Happy New Year!
I'm back in action after a lovely holiday with family in Arkansas. It was a long drive (especially the trip home which was rainy most of the way back), but my husband was a real trooper and drove most of the way with no complaints.
It's always wonderful to see the family, and this year was extra special as we got to meet my little sister's boyfriend, as well as spending time with other friends of the family during "Game Night," which is always a lot of fun!
However, I arrived home too late to share my New Year's post with you last weekend, so I'm pushing your January freebie to next week - stay tuned!
In the meantime, this is always the time of year when I like to reflect on the previous year and make plans for any changes I would like to make in the coming year.
This year, my keyword for 2025 is Intention.
My resolutions this year are mostly centered about living more intentionally - with regards to time, relationships, and more. Read my thoughts on this below to learn what I'll be focusing on this year - and may it inspire you to set your own intentions for the year ahead!
I'm back in action after a lovely holiday with family in Arkansas. It was a long drive (especially the trip home which was rainy most of the way back), but my husband was a real trooper and drove most of the way with no complaints.
It's always wonderful to see the family, and this year was extra special as we got to meet my little sister's boyfriend, as well as spending time with other friends of the family during "Game Night," which is always a lot of fun!
However, I arrived home too late to share my New Year's post with you last weekend, so I'm pushing your January freebie to next week - stay tuned!
In the meantime, this is always the time of year when I like to reflect on the previous year and make plans for any changes I would like to make in the coming year.
This year, my keyword for 2025 is Intention.
My resolutions this year are mostly centered about living more intentionally - with regards to time, relationships, and more. Read my thoughts on this below to learn what I'll be focusing on this year - and may it inspire you to set your own intentions for the year ahead!
My 2025 New Year's Resolutions
#1. To Use My Time More Intentionally
With my busy life (homestead, animals, full-time job, blogging business, etc.), it's no surprise that time management is something that I'm always trying to optimize. I've read so many different books and articles on time management techniques. From focusing on "The ONE Thing," to trying to fit work into a smaller period of time 4-Day Work Week-style, to all sorts of tips, tricks, and "hacks" to getting more out of the available hours in the day, I'm always on the lookout for time-saving strategies or more efficient methods for getting through the massive amount of stuff that's always on my to-do list. While some of these tips have helped, I still usually end up feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, and frazzled by mid-week.
Last year, I started an excellent book called "Tranquility By Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters," which is not really a "time management" book per-se, but is more about getting more enjoyment out of your already-busy life. Of course, my busy life got in the way, and I never finished the book (I think the busy garden season arrived before I got to the end), but the book was so good that I resolved to pick it up again and re-read it - this time with the goal of getting all the way through it early in the year. (I'm nearly halfway through already, so making good progress.) Certain of the book's "rules" (such as Set a Bedtime and a Weekly Planning Session) I've already been using with good effect over the past year.
While the book is not necessarily about getting more done, it does focus a lot on managing your time more efficiently so you can still do the things that you enjoy even when you're really busy. I spent a lot of time thinking about this over the past month or so, and decided that I really need to focus more strategically on how I'm spending my time. While I always plan out my weeks day-by-day, I haven't really been good about following a structured hourly schedule. I've tried the "time blocking" method a time or two, but didn't really feel like it suited my schedule. It always seemed either too loose or too rigid, and I'd end up getting off track and then giving up.
My endless to-do lists continue to grow to the point where I have to push things out from day to day, and then every day seems more and more stressful. The vicious cycle had to end, so I decided to try going back to a structured hourly schedule during my weekend work days. I tried it last weekend for the first time, and it worked even better than I had hoped! I got a LOT of stuff done, but never really felt stressed or overloaded. This is my second weekend using the method, and I'm still tweaking and refining it (for example, I realized pretty quickly that I needed to add planned breaks into my day), but so far I'm already feeling a big difference.
For example, just before I started on this blog post, I took a 20-minute break to get a quick snack and do a bit of cleaning up downstairs. It was supposed to be a 30-minute break, but my previous work block (writing two gardening blog posts) ran a few minutes past the hour that I had blocked off. Since I had a break already planned in the schedule, rather than then falling behind on the next task, I was able to finish up and still get a break. Rather than feeling stressed and rushed, I ended up feeling productive and rested and ready to start on the next task - what a difference!
Previously, I would intend to start work at a certain time of day, but would then see all the things around the house that needed doing - the floor needs mopping, bathrooms need cleaning, dishes need putting away - oh yeah, and I need to make kimchi and bottle the kombucha... Before I knew it, it was mid-afternoon and I would start work in a panic at all the work that I still had to get through.
Now, my weekend workday officially starts at noon, still leaving the mornings free for homestead chores, time with my husband, and housecleaning tasks. I plan to end each day by 6:30pm or so, then leaving myself time for evening chores, laundry, and working out, then spending the evening with my husband. If I run a few minutes past the 6:30pm end goal it's not the end of the world, as I still have time to get the most important things done. My 30-minute break slots allow me to take a break from the computer and get some movement into my day. I might do a bit of light cleaning, grab a snack, or jump on the treadmill for a few minutes. This takes me out of my work zone for a bit, and allows me to change gears for a bit without getting distracted.
