New Year's Resolutions

According to Reader’s Digest, here are the top 15 resolutions:

1.       Get in shape

2.       Lose weight

3.       Enjoy life to the fullest

4.       Spend less, save more

5.       Spend more time with friends and family

6.       Get organized

7.       Learn something new

8.       Travel more

9.       Break your smart phone addiction

10.   Eat at home more

11.   Drink less

12.   Stop smoking

13.   Reduce stress

14.   Get more sleep

15.   Floss regularly

Sadly, many of these are also on Time’s list of popular broken resolutions.

I’m happy to say that I’ve already nailed some of these.  This past month, we worked on #10.  We still ate out a few times, but nearly as much as we did at the beginning of the school year.  I’ve also been working on #13 for the past two years.  I switched campuses in my school district and took a new position.  Although my new job brings its own challenges, it is less stressful than other teaching positions that I’ve held.  #2 happened when I wasn’t looking last year.  That is the best way for it to happen.  I was so busy running around that I didn’t notice that I lost ten pounds.  I’m also working on #8 by taking my girls places.  My husband can’t always go with us, so I just take the girls and go.  Last summer we went to a state park that was about seven hours away.  This Christmas break, we are making a very quick trip out of state for a friend’s wedding.  Just crossing state lines is a big deal to us.  #11 and #12 are not an issue.

I have a few resolutions that I would like to work on.  They are not all on the list above. 

1.       Read more – fiction, non-fiction, blogs, Bible, just more!

2.       Spend – time with people, less money

3.       Get in shape – strength and endurance

Having a plan certainly helps with not breaking the resolutions. 

1.       Read more – I have a bean bag in my closet which is next to a book shelf.  Every night when I get out of the shower, I sit and read while my hair dries for a little bit.  Sometimes when my kids can’t find me, I’m hiding in my closet reading.  It sounds a little crazy, but I love my new space. 

2.       Spend – One very specific goal that my husband and I have is to be better about tithing.  I rarely carry a checkbook, but our church now has online giving available.  No excuses.  When the plate is passed, I get out my phone and log in to the church website.  Done.  Last year, I regretted not spending time with several people.  I don’t want regrets, so this next year I will not let those opportunities pass by. 

3.       Get in shape – Every day I have the chance to take my students on a walk.  I work at a discipline campus where kids sit in one spot for hours on end, but physical activity helps the brain to function better.  Therefore, I need to take them outside to stretch.  A quick lap around a practice football field does amazing things for academics and attitude.  It is great for me physically and for my relationship with the kids.  If I take small groups around lunch time, then they get to stretch and I get to exercise. 

No plan is perfect.  If I break a resolution, I can just pick it back up and start again.  I don’t have to wait until January.