Finding Joy In A More Balanced Life-Week #8

[Momof3cuties]

It's been 3 weeks since my last update.  Time to sit back & take a look at where I am in this challenge! 

Goals that were set for new month:

Household Goal: continue mission to de-clutter and stop being so obsessive about cleaning.  I get the house cleaned every other week.  I will usually clean the entire house 2-3 times before they come again...vacuum, sweep, mop, dust, etc. I am trying to reduce that one time in between the cleaning.

Progress:  I have done a pretty good job with this one.  I have filled my life with other things that have made it very difficult to focus on the house.  I cleaned out the garage, there's still more to do out there but it needs to wait until the weather is warmer.  I have started to assess what will be sold in the community garage sale & what needs to be replaced out there.  I decluttered several more areas in the house.  Boy, a lack of clutter is such a stress buster! 

Marriage Goal:  continue goal to have one date every other week, also tell my husband something sweet/nice each day.

Progress:  Oh, not what I would like it to be.  We have been spending more time one on one.  We had a date night on Friday.  I am still not saying sweet or nice things to him each day.  I really need to work on this area.

Kids goal: Goal: 15 - 30 minutes of quality time with the kids. 

Progress:  So-so.  Some days I do great with this, other days, I feel like neither or the kids gets more than 5 minutes of my attention.  I really need to work on this area.

Work Goal:Not feeling like I am working 24/7 & get a new schedule worked out to get my hours in.  

Progress:  I have done alright with this.  I have scheduled more fun things into my life, both for myself & for my family. 

Personal Goal: Getting some ME TIME in, including daily exercise...more specific...daily Bible time, daily exercise, do something with a friend every other week . 

Progress:  I have done ok with this one.  I have set aside a little time for myself each week, not necessarily each day...like my exercise & Bible study homework.  Bible study will be over on March 29th.  On the 21st my Sunday evening chats with my friend Jennie at Starbucks will be over also bc our girls will be done with choir.  I have gone scrapbooking & done several other fun things that were just for myself.  Saturday, my husband & I took our 5 year old to see Rodgers & Hammersteins Cinderella put on by a local children's theater company, then out for treats...we hosted a house full of teenage boys the weekend before for my 17 yr old. 

I can see by looking at things that this is going to take a lot more work & time than I had originally thought but I do see the benefits of it.  Spring is here & it's the beginning of another busy season for our family with my 17 yr old running track.  I have, however, decided not to jam my (or my kids) schedules full.  I dropped Spanish on Thursday mornings for my daughter since her teacher was running 20-45 minute late every Thursday.  We now have Thursdays open for whatever we chose, including PJ day, movies whatever we choose to do.  I will not sign Bella up for soccer this season bc it will be chaotic trying to run from soccer games to track meets, etc. Saturdays in the fall were crazy with Dylan playing football & Bella having soccer games.  I started running at 7 a.m. & didn't stop until about 1 p.m.  I am not doing that to us again.  Bella will continue to take swim lessons on Saturday mornings bc she wants to learn how to swim.  I signed her up for a 10:45 class so I can still workout & get her to class & we aren't racing like crazy to get to the Y for her lessons.  Ballet will continue for a few more sessions....then will break for the summer for her.  Her recital is the first Saturday in May...then our break will begin so Tuesdays will be open. 

I have learned to say no & not feel guilty about it.  It's not easy at first, but it does get easier.  It gets a lot easier when you realize the lack of stress saying no creates!

My New Goals: 

Work: work enough hours monday through Saturday that I can take Sundays off & enjoy time with my family!

Kids: Thursdays do something fun with Bella

I am keeping everything else I had previously set out as goals.  I will check back in a few weeks to update on my progress.