Every January, I love to create goals and reset my focus for the next year. Last year I decided to focus on maintaining habits from goals set the previous year. Instead of adding new things to my plate, I chose to refine habits created in 2023. It was more in line with wanting to develop an “attitude of excellence”. I naturally tend to chase after extreme action that creates immediate results, which for me, usually proves to be unsustainable. I feel kind of too old for that now, it makes me tired. I realized last year that what I really want to incorporate into my life are sustainable, slow-going lifestyle habits that benefit me (and therefore my family). And I’m accepting that it just takes time. So no new goals, still plugging along and refining rhythms that work.
My goals set were from 2023, and I can say this last year I see progress was made. So I will continue to refine these goals and learn new ways to motivate myself towards excellence for each of these goals.
1. Develop a LIFESTYLE of fitness. Last year I hired an online fitness trainer to hold me accountable, create a progressive overload style strength training program, and teach me how to track my nutrition (macros counting using My Fitness Pal app). It was not easy, but being held accountable by weekly check-ins allowed me to transform my body composition over a 6 month period. Although it was pricey, I would highly recommend! Now, it is much easier to slip back into my workout/nutrition routine, now having the tools.
2. Learn to longterm plan. I am geared more towards spontaneity and new ideas or challenges, I love change! That being said, maintaining and sustaining are more challenging for me. The biggest thing I learned from hiring a fitness trainer was how much I battled an “all or nothing” mindset, which often leads to a self-sabotaging lifestyle, my biggest obstacle to having an attitude of excellence. I am learning how important it is to write down my goals and dreams, then setting smaller goals within a set time frame (monthly or weekly) to make it more manageable and trackable. I am a data driven person, so this has been super helpful!
3. Simplify Home Life and Mindful Shopping. I will continue to say YES to decluttering, simplifying and not impulse buying for myself and our home. While I was certainly not perfect last year, (Athleta workout wear is my weakness), I am much more at PEACE when I make purging, organizing and simplifying, a routine part of our home life. I usually do this in seasons, so it ends up being a quarterly process.
Now, onto my giveaway announcement…
…first of all, I want to thank everyone who became a follower of my blog this last year. Some are friends/family I know and love, but there are some new “faces” as well! It’s so fun to see people find their way to this teeny tiny corner of the internet, especially taking into account the lack of consistency of my posts! Either way, I love seeing people pop-in and see what we’re up to and commenting on all the things. Recently my girls have been asking to pull up my blog so they can show their friends pictures, ha!
This year’s Nordstrom giveaway goes to my amazing Aunt Debbi (aka “Mima” to my kids)! Your $100 gift card will be on its way in the mail, yay!
We had our first real snowfall overnight, kids have off from school, so we anticipate a full day of sled rides, hot cocoa and reading by the fire!
Stay cozy! Happy Monday! xoxo
