Chipping Away at My Mediocre Resolutions

“You can’t lift a thousand pounds all at once. Yet you can easily lift one pound a thousand times. Tiny repeated efforts will get you there.”  @marcandangel

The new year arrived, and while everyone else was posting on social media about how excited they were for the fresh start, I was sitting here terrified.

I’m terrified of a growing family, growing business, growing bills, a growing activities schedule for the kids, maintaining friendships, keeping up with my marriage, and just doing. It. All.

I can’t seem to muster up the same gusto for resolutions that I have in past years. This year, I’ve decided to make smaller, incremental goals. These may seem mediocre, but this resolution of “chipping away” is saving my sanity and actually helping me feel more content with myself as I welcome the new year.

Complete ONE small DIY house project AT A TIME. 

Someday we want to remodel or completely redecorate our house, but this year we don’t have the budget or time. So we are chipping away. Last week, we took down two ugly valances that have been hanging in our house since we bought it. It took five minutes to take them down, remove the brackets, patch, and paint the holes. Why did that take us nine years to do?! This week we re-covered the kitchen chairs. It only took my husband and me one argument and three hours of labor, but it brightened our entire kitchen. In spring, I am determined to paint the hallway, which we’ve also been meaning to do for nine years. Just these few accomplishments already feel amazing.

Purge

This one is HARD for us, but we’ve been trying harder than ever to purge more, and it seems to be working. Bathroom closets – I’m coming for you! Kitchen counter pile – you’re going in the garbage today. (We ALL have this kitchen counter pile, I promise you aren’t alone, and I assure you mine will be back by tomorrow.)

Tackle the baby/kid clothes

Like many, we used diaper boxes to store our outgrown kids' clothes. Now the mess of mismatched boxes has outgrown 3 different storage areas, and half of them aren’t labeled. It’s time to find and sort them, put them in bins, or donate them. I could probably complete this in one afternoon, but why is the thought of it utterly miserable and overwhelming?! My winter goal is just newborn to 2T clothes. Baby steps.

Forward progress on my business

This year, I am tasked with needing to hire, which also means finding a real office instead of my home. Forward progress. I must create the job description, call some target candidates, look at offices, and just move forward. Because no one ever succeeded by holding themselves back – I’ve already learned this. Take it one email or phone call at a time.

Read magazine articles with my husband

We’ve tried to read books together, but after page 4, we both fell asleep, so we gave up on it. Maybe an article and a discussion are more realistic, and just what we need right now. Chip away.

Stay somewhat fit

I know, I know – that’s such a mediocre goal. But, I finally have a workout routine of about twice a week (plus daily walks with the dog) that works for me. It’s not as much as I should be doing, but it’s consistent and keeps me in decent shape. Don’t stop. And if I do, I’ll start again. And again.

Someday, I hope my resolutions will consist of ambitious and exciting goals like daily meditation, running a half-marathon, ultra-cleaning my house or remodeling, doubling my business revenue, and doing a couples-only swim-up bar resort vacation. This method of chipping away is all I can handle. And I’m at peace with that.

Does anyone else have some mediocre resolutions they’d like to share?

Original post by Jolene on 1/17/18