Well, I did make 60!

I just counted up my accomplishments, and I exceeded the minimum standard. I actually got 70 out of 112!

I have to admit, it was with a weak finish, but I still get my 12 songs!

Now, who do you all use to buy songs online?

I guess its time to make a new reward chart...because I haven't exercised all week! Well, that is if you don't count an hour of dance instruction! (It was the Rhumba.... Not too much sweating going on...)

My Reward Chart

I am using a reward chart to help me stay on track. This is my anti-perfectionism tool. I got this particular chart from a Wellness Notebook, which I have in PDF format. It's huge, though, like 75 pages.

A reward chart helps me remember what I was trying to do. Unlike you, I quickly forget the main point of some of my hardest goals.

Also, it helps me see and acknowledge the smallest accomplishment! Having a tendency toward depression, which means twisted thinking, I have a hard time seeing those successes unless I work hard on focusing my mind. This chart helps me see every little part of my goal that I succeed at doing.

I've decided if I get 50% of my goal done out of 14 days, I'll give myself a reward. In this case, I think I counted 112 parts of my goal on the chart. So, "Success" will be if I get 56 or more done. The reward I picked is to buy $12 of songs that I can use on Royal's MP3 player. I figure I can listen to them while working out, so I hope this reward will help me continue to accomplish my goal!

(I've never purchased music online. Any suggestions for user-friendly song-buying sites?)

So, good-luck to any of you that are also trying to do something hard. We can do it. At least, we can do something.

A Comedy of Circumstances.

It all started by waking to the sound of one hand clapping.... That is, my alarm failed to sound. I had an alarm set so we could arrive on time to Royal's doctor appointment. This appointment is his follow-up from his Discectomy surgery in December, and we both had very serious concerns for our surgeon, Kuklo. Yet we were already 30 minutes later than planned.

So, the only routine we executed was the, "Potty, brush, dress, and get that coat on..." as we dashed about the house begging compliance from our sleepy kids.

No exercise. Only very brief, desperate prayers, and certainly no work on personal goals!

Oh, well. I am okay with failing again. Isn't that great! ;-)

On the up side, (an omage to Auntie Heather, once again.) when I went to my reward chart to check off the anything I might have done, I did see "Get fully dressed". YES! I did it! Of course, today will be another story. A more normal one, I hope...

One Day More

I'm still working on a morning routine.

Yesterday I got in a partial one: exercise, scriptures, and prayers before kids awoke, and dressed and makeup afterwards. (Pretty good!)

Today, we accomplished getting dressed, showered, and having very good prayers before kids awoke.

I was also aiming to work on a personal goal, and that has been occurring during the day.

As for structuring time with the kids, I haven't dented that goal yet, except for planning a few things.

One Step Forward.

I thought about naming today's post, "Strike One." because I didn't do my entire routine this morning. In fact, I didn't get out of bed until 7:30.

But then I started thinking about my friend/sister, Heather. Heather always insists on looking at what is working. So, what went right? Well, more than meets the eye.

I did get fully dressed this morning. I did say a sincere prayer before leaving my room, and I even got my hair/face done!

So, One step forward, albeit not as big one as I was hoping. I will be attempting my new morning routine tomorrow.

I made myself a "Reward Chart" as an enticement to do the good behaviors. But, I haven't decided on a good reward yet... There aren't even any books I'm dying to buy right now! (That tells you how well off I am right now.)

I will try to post updates.

"My" Life, a How To on Taking It Back

Okay, so Jim is almost a year.

It must be that time of the month because I'm feeling way too sick and tired of being too sick and tired. I'm blaming the kids for taking too much of "me" and I'm blaming Royal for not taking enough of the kids' constant taking, taking, taking.

PMS or no PMS, something rattled me out of my pity party this evening. It was something very strange indeed. Royal was reading a self-help book! (Almost surreal in its likelihood...) He read an excerpt aloud. From Frugal Families by Jonni McCoy, he read (paraphrased bigtime), "If you're going to quit work to stay at home, the only way you'll survive it without running back to the office is if you structure your day. PLAN to get up early, exercise, work on personal goals, and get ready for the day before the kids. Also, PLAN the time with kids, including outings you will go on."

This struck the chord of truth for me. I really could take back more of "my" life with the proper tools (a good plan). Now, I need a plan...

So, the rambling I will do to form my plan is what this blog post is really about. (No excellence in journalism today, ladies!)

Everything I want to accomplish in my morning routine:
8 minutes exercise with weights
dressing fully, plus basic face/hair hygiene
Working on a personal goal
Working on a homemaking task that is best done alone
Spiritual reflection- 15-20 minutes of reading, plus sincere prayers

That should take about 45 minutes.

At night, it would help if I:
Reviewed the next day's plans, inc. appts
Reviewed the next day's menu (food is still the most effort-consuming item on my to do list)
Reflected on blessings from the current day
Plus prayers

That should take about 10 minutes.

So, my hypothesis is that for about an hour a day, I can have the feeling that I have taken back my life.

I can do this.

I've gotta go check my menu for tomorrow... See ya!

(I'll try to report back soon.)