two thousand eighteen!

2018
a brand new year! doesn’t it feel so fresh and wonderful and bright? i’m always grateful for a reason to restart, reinvent, resolve. i’m sharing some of my resolutions here to organize them and to - in a sense - be held accountable for them. i hope i can look back on this little list in 357 days and feel some sense of triumph. life is about progress, and i really hope to make a bit in 2018!

my “word” for this year is t i m e -
i want to focus on better using each precious day that i have in my beautiful life. here’s some simple lifestyle tweaks i am hoping to make to encourage this:

  • put my phone away in my nightstand at 10pm each night
  • use my screen-time tracking app to limit time spent on my phone (i have a specific time limit)
  • use a paper planner to plan out each day the night before, hour by hour (while of course still embracing some flexibility and serendipity ;) ) and write down my short-term goals
  • have amazing mornings - to me this is defined by having the following completed before 9am: prayer, scripture study, exercise and shower/grooming
    (i also want to aim to be out of the house on an adventure with moses by 9am most mornings)
  • make a meal plan every sunday afternoon (ian and i have set aside 2-3pm as a time when we can each do some personal planning/organizing while moses naps after church)
  • ask myself this question at least five times a day: “is what i’m doing right now truly productive and the best use of my time?”
  • fill any possible “empty space” time with enriching my mind:
    >>read at least ten books this year
    >>listen to podcasts when multitasking is ideal (cleaning, cooking, etc.)
    >>learn more about photography (i have this great book my brother gave me a few years ago that i haven’t cracked, and i want to find an online course!)
  • improve my physical health (which i’ve found to be so, so linked to productivity!) by recommitting to: (1) only eating sweets on holidays; (2) challenging myself more in exercise; and (3) being diligent in my skincare routine
  • give more time - always be prepared with an answer to our nightly question: “what did you do today for others?” 
  • immediately kick any time spent comparing in the butt and get on to something more productive
  • take more video clips (every anniversary i gift ian a little video with images and clips from the year, and i’m always wishing i had more live-action material … and i think taking more video will help me to relish and appreciate time more)
  • each night, while falling asleep, meditate and visualize (i am such a believer in the power of our minds, if we will but exercise them!)
  • see each day as a precious new start

when i look at that list, it seems like a lot! but it’s really just tiny things that i believe will make a big difference. i'm easing into my resolutions, determined that gradually is the way to truly evolve into something better.

with that said … these two posts i saw on instagram really spoke to me - just sayin’ ...
IMG 1289 IMG 1340
i’ll do my best ;)

what do you do to encourage better use of time in your own life! i’d love any suggestions for additions to my list (as long as they are relatively tiny things! ;) )

happy new year! 2018 is going to be an epic one.

Comments

  1. Great goals! I'm also hoping to use my time more wisely this year. Adding baby number two turned my world upside down, so all I would say is don't beat yourself up if you're not completed with everything you want by 9am (or 9pm for that matter!). I really like your idea of meal planning--that's something I struggle with. Good luck with your TIME goals! Life is Good :)

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  2. Great goals! Online Photography course recommendation:
    https://nicolesclasses.com/

    The owner's IG handle: @nicolegerulat

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  3. I highly recommend plantoeat.com! It's a meal planning website and my husband and I have used it for almost three years. It costs like $20/year and it's really bare bones (nothing fancy). But basically you import recipes from websites (or you can manually add in your own) and then you put recipes on the calendar for the week and it generates a shopping list! It's very fast and easy to use. Usually I'll make the meal plan on Monday and he'll shop, then we'll split cooking/cleaning during the week (we both have really intense careers and household chore equality is very important to us)

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  4. Amazing goals. Do remember though that "empty time" can be a good thing; the mind needs time to follow its own whims. How do you study the Scriptures?

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  5. Two ideas that are helpful for me: 1) work on a goal with a friend - I find this motivational. For example, I exercise with a friend. 2.) Take baby steps toward a goal. Just starting something is progress, even if it’s tiny progress. I read about a motivational coach who told his students to floss one tooth each night. The goal was just one tooth. They were welcome to floss more if they wanted to, but that was not the goal. He said that taking baby steps makes people more likely to actually start the desired activity. That mindset helps me.
    Your blog is inspirational to read! I wish you all the best in 2018!

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  6. Do you mind sharing the name of the photography book? Improving my photography skills is one of my goals too!

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    Replies
    1. it's called "understanding exposure." i haven't cracked it yet, haha, so i can't say i recommend it, but my brother sure does!

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  7. Hi- I wanted to drop a note and say my husband's photography has greatly improved from the National Geographic courses he took online via Great Courses. They have promotions periodically so wait them out and you'll find a good deal! Good luck with all your goals and thanks for inspiring me!

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  8. This is a wonderful list. In regards to taking more video clips, have you heard of the One Second Every Day app? I haven't used it, but follow a couple people who do, and they love it.

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  9. Love these goals! I have set some of the same for myself. If you don't have a particular photography course in mind, you might like the Clickin Moms courses. I have loved the courses I've taken with them. Best of luck to you!

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  10. I have chosen "active" with the same goal in mind.
    Maybe you can add a "done list", instead of a "to do list", so you can see how much you have actually accomplished. And if you do a "to do list", think about how much time each task will take, so you plan realistically.

    Btw, I'm quite surprised that you come back to the theme of comparison. Your life seems to be so adventurious that I'd never have expected you feel bad because of comparisons!

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    Replies
    1. i definitely put finished things on my to-do list *only* to have the satisfaction of crossing them off, haha! great ideas, thanks for sharing!

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  11. my friend runs nicole's classes (mentioned above!). it's her sister's (nicole) business. follow their instagram and they have good sales every so often! i bought a gift certificate for way cheap on black friday and am going to do their photography course! let's do it at the same time :). love you.

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    1. yesss, let's do it together! seriously!! let me know when you're starting. i've heard great things about these.

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  12. One of my goals is to be more diligent in studying the Scriptures, which seems to always be on my Resolution list. Would love to hear your thoughts/suggestions on how you "study" and what tools you use guide your study. Happy 2018!

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    1. I would also like to know how you study your scriptures as well as how you implement the goals above. Do you have them posted in your Home as a daily reminder?

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    2. i just started studying all the references to jesus christ in the scriptures (using the topical guide), as per president nelson's suggestion/challenge. i'm excited about it! i've really needed to get back on regular, true study - so now i just try to make sure it's done before 9am every day!

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  13. Here is a link to a new homebirth podcast!

    I was a guest on the show this past summer and all of the many interviews are an excellent resource for couples preparing for giving birth at home.

    https://jennyhatch.com/2017/09/28/my-interview-with-emilee-saldaya-on-the-free-birth-society-podcast-jennyhatch/

    I am so excited about your pregnancy and intentions for this new baby!

    God Bless,

    Jenny

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    Replies
    1. thank you so much for sharing this! i am just sitting down to read it and will explore the podcast!

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  14. What app do you use to track your time on your phone?

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