We’ve spent the last few weeks at my grandparent’s home on the island of Isla Mujeres, Mexico. On January 1st, the local people of Isla venture down to the south side of their island to watch the sunrise and welcome in the new year. My family has always joined them, but this year we’ll be back in Minnesota before the 1st.
So we went this morning instead, a few days early.
Watching the sunrise got me thinking about New Year’s resolutions.
I love making lists, setting goals, and planning my future, so yes, New Year’s resolutions are definitely my thing. But according to US News, 80% of these resolutions fail by February.
The truth is, most New Year’s resolutions are set up for failure.
“I want to lose weight.” “I want to save money.” “I want to learn Spanish.”
👆 All of these are vague, and open-ended. Resolutions succeed by being SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.
So this year, John and I are creating monthly resolutions instead of yearly ones. Want to join us? Take time to set up your goals this weekend, and share them with us on Instagram! (Tag: @bflorell and @jcflorell)
January: No processed sugar
January is a great time for a monthly health goal. Whether you resolve to make it to the gym three times a week, cut out alcohol, or eliminate snacking after 8pm, you can be sure that you’ll be surrounded by others with similar goals. In January, the treats always seem to disappear from the office kitchen, and all my friends are always up for a walk around the mall (we live in the frozen tundra, after all).
This year, John and I are cutting processed sugar from our diet for a month. No donuts, no cookies, and definitely no sugary drinks. I did this last year, and found a renewed energy and focus. By the time February rolled around, the sugar cravings were gone!
February: Weekly dates
Ahh the month of love. By the time February rolls around, the winter blues are starting to set in and it can be tempting to hibernate. In an effort to force ourselves to get out of the house, we’re resolving to go on a weekly date to someplace new.
While I do love a good restaurant date, I’m the queen of finding odd little festivals and events around town. Our entertainment budget is tight, so this February, we plan to check out the ice castles in Excelsior and take our snowshoes out to a Minneapolis park.
Don’t have a significant other? Resolve to try something new with a friend!
March: Clean out the closet
In March, I’m switching to a capsule wardrobe. Anything that doesn’t fit, needs repairs, or I haven’t warn in the last year is going to Goodwill. I plan to organize my shopping so that all of my new clothes match, and can be warn multiple ways. My favorite shop for used women’s clothing: Clothes Mentor.
I also plan to clean up the baby clothes. I know that if I didn’t put something on Nora and Lucy, I’m not going to put it on a future child. So why keep it? My kids prefer to be naked anyway.
It remains to be seen if John will let me attack his closet…
April: Take the workout outside
Spring is a great time for running. Melting snow and warmer weather always drive me to lace up my shoes and get outside. Before babies, I ran multiple triathlons, a few half-marathons, and a ton of shorter races as well. Running has taken a backseat to child-growing and rearing, but our goal for April is to run a 5k at the end of the month.
Want to sign up with us?? Register for the Get in Gear race!
May: Make an extra mortgage payment
My office job pays me every other Friday, which means that most months I get two paychecks. But this year, I get an extra check in May and November. Rather than spend it, we like to use it to meet our financial goals. So this May, we’ll be putting it toward paying off our 30-year mortgage in 20 years or less.
What are your financial goals this year?
June: Quit the nightly TV show
I’ll be honest, I purposely picked a warm month to give up television and movies. Who wants to cut out screen time when it’s cold??
My plan is to use my tv-free evenings to read more, spend time outside, and bond with my husband and kids. I also notice that I generally sleep better when I haven’t been staring at a bright screen right before bed.
July: Schedule overdue appointments
I’ll admit, it’s definitely been more than a year since I visited the dentist. I’m making it part of my resolution to catch up on all my medical appointments: dentist, eye doctor, etc. And then, as a follow-up, make notes in my phone reminding me when to schedule future visits.
What appointments have you been putting off?
August: Buy all produce at the farmer’s market
August is my favorite time at the market: juicy tomatoes, crunchy apples, and fresh veggies galore. I love heading to the market early on a Saturday to sip a cup of coffee, eat a breakfast burrito, and wander through the rainbow of fresh produce.
Buying from the farmer’s market not only supports local farmers, but it’s also an easy way to get produce in bulk, and plastic free. Last year, we purchased 72 bell peppers for only $22. We froze most of them, and have been throwing them into soups and scrambled eggs all fall.
This year, we plan to get all of our produce from the market in August. We’re also hoping to stock up for winter, to avoid buying packaged, imported, veggies from the grocery store.
What are your favorite things to can or freeze?
September: Learn a new skill
In the spirit of back-to-school, I’m vowing to take an online course through Coursera. I’ve always said that if I won the lottery, I would just study full time (but without the homework or the grades). So why not make time for learning a new skill now?
If only I could decide what to take…
October: Visit four new state parks
Minnesota has 75 state parks, and fall is a beautiful time to explore them. My girls belong to the Passport Club, and I always say that I want to help them collect their stamps.
We took Nora camping for a long weekend when she was 6 months old, but have yet to go again as a family. This October, I’m putting my money where my mouth is and we’re vowing to check out a new state park every weekend. Maybe camping, but maybe just for a day hike… we’ll see how ambitious we get.
What are your favorite state parks?
November: Read a book
I love to read, but it often takes a backseat to work and motherhood. In November, I plan to pick out one fiction and one nonfiction book.
Plus, apparently reading can improve your life. Score!
December: 25 days of yoga
The holidays stress me out, and I hate all of the obligation and pressure that comes along with this time of year. It’s a lot of work to find the perfect gifts, bake everyone’s favorite cookies, and spend time with every family member you have.
So this December, I’m taking a few minutes every day for my yoga practice. I’m not very good at relaxing, so meditation apps have never been my thing. But yoga allows me to spend time alone, breathe, and sweat a little all at the same time. I can relax, while still feeling like I’m being productive. Best of both worlds.
MinneMama 