Photo of Resolution Ring from BerkeyDesigns
Believe it or not, I didn’t really think of a New Year resolution this year. I would like to take better care of my health by incorporating exercise back into my schedule and cooking more from scratch but I’d like to think of that as more a lifestyle change than a one-year resolution.
But I really like the One Little Word concept (which I first heard about from Ali Edwards) where you take a word and you try to live by that word for the year. My OLW last year was “Prepare” and I do feel that I went further in that aspect than any other year and that is the level of accomplishment that sits well with me. We planned meals for the week, laid out clothes for the kids the night before. I looked at my calendar every night before I sleep to know what the week ahead brings (and also to see what my husband added to our family calendar). Yes I could have done better like pack my and my daughter’s lunches the night before. And I really could have benefitted from declining to take on last-minute projects or commitments because I really should have known that without the cushion time to prepare, the effort often ends up being a not-so-pleasant experience.
So this year, my OLW is a bit of a cheater because it’s technically a “phrase”. In 2012, I want to “Live Smarter”.
To me, living smarter means,
- Tuning into my energy clock and matching the energy level to the tasks I need to complete. Then removing typical obstacles that distract me.
- Reading more – something I enjoy and which nourishing me mentally and spiritually but which I feel I do not do enough of.
- Watching less “drama-fiction” TV and more drama-documentaries about historical events, about science and people who showed purpose in their lives and endeavors.
- Utilizing my lunch hour to run errands so (1) I leave my work desk for a physical break, (2) I probably get more things done without being distracted with my kids.
- Making it a point to send more handwritten “thank yous” and “just saying hi” notes because it’s smart to reach out to people who love and care for you to keep the positive energy.
I am sure some other things will pop up as I think of my OLW (ok ok I guess if you had to twist my arm, my one little word could be “Smarter”?). Do you have a new year’s resolution or two? Or maybe a One Little Word of your own?
