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A Final Word on Resolutions

photo: Marina Oliphant

From the looks of the gym parking lot, I’d say everyone has started making good on their New Year’s resolutions. I think I’ll arrange to drop in by parachute the next time I want to workout there. I haven’t set any terribly ambitious goals.
I will be a happy camper if I can:


Run well avoid injury and pace myself properly so I can enjoy my races rather than bust my spleen as I careen into the proverbial wall.


Ride More I put a duathlon on my schedule this year that scares the living daylights out of me. 


Eat well resurrect the whole foods diet and get the sugar-free train back on track. Actually the whole foods part isn’t tough for me but the sugar issue is another story. The last of the mint m&ms, English toffee and Christmas cookies have been exorcised from the pantry and I’ve been sugar-free once again almost 2 weeks now.
The one thing I consider attempting, for about a nanosecond anyway, year after year, is to declutter and be better organized at home. I’m a Fly Lady flunky, zone cleaning zero. A simple request from my kids for a permission slip sends me foraging like a dyslexic rat. I sooooo admire those of you who keep a neat, organized, abode. But I never make it an ‘official’ resolution because on some level I know I won’t do it.


What if if I took some of the things that motivate me to run and applied them to organizing?
First, an event to work toward: Runners have Boston, football has the Super Bowl, cooks have Iron Chef, bakers have the