I should first start off by saying that I am not a huge believer in New Year's Resolutions (however I do have a few things I would like to work on this year)....I still like to think that I continue to live life the way I think it should be and think that I am doing a pretty good job as it is, haha. I agree that the idea, "A New Year, A New You" is good in theory but sadly so many people find themselves making the same resolutions year after year because they simply can't keep the ones they made the year before...Instead I thought I would list out some of my personal philosophies that I try to abide by day end and day out, so that I can have them fresh in my mind as we take on another wonderful year of adventures~!
1. Start each day with a positive outlook! No matter if you are going on a rough night's sleep or a cruddy day before, each day holds new potential! Especially if you have children. Each day they wake up as if today is a new day and still have that energetic attitude to explore what the day has to offer! (my wonderful husband sends me a morning text every morning, saying "Good morning my girls, I love You!" I mean who could have a frown on their face after seeing that first thing in the morning...)
2. Plan ahead! Although I too enjoy the occasional spontaneity of doing something last minute, I have learned with a child that being prepared is best :) I have a dry erase calendar on my fridge that each Sunday I fill in with the weeks plan. I like to have one event/outing planned per day. This helps keep the week moving and allows Nora and I to get out and socialize with as many different people as possible. I am also known for picking out our clothes and packing the diaper bag the night before to allow for a smooth morning to follow :) My husband is also wonderful at this by ironing all his work clothes on Sundays and packing his lunch the night before too... love him! lol
3. Keep a Clean/Organized house! I once read somewhere that you can tell alot about someone by the way they keep house. Ok, I will admit with a toddler, it is a daily process of keeping ours clean but each and every single night, with the help of my dear husband, all the toys are put away, the dishes are done and everything is in it's correct spot before we sit down and relax for the evening. This not only helps with the flow of our day but never allows me to get that overwhelming feeling when there is clutter everywhere or we can not find what we need.
4. Take Good Care of Yourself! This includes eating healthy, exercising regularly and caring about your appearance. Once again, I read somewhere that those people who dress up and feel good about their appearance actually perform better during the day. Nick and I work hard on making sure we eat healthy meals for the most part, and both make time to hit the gym 3-4 days a week. This is a commitment we made to ourselves about 4 new year's ago and we have kept to it and it feels great!
5. Pay Attention to your Finances! Since becoming a stay at home mom (the best decision we ever made) we have had to become more aware of our financial situation. We cut corners where-ever possible. We have paid off one of the cars and nearly all our credit card debt. We have cut up all those credit cards so we only live off what daddy makes each month. We manage this by only going to the grocery store once a week, allowing ourselves to only eat out once a week and continuing to look for bargains when we can. I also have found a new hobby of local "swap websites" where I can sell used items and then in return I use that money for Nora and I's "play money" aka, Nora's wardrobe fund, haha!
6. Plan for Your Future! Although I am a firm believer in living each day to its fullest, it is important to be looking ahead and know how all your decisions today can affect you later on down the line. I think partially because Nick works for a Life Insurance Company and handles this daily, we are extremely well prepared for our future, including Nora's college education and retirement for the young age we are still at. I really hope that everyone has someone that can help them look into this too! I mean all and all, the goal is to someday be able to both retire and go do all the things you could never afford to do while raising kids, haha!
Ok, Ok, I don't want to overwhelm anyone with any more nor do I want anyone to think we are perfect so I shall end with some goals I have set for myself this year....
1. Continue to eat healthy, exercise and teach Nora how to live a healthy lifestyle.
2. Learn to cook better and prepare meals for my family most nights.
3. Try to real in my spending when it comes to just "extra things" we don't necessarily need...
4. Be more thoughtful to my husband. He works extremely hard and needs a break too :)
5. Make each and every day count with Nora, teach or expose her to one new activity/adventure a day! And watch less TV....
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