I know there will be things that come up that interrupt my time slots from time to time, but having the built-in breaks adds a lot of flexibility that allows me to stay on track even when something that I didn't have planned arises for me to deal with.
While it's only my second weekend using this method, so far it's working really well and I'm excited to see how much I'm getting done, all without feeling stressed out and overwhelmed all the time!
#2. To Be More Intentional About My Relationships/Marriage
While I've made it a practice the past several years to regularly reach out to friends and family (I have a specific person on my schedule to call or write a letter to each week), sometimes things fall by the wayside. I'm generally fairly good at keeping up with it, but I'd like to be a bit more disciplined in this area.
This is especially true when it comes to my marriage. Anyone who has been married for a number of years probably knows that it's so easy to take your partner for granted. While I think my husband and I have always been pretty good at expressing our appreciation for each other, we don't always spend the most focused time together. More often than not, our evenings consist of watching TV on the couch until bedtime. While there's nothing wrong with this sometimes, it doesn't involve a lot of interaction or "quality" time. (Half the time, hubby is surfing the web or on his phone, and not even actually watching the show with me anyway.)
It's easy to slide into this habit, but over time, I think it can lead to disconnection and relationship issues. Instead of spending the time really connecting with each other, we're basically solo - just in the same room. My goal this year is to spend more focused time together at least once a week. Whether we're playing a card game, discussing our plans, hopes, and dreams over a glass of wine, or cooking a meal together, I think it will be good for us to be more intentional about the time we share - or at least some of it.
#3. To Pay More Attention to My Mental and Physical Health
Obviously, as you know if you've been reading this blog for a while, you know I'm big on health! So this one may seem a little surprising, but as much as I focus on health, I sometimes neglect my own. Much as I would like to, I often don't eat enough vegetables or get enough exercise. While managing my time more intentionally (see #1 above) should help with at least the second one of these, I do need to make sure that I'm paying attention to how I'm feeling.
Being stressed and overwhelmed all the time is SO bad for my health, and while I know this very well, somehow I still spent much of last year in that state. Taking a moment to stop and think about how I'm feeling gives me the choice of changing that feeling to something better. Doing a few minutes of Tapping (EFT), meditation, or just going for a quick walk can turn things around so quickly - I just need to have the focus and discipline to #1. notice what's going on with me, and #2. do something about it!
My husband also suggested therapy (which he has had good results with), and I've never tried this, but the older I get, the more I feel like I may benefit. Getting closer to 50 means (at least for me) developing more self-awareness and recognizing areas where I could maybe use some help and guidance. So this is something I plan to explore in the year ahead.
I've also made a commitment to move more throughout my day. On the weekends, I can fit some activity into my breaks. However, during the work week, I'm so busy I often forget to even go to the bathroom - let alone take a walk outside! Fortunately, one of the guys I work with goes for a walk around mid-day almost every day (weather permitting), so I told him I want to go with him whenever he goes and that will hopefully motivate me to actually do it!
So there you have it - my three top goals/intentions/resolutions for this year. I'm feeling excited and motivated - looking forward to what 2025 has in store! I hope you have some good things in store for you as well, and feel free to drop me a note and share your own intentions for this year!
Be sure to stay tuned next week for your monthly freebie...
To your health in 2025 and beyond,
Rose.
#1. To Use My Time More Intentionally
With my busy life (homestead, animals, full-time job, blogging business, etc.), it's no surprise that time management is something that I'm always trying to optimize. I've read so many different books and articles on time management techniques. From focusing on "The ONE Thing," to trying to fit work into a smaller period of time 4-Day Work Week-style, to all sorts of tips, tricks, and "hacks" to getting more out of the available hours in the day, I'm always on the lookout for time-saving strategies or more efficient methods for getting through the massive amount of stuff that's always on my to-do list. While some of these tips have helped, I still usually end up feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, and frazzled by mid-week.
Last year, I started an excellent book called "Tranquility By Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters," which is not really a "time management" book per-se, but is more about getting more enjoyment out of your already-busy life. Of course, my busy life got in the way, and I never finished the book (I think the busy garden season arrived before I got to the end), but the book was so good that I resolved to pick it up again and re-read it - this time with the goal of getting all the way through it early in the year. (I'm nearly halfway through already, so making good progress.) Certain of the book's "rules" (such as Set a Bedtime and a Weekly Planning Session) I've already been using with good effect over the past year.
While the book is not necessarily about getting more done, it does focus a lot on managing your time more efficiently so you can still do the things that you enjoy even when you're really busy. I spent a lot of time thinking about this over the past month or so, and decided that I really need to focus more strategically on how I'm spending my time. While I always plan out my weeks day-by-day, I haven't really been good about following a structured hourly schedule. I've tried the "time blocking" method a time or two, but didn't really feel like it suited my schedule. It always seemed either too loose or too rigid, and I'd end up getting off track and then giving up.
