I have gotten so many useful things from people sharing on Facebook, Instagram, and blogs over the years that I wanted to do a bit of sharing myself. A blog that I recently discovered is Everyday Reading, and Janssen, the author, shared 5 things that worked for her in 2018 and it got me to thinking about the good things I had implemented in the year that have helped me. While I love new years resolutions, none of these habbits started on Jan 1. They each came to be through need and looking for solutions. Can't wait to see what I will add/or eliminate in 2019. I'll be looking for inspitation so keep on sharing.
1. Waking Up Early. This spring I had the oportunity to substitute teach our church''s early morning youth seminary class. It began at 6 in the morning. I have always wanted to wake up before my kids my entire motherhood, but I never was able to create that habit. Three months of early morning teaching cured that. Now that I am not teaching, I use that time to work out, read my own scriptures, or read with my son(who has always been an early riser).
2. Going to Bed Early. Another great habbit that came from teaching seminary. With my extended schedule I made the selfish decision to make everyone in the house go to bed early so that I could. BEST THING EVER! My boys are natural early risers, no matter when they go down, but having them go down early has made for some much more enjoyable evenings. 7:30 for the littles at the start of school, and when the time changed this fall, I didn't let their time fall back, so they are starting to bed at 6:30 this winter. Which I absolutely love. I hate those long dark winter evenings. And the rest of us are in bed by 8:00.
3. Listening to Scriptures, Audio Books, and Podcasts during the day. As you can guess, being a mom of 6 doesn't leave a lot of time to sit on my duff and read, but there is a ton of time everyday that I can be listening to things. I feel that this year has been a big year of self reflection and learning and the sources I was able to find to listen to helped me tremendously. I know being able to listen to those seminary lessons were a huge lifesaver to me while I was teaching. I don't know how I would have been able to prepare otherwise. Below is a list of the things I loved listening too. We also rediscovered listening to audiobooks with the kids.
4. Reading to Cayden in the morning. My 9 year old has always struggled with reading and he was recently diagnosed with ADHD. After school homework time was always tortuous for him and I. But we realized that he is at the top of his game in the mornings. Plus there are no other distractions, just he and I and the Dairy of the Wimpy Kid. I loved that we found a time for us to spend together, getting better at something, and having fun. And now there is less homework to do at homework time and he can spend more time outside doing those crazy things that make him Cayden.
5. Getting Help With My House. Every Monday, I have a dear friend comes over and helps me get my house back together after the weekend. All the bathrooms, the floors, the laundry, and the bedding are all fresh and clean for the new week. When it was just me it would take me until Thursday each week to get that all done, or more likely it wouldn't all get done. The day is also free for appointments as I can leave my youngest with Marcia if I need to run to doctor, orthodontist, or vet. I often use Mondays to mow the lawn too. Those are my favorite Mondays because(1. I've gotten to spend time outside(2. the whole place is looking great. I feel so increadible blessed that I am able to have this help.
6. Breakfast Dishes Done before Leaving On a typical day, I am not home a whole lot. From school drop off to when they return, I have only popped in and out a couple of times, so if those breakfast dishes weren't done before I left for the day, it can be pretty disheartening to see them at three in the afternoon still waiting for me. It also seems disrespectful because I have such a brand new beautiful kitchen that doesn't deserve to be treated like that. We've had to adjust our morning routine a bit, but now there is time to get the kitchen all clean before we leave for school.
7. Using the EveryDollar App for Budgeting. Adam and I are Dave Ramsey fans. We trudged through our own journey of breaking free of debt with Student Loans, Vehicle Loans, and credit cards over ten years ago using his steps in Total Money Makeover. It was amazing! But lately we have become lax in where our money is going. Our church offers a Personal Finance class that Adam and I took and we became recommited to managing our money. Tracking our expenses that first month was eye opening. We watched how our money was trickeling away at everyday little things. We now have definite goals for our money. We had a Christmas budget, saving for vacation is planned, and long term savings is happening without fail. We have a place for Every Dollar to go. And it is serving us now, because we work too hard for it to waste it.
