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Happy Monday! We had a really great weekend away in Snowshoe with friends, and I’m so thankful to get this week off to a good start by finally spending some time on my Powersheets and refocusing on what matters for 2017. There is so much power in just the simple act of sitting down with a cup of tea and a pine needle candle and reflecting on what has been happening in my life. Yes, I know it is January 23rd, but there is nothing magical about January 1st. Really anytime you want to start living a more purposeful life is a great time to start.
How do you even get started? Well Lara Casey has a great series of blog posts I highly recommend here. She is really amazing at asking the right questions to get the good thoughts flowing, but really, there are no rules here. Taking the time to think about how you are going to make real, positive change can be really daunting, and one of the most approachable ways to start is to list what went well over the last year, what I want less of in my life, and what I want more of. Here goes!
What Went Well in 2016
- Travel // We planned a lot of small and big trips in 2016, and when we were reflecting on our year, those times away exploring are some of our favorite memories. Travel is so important for helping me remember how to appreciate and enjoy life, and it’s the easiest way to make the highest quality time.
- Cultivating Friendships // We also focused a lot on putting ourselves out there to make new friends in our new city. It’s so hard to take that first step of asking new friends out, but we found that the amount of energy spent investing in getting numbers, taking that first step, and making some plans with people we don’t already know is so worth it. It’s tough out there in the “real world,” but you never know what kind of community you can build.
- Welcoming People into Our Home // Hospitality is really important to us as a couple, and hosting parties, entertaining, and really just keeping an open door for last minute get-togethers was a win this year. We’d love to have more out-of-town guests, though! Hint, hint friends.
- Getting Invested in Our New Church // We love our church in DC, and this year we spent a ton of time putting ourselves out there (see No. 2), volunteering to join teams, going to dinners in people’s homes, and investing in relationships. Our consistency in these commitments is still a major to-do for 2017.
- Eating Well by Cooking Well // The Fresh 20‘s paleo plan (thanks, Hayley!!) was a real life-changer this year. We did pretty well most of the time shopping on Sunday and making simple, healthy meals. It really makes all the difference in our work week.
- Outdoor Adventures // I think our two office jobs have a big role to play in this, but we really got out there this year! Hiking, kayaking, and skiing were some of our favorite outdoor activities, and in 2017 we are adding biking!
- Taking on New Hobbies // It was fun to try new things this year from some of the outdoor adventures above to gardening, photography, and lots of interior design on our new place!
- Creating Intentional Routines // I wrote a lot more about this here. One thing that also made a big impact this year was writing down the things I want to incorporate into my everyday life and then creating routines that include them. This is the best way I have found to make the good stuff actually happen, because it’s all fun and games until it’s really Monday, you know?
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What I Need Less Of
- Social Media and Googling // Mindless time on my phone because I need to know something now is a bad habit that sucks time away from what really matters. It’s really not that important, and if it is, it can wait.
- Snoozing // Snooze is the enemy of my morning routine! It’s the worst way to start the day and makes it so that I don’t have time for the things I’ve scheduled for my mornings (Bible study and exercise) until the next day! Leaving my phone in the kitchen, Kiwake, and my light alarm help.
- Impulse Buys // Surcees can really be the spice of life and I support them, but in general, the budget can get ruined pretty quickly by thoughtless spending that doesn’t seem like a big deal. That leaves less room for the things that I really want to budget for!
- TV and Multitasking // Sometimes I just want to turn my brain off after work, but if I ever think I’m going to get something productive done with the TV on, it’s going to take me at least twice as long. Music is the answer!
- Political Discussions // I know we live in DC now so this is going to happen, but it’s not usually as edifying as I think it will be at the time. Sometimes it can really draw us closer to people, open our perspectives, and teach us a lot. But often, it does the opposite and sows discord. Less.
- Anxiety, Worry, and Stress // This is much easier said than done, but if I could just be in the moment and save the worries about work and my to-do list for work and the time I’m checking off my to-do list, it would make a huge difference in my ability to be present in the moment. What am I really going to do about that work email when I’m on the ski slopes anyway? Shelf it.
What I Need More Of
- Phone Calls and Quality Conversation // I really want to stay in better touch with people going forward. The sneaky ways I’ve found to work this in include while cleaning (headphones and phone in pocket!), driving home, and walking Pips.
- Bible Study and Prayer // This is part of the morning routine, so see “snoozing” above. Really, there isn’t anything more important, so I always need more of this.
- Walks, Jogs, and the Dog Park with Pippa // While we did better with getting outside on the weekends (see outdoor adventures), I really want to start getting outside every day. I don’t think there is much that is better for the spirit (especially if you have a desk job) than fresh air, sunlight, and some physical activity.
- Reading // Reading for fun is really life-changing. I want to commit to reading every night before bed. It doesn’t really matter to me how much, because when I get into a book I know I’m going to cover some ground. Generally, though, I think one “for fun” book a month is a good, attainable goal.
- Gratitude // This is something I just need to re-implement, but writing down what I’m grateful for in my planner, prioritizing outward acts of gratitude for others, thanking God for His blessings, and expressing my thankfulness for people to them are necessary elements of everyday life.
- Exploring DC and Going to the Theater // While we’ve been great at getting out of DC and exploring on the weekends, we really haven’t been great at getting into DC! I want to make a DC bucket list and start taking advantage of more museums, neighborhoods, and free events. And even though we’ve been doing well, booking more tickets to theater is a never-ending project.
What are you saying “no” to this year, and what are you saying “yes” to?
