Every year I resolve to eat healthier, exercise more and give more quality attention to my family. This year I'm making concrete resolutions in the hope that I'll actually follow through.
For instance:
- I will work out every weekday during my lunch hour.
- I will have a date with my husband each week. We will have a conversation unrelated to the home or kids each day -- even if it's only 10 minutes long.
- I will keep only healthy lunches in the fridge by my office.
- No snacking after 7 p.m. and no eating the kids' leftovers!
- I will spend one-on-one time with each child at least once a month.
If you're looking for ideas for New Year's resolutions, I have some suggestions that might work for you. Set aside time each week to take care of yourself. Pick up a part-time job or consulting gig in case the economy gets even worse. Negotiate more flexible hours at work.
What's on your list of resolutions? For inspiration, check out the resolutions by other About.com Guides in our All About Parenting Blog Carnival.
More:
My goal is to get a workout buddy. It’s someone to help keep me honest and to help keep me from wasting my workout time.
You’re so right that we all tend to put our own health on a back burner because of all we try to do. Your suggestions will help us all get back on track.
You are so right that working out needs to be a higher priority for most of us. My challenge is to fit a workout in when I am being a caregiver for my dad. I love going to the gym and hate working out at home, but I’m going to have to find something I can do at my dad’s home because I can’t leave him to go to the gym.
Katherine, I think it helps to make resolutions specific like you have. Instead of saying, “I’ll work out more,” you have determined when, and how often, you will exercise and included that in your resolution, “I will work out every weekday during my lunch hour.” I think I’ll go back and try to make my resolutions more specific, too. Thanks!
Yes, specific goals are better, but sometimes it’s hard to make specific goals that are realistic. I know if I tried Katherine’s goal of working out every weekday that would last less than a week.
So I’m going to fall back onto one that I know I can do because I used to do it. I resolve to walk 30-60 minutes 5 days a week. I find that walking isn’t just good for my physical health but it’s good for my mental health. And it puts me on street level in my neighborhood so I notice more things and feel more connected.
So true. Concrete goals, when you can make them, help a ton. Frankly, I think I can stand to work on the resolution to not eat the kids’ leftovers
Oh, me too, Soni!!
Oh these are wonderful and so specific – that’s key. But wait, what lunch hour? OK, maybe I need to add: “Stop eating at my desk. Go outside. Have a life.”
Being specific pretty much amounts to making it part of a routine, which probably helps increase the chances of success. Don’t we all love routines?