8. Went to a Dermatologist. I don't know why, but this is the year that I finally realized that my adult acne was not going to go away without some perfessional help. I had tried so many products over the years thinking this next one is the winner, or maybe I needed to be more vigilant with following the routines, or I just haven't found the right combination for my skin, or if I just ate a better diet these blemishes wouldn't keep appearing. It only took six months of antibotics and a topical cream to give me the face I have always hoped was under there. Why or why did I not go sooner?
Here is a list of the Books/Podcast/Instagrams that I loved in 2018
Self Help/Parenting
Boundaries by Dr Heny Cloud and Dr John Townsend When to say yes and when to say no. I love that they use scriptures and biblical teachings to convince us "christians" that being pulled in unwise directions does not make us happy. We can be more happy when we use our power to say no or yes.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben Another by Ruben that I spoke to me. Don't be suprised if I start my own happiness project.
The 7 Habbits of Highly Effective People by Steven R Covey Adam has tried to get me to read this for years and I'm glad I finally did. This is a book that I will need to reread often to put into practice.
Ignore It! by Catherine Pearlman We have a few whinners in the family, one is much louder and better at it than rest. I tell people he is the one who broke me. I am able to stand up to most of my children's demands, but Seth has the whine, scream, throw a fit dance down. I'll do almost anything to make it stop. But Catherine has shown me that I do have power and that power is to Ignore It. I have listened to this book probably three times this year to keep up my stamina to his assaults, and I know it is working. I even got Adam to listen to it.
Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies by Rachel Hollis I love a good girl power uplifter and Rachel is one. She is so spunky. The audiobook is in her own voice so thats fun to hear her enthusiasm.
Man's Search for Meaning by Victor E Frankl Here is the Amazon description- Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the experiences of others he treated later in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose.
HIs book is touching not only for his experience, but his discovery that there is something in each of us that cannot be taken away. And we must protect that part of us with our integrity.
Classics
The Old Man in the Sea by Ernest Hemingway There may have been some gaps in my high school reading requirements and I'm trying to it up by reading a few classics when I get the notion. If you missed this one is all about grit.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho This is another book that should be read many times in a lifetime.
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling This was my favorite book to listen to while I ran. Very wise are those jungle animals, and very stupid are we humans.
Read with My Kids
Brave Irene by Willian Steig Another story of a determined brave little girl. These are my favorite.
The Boxcar Children By Gertrude Chandler Warner Its round number 2 with these classic childrens books. With how much my older girls loved these books, I have such fun reintroducing them to my younger kids. Gertrude grew up in Putnam, CT and I've taken my kids to her museum. There is a real boxcar decked out with chiped cups and broken dishes and sillouette drawings she made of her students as she taught there all of her life.
The Indian and the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks We started listening to audiobooks on out 15 minute drives to school each day to cut down on the arguing and anoying sounds of the brothers. This one grabbed there attention each day.
Harry Potter and the Socerer's Stone by JK Rowling My older girls have read the series a couple of times each, but I was thrilled when Seth brought up our illustrated copy and asked to read it. I downloaded the audiobook and we follow along as we listen before bed.
Dave Ramsey I love listening to Dave give advice to callers. I try to guess what he'll say to them. When I can give all the right advice I know I'll be a true Ramsey fan. I heard him recommend the book Boundaries which I have listed above to a woman who was feeling guilty about not wanting to help her adult children out with thier finances.
Happier with Gretchen Ruben Obviously I'm obsessed with Gretchen, but here is her podcast that she cohosts with her sister.
Revisionist History- Malcolm Gladwell I haven't read any of his books yet, but I love his podcasts casting light on things misunderstood. He is a great story teller.
Young House Love This couple is too funny. They are home diy-ers and decorators. They are remodeling a beach house and take you through the process. I love thier style. I even dig her style of dress. She calls her minimalist wardrobe a uniform. She knows what she likes and sticks with it.
Circle Round and Stories Podcast- Both post fun short children stories weekly. Great to listen to in the car or before bed.
1 comment:
I love these! I need a weekly house cleaner!
Post a Comment