My endless to-do lists continue to grow to the point where I have to push things out from day to day, and then every day seems more and more stressful. The vicious cycle had to end, so I decided to try going back to a structured hourly schedule during my weekend work days. I tried it last weekend for the first time, and it worked even better than I had hoped! I got a LOT of stuff done, but never really felt stressed or overloaded. This is my second weekend using the method, and I'm still tweaking and refining it (for example, I realized pretty quickly that I needed to add planned breaks into my day), but so far I'm already feeling a big difference.
For example, just before I started on this blog post, I took a 20-minute break to get a quick snack and do a bit of cleaning up downstairs. It was supposed to be a 30-minute break, but my previous work block (writing two gardening blog posts) ran a few minutes past the hour that I had blocked off. Since I had a break already planned in the schedule, rather than then falling behind on the next task, I was able to finish up and still get a break. Rather than feeling stressed and rushed, I ended up feeling productive and rested and ready to start on the next task - what a difference!
Previously, I would intend to start work at a certain time of day, but would then see all the things around the house that needed doing - the floor needs mopping, bathrooms need cleaning, dishes need putting away - oh yeah, and I need to make kimchi and bottle the kombucha... Before I knew it, it was mid-afternoon and I would start work in a panic at all the work that I still had to get through.
Now, my weekend workday officially starts at noon, still leaving the mornings free for homestead chores, time with my husband, and housecleaning tasks. I plan to end each day by 6:30pm or so, then leaving myself time for evening chores, laundry, and working out, then spending the evening with my husband. If I run a few minutes past the 6:30pm end goal it's not the end of the world, as I still have time to get the most important things done. My 30-minute break slots allow me to take a break from the computer and get some movement into my day. I might do a bit of light cleaning, grab a snack, or jump on the treadmill for a few minutes. This takes me out of my work zone for a bit, and allows me to change gears for a bit without getting distracted.
I know there will be things that come up that interrupt my time slots from time to time, but having the built-in breaks adds a lot of flexibility that allows me to stay on track even when something that I didn't have planned arises for me to deal with.
While it's only my second weekend using this method, so far it's working really well and I'm excited to see how much I'm getting done, all without feeling stressed out and overwhelmed all the time!
#2. To Be More Intentional About My Relationships/Marriage
While I've made it a practice the past several years to regularly reach out to friends and family (I have a specific person on my schedule to call or write a letter to each week), sometimes things fall by the wayside. I'm generally fairly good at keeping up with it, but I'd like to be a bit more disciplined in this area.
This is especially true when it comes to my marriage. Anyone who has been married for a number of years probably knows that it's so easy to take your partner for granted. While I think my husband and I have always been pretty good at expressing our appreciation for each other, we don't always spend the most focused time together. More often than not, our evenings consist of watching TV on the couch until bedtime. While there's nothing wrong with this sometimes, it doesn't involve a lot of interaction or "quality" time. (Half the time, hubby is surfing the web or on his phone, and not even actually watching the show with me anyway.)
It's easy to slide into this habit, but over time, I think it can lead to disconnection and relationship issues. Instead of spending the time really connecting with each other, we're basically solo - just in the same room. My goal this year is to spend more focused time together at least once a week. Whether we're playing a card game, discussing our plans, hopes, and dreams over a glass of wine, or cooking a meal together, I think it will be good for us to be more intentional about the time we share - or at least some of it.
#3. To Pay More Attention to My Mental and Physical Health
Obviously, as you know if you've been reading this blog for a while, you know I'm big on health! So this one may seem a little surprising, but as much as I focus on health, I sometimes neglect my own. Much as I would like to, I often don't eat enough vegetables or get enough exercise. While managing my time more intentionally (see #1 above) should help with at least the second one of these, I do need to make sure that I'm paying attention to how I'm feeling.
Being stressed and overwhelmed all the time is SO bad for my health, and while I know this very well, somehow I still spent much of last year in that state. Taking a moment to stop and think about how I'm feeling gives me the choice of changing that feeling to something better. Doing a few minutes of Tapping (EFT), meditation, or just going for a quick walk can turn things around so quickly - I just need to have the focus and discipline to #1. notice what's going on with me, and #2. do something about it!
My husband also suggested therapy (which he has had good results with), and I've never tried this, but the older I get, the more I feel like I may benefit. Getting closer to 50 means (at least for me) developing more self-awareness and recognizing areas where I could maybe use some help and guidance. So this is something I plan to explore in the year ahead.
I've also made a commitment to move more throughout my day. On the weekends, I can fit some activity into my breaks. However, during the work week, I'm so busy I often forget to even go to the bathroom - let alone take a walk outside! Fortunately, one of the guys I work with goes for a walk around mid-day almost every day (weather permitting), so I told him I want to go with him whenever he goes and that will hopefully motivate me to actually do it!
So there you have it - my three top goals/intentions/resolutions for this year. I'm feeling excited and motivated - looking forward to what 2025 has in store! I hope you have some good things in store for you as well, and feel free to drop me a note and share your own intentions for this year!
Be sure to stay tuned next week for your monthly freebie...
To your health in 2025 and beyond,
Rose.
RSS Feed