Tuesday nights my hubby hangs with the guys, so I usually do errands, visit a friend, or just hang at the house. Last night I ended up working really late and got home at 8. I actually did the dishes left over from breakfast and lunch prep! I also prepped a crockpot meal and cleaned up after that too!
That's where my progress ended.
I didn't clean up (personal hygene) as I'd intended, and although I set my alarm early, I didn't wake up in time to have a quiet time. Actually, I didn't even wake up in time to hang the wash on the line outside! Oops.
Then I couldn't find the book I've been reading from my reading list. Obviously I need to read it more often! So I grabbed another book from the list to start on. At least I'll get something done!
I've learned once again that nightime prep is incredibly important! If I'd had a lunch made last night, I'd have had time to look for that book. Or hang the clothes on the line outside. If I'd showered last night, I'd still have had time to have a quiet time.
I think that's key to it all.
Why is it that the nighttime, when all I want to do is veg out, is the key time to get these things done?
But I am becoming a finisher!
I am becoming a finisher!
I am a finisher!
I keep saying it...maybe it'll "take" one of these days!
{deep sigh}
So how do these goals grab ya:
clean the kitchen after dinner every night
organize one drawer or shelf every night
make breakfasts & lunches before doing the dishes
prep the coffee for my hubby at night
shower at night
set asside outfit for the next day every night
find everything I'll need to take to work the night before
~any returns
~daily reading
~grocery lists
~written daily plan!
I used to take care of a child with multiple disabilities. One of the tools I implemented while working with him each morning was writing out the plan for the day. When something out of the ordinary was going to happen, it would go on the list so he knew what to expect and there were no surprises. Of course, the day didn't always go according to plan, but he was more prepared and better able to handle changes when he could look at the plan, even if it had changed.
For a short time I did this for myself at work (another job) and it really helped me stay on track, not forget things & stay less scattered. More steady.
I may implement that as well. Prepping at night, including the written daily plan. Hm.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Are you a finisher?
Since my counseling session earlier today, I've been thinking about the concept of steadfastness and creating new habits, routine & orderliness.
Synonyms for steadfast are sure, dependable, reliable, constant, unwavering, staunch, steady.
Steadfast literally means fixed in place, but is chiefly used figuratively to indicate undeviating constancy or resolution. Literally, steady is applied to that which is relatively firm in position or continuous in movement or duration: a steady flow; figuratively, it implies sober regularity or persistence.
The three areas that I'm striving for steadfastness in my life are in keeping my kitchen clean and organized, having a daily quiet time, and regularly reading from my reading list.
My ideal is that:
~I will identify times each day that these will actions will take place,
~I will endeavor to follow through with the planned activities, and
~A habit if becoming a finisher will be formed!
I want to become a finisher. Right now I'm an idea girl. I have a million fantastic ideas and scramble to start each one. Before you know it, I've collapsed under the weight of my ideas and I've gotten almost nothing accomplished.
So first I have to identify times for all of these activities.
The first is easy. Doing the dishes and cleaning the counters after dinner just makes sense. My hubby and I have talked about this, and while we're at it, one of us can make lunches at the same time too. But Bill cautioned me to take responsibility for my own habits and not be dependent upon whether my hubby follows through on the plan. I thought this was pretty insightful because I hadn't even mentioned the plan yet, nor the fact that we've had that plan for two weeks and haven't done it once yet!
While keeping it clean is relatively simple, organizing it is not. I have had a bit of a jump start on that though. I took some time over the long weekend to organize some areas of the kitchen and have even more ideas for continuing the organization, but that is going to take some time. I think I can realistically plan to organize one drawer or shelf each day after having done the dishes and the whole kitchen should be done by the end of November! Oi.
Which brings us to reading from my recommended reading list. I had a goal to read one of those books every two months. And since I was half way done one of them, the goal implied that I'd be able to finish it by the end of August. Not even close.
That tells me I need to establish a routine of reading. A daily routine. At least 3 or 4 days of the week I don't have plans lunch plans, so it would be realistic to read during my lunch break. And assuming I'm bringing my lunches to work, I won't have to spend time searching for food!
Lastly, there's my quiet time for prayer and bible study. Oh, how I've striven to get up early for that. I've failed almost every time. Or I'll do it for a day or two and then stop.
It makes a huge difference, though, when I'm able to do it in the morning before I start my day. There's a huge temptation to put it off to the evening, but then I know I'll get caught up in spending time with my hubby (after I do the dishes and make lunches, of course!) and there is only so much time after work!
So here 'goes! I'll get up a half hour early to spend time reading the bible and praying before I start my day.
I think I'll go a step further and make sure I have less to do in the mornings by cleaning up the night before instead of in the morning. It just makes sense to do as much at night to make the mornings easier and less hectic.
Talk about starting the day off right!
Synonyms for steadfast are sure, dependable, reliable, constant, unwavering, staunch, steady.
Steadfast literally means fixed in place, but is chiefly used figuratively to indicate undeviating constancy or resolution. Literally, steady is applied to that which is relatively firm in position or continuous in movement or duration: a steady flow; figuratively, it implies sober regularity or persistence.
The three areas that I'm striving for steadfastness in my life are in keeping my kitchen clean and organized, having a daily quiet time, and regularly reading from my reading list.
My ideal is that:
~I will identify times each day that these will actions will take place,
~I will endeavor to follow through with the planned activities, and
~A habit if becoming a finisher will be formed!
I want to become a finisher. Right now I'm an idea girl. I have a million fantastic ideas and scramble to start each one. Before you know it, I've collapsed under the weight of my ideas and I've gotten almost nothing accomplished.
So first I have to identify times for all of these activities.
The first is easy. Doing the dishes and cleaning the counters after dinner just makes sense. My hubby and I have talked about this, and while we're at it, one of us can make lunches at the same time too. But Bill cautioned me to take responsibility for my own habits and not be dependent upon whether my hubby follows through on the plan. I thought this was pretty insightful because I hadn't even mentioned the plan yet, nor the fact that we've had that plan for two weeks and haven't done it once yet!
While keeping it clean is relatively simple, organizing it is not. I have had a bit of a jump start on that though. I took some time over the long weekend to organize some areas of the kitchen and have even more ideas for continuing the organization, but that is going to take some time. I think I can realistically plan to organize one drawer or shelf each day after having done the dishes and the whole kitchen should be done by the end of November! Oi.
Which brings us to reading from my recommended reading list. I had a goal to read one of those books every two months. And since I was half way done one of them, the goal implied that I'd be able to finish it by the end of August. Not even close.
That tells me I need to establish a routine of reading. A daily routine. At least 3 or 4 days of the week I don't have plans lunch plans, so it would be realistic to read during my lunch break. And assuming I'm bringing my lunches to work, I won't have to spend time searching for food!
Lastly, there's my quiet time for prayer and bible study. Oh, how I've striven to get up early for that. I've failed almost every time. Or I'll do it for a day or two and then stop.
It makes a huge difference, though, when I'm able to do it in the morning before I start my day. There's a huge temptation to put it off to the evening, but then I know I'll get caught up in spending time with my hubby (after I do the dishes and make lunches, of course!) and there is only so much time after work!
So here 'goes! I'll get up a half hour early to spend time reading the bible and praying before I start my day.
I think I'll go a step further and make sure I have less to do in the mornings by cleaning up the night before instead of in the morning. It just makes sense to do as much at night to make the mornings easier and less hectic.
Talk about starting the day off right!
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