ATTAINABLE Goals... 8 is Enough!

Here I am on January 1, 2011. And I am blah. I am a bit numb. I am unmotivated. I am in a rut.

Oh, I had a lovely Christmas. My house was beautifully decorated. I entertained and was entertained. My family lit the Advent candle and sporadically (not good, I know) read from the Gospel of Luke. I acted the part... much like I feel I have been doing for the past few months. It's easy. But I'm just tired now.

Enter Sherrie at Organizing Diva. Well at least vicariously through her blog! She has just posted her goals for the new year. And I really like how she has organized them in ten ORGANIZATION FOCUS AREAS.


I'm calling mine 8 is Enough. Basically because that's about all I can handle!

1) Spiritual
2) Financial
3) Fitness/Health
4) Beauty
5) Home
6) Family
7) Personal
8) Menu Planning

She then lists just a few goals - not resolutions, but ATTAINABLE GOALS. I stress attainable because if not, then what's the point? So here are mine...

1) Spiritual:
*Be diligent in my prayer life. Pray for something SPECIFIC for my husband and children every day.
*Family devotion at supper at least 3-4 nights a week. We were doing really well with this but have fallen by the wayside.
*Pray with boys every night. Even when I am exhausted OR they have made me crazy!

2) Financial:
*Stop impulse buying!
*Start S and J's commission for chores again. Why did I stop that? It really worked.

3) Fitness/Health:
*Drink 8 glasses of water (or Crystal Light - that counts in my book!)
*Eat less processed foods
*Exercise
*Lose 5 pounds each month until I reach MY comfort level. This will be the hardest...

4) Beauty:
*Wash face every night. Yes, many nights I do go to sleep without taking my make up off. Not good...
*Pedicures monthly
*Brow wax every 6 weeks

5) Home:
*Keep better laundry schedule. Get back on track with boys doing their laundry once a week.
*Take clothes/items to Goodwill on the tenth of every month. I know I will have at least ten things each month!
*Take 15 minutes every Saturday to clean out a drawer or closet. Yes, ONLY 15 a week. You'd think this wouldn't have to be a goal!

6) Family:
*Bi-Weekly date night with Mike. I know I should strive for weekly, but I'm doing ATTAINABLE here!
*Bi-weekly Family night. Family movie, game, etc. The boys really do love this...

7) Personal:
*Call my mother and sister more often.
*Mother/Daughter/Sister overnight visit every 2-3 months
*Call BFF more often
*Read at least 4 books this year. I know this is pitiful...

8) Menu planning:
*Weekly menus
*Grocery lists
*Inventory freezer
*Inventory pantry I'm using Entertaining Kitchen's Well-stocked Pantry to help me with this!
*Clip coupons

So here I go. Now that I've put in some thought - and have posted it for the world to see... I think I am ready. I am also copying this and putting it on my bathroom mirror. Say some prayers...

Everyone Needs a Little Happiness Handbook

HAPPINESS HANDBOOK for 2010

Health:
1.       Drink plenty of water.
2.       Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and 

           dinner like a beggar.
3.       Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and 

           eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4.       Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5.       Make time to pray.
6.       Play more games.
7.       Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8.       Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9.       Sleep for 7 hours.
10.    Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11.    Don't compare your life to others. 

          You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12.    Don't have negative thoughts on things you cannot control. 

          Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13.    Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14.    Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15.    Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16.    Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
17.    Forget issues of the past. 

           Don't remind your husband with his mistakes of the past. 

           That will ruin your present happiness.
18.    Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 
          Don't hate others.
19.    Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
20.    No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
21.    Smile and laugh more.
22.    You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
23.    Call your family often.
24.    Each day give something good to others.
25.    Forgive everyone for everything.
26.    Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 and
           under the age of  6.
27.    Try to make at least three people smile each day.
28.    What other people think of you is none of your business.
29.    Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. 

           Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
30.    Do the right thing!
31.    Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32.    However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
33.    No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
34.    When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
35.    Remember that GOD heals EVERYTHING.