we'll do all those healthy, organized, frugal things right after we sweep up the confetti.

Am I the only one saying these things?

If you need a little motivation or a jump start to get you going here is a series I wrote a couple of years ago. It's 30 posts so if you start today there's one for every day of this month.

You Sustainable: A Guide to Small Improvements for a Better Life

I'm actually re-reading it myself because, just like you, it's hard to stay on track and sometimes we need reminders. Like you know, not to eat cake for breakfast and binge watch Southern Charm instead of scooping the cat litter and going to yoga.

I constantly have to look for ways to stay motivated, especially in winter.

I would have made such a great bear.  

Lots of the things I am sharing with you are actually ways I trick myself into doing the things I know I should do and actually want to do. Just not as much as drinking spiked cocoa and checking Pinterest on my phone. 

Last year I did something that I just made up but turned out being super effective. I gave goals to the months. January was cleaning out.  February was fixing and making repairs. March was tying up loose ends. Then it sort of fell apart because every month after that was just beekeeping and gardening. For some of us the seasons dictate much of what we focus on.

Fix It February: What Got Done 

Still, you could pick a month for reconnecting, reading, learning a new skill. Or pick a month of no buying, no drinking, or no complaining. Let's all work on that last one, shall we?

Read here about how I learn to do one new thing every year. This is a habit I highly recommend!

Why I Learn to Do One New Thing Every Year 

                                                                               

But do something.

I often hear people say they don't make resolutions because it's ridiculous or they don't keep them anyway. But you get closer by creating an intention than by just giving up before you start. Let perfection go and work on progress. Progress is always a good idea.

I love that quote that says "No matter how slow you go you are lapping everybody on the couch."

How about making START your resolution?

Then make your intention every day to move forward. Even a little. Where would you be if you did that for a whole year?

There is one thing I have learned in the past few years that I only wish I had known sooner in my life.

The Universe responds to action. 

Why didn't anyone tell me this? 


Action. Not hoping or planning or dreaming. No matter how thorough your plans or noble your dreams are. And hoping things change is just kind of a lame way of doing nothing.

Doing is the key.

So starting is the most important thing to do right now. You don't have to plan out your whole year. But start taking actions today that will take you in the direction you want to go. Then do the next thing and the next and so on.

Let's show 2018 we are bringing it! 

We might be bringing it a little at a time but that's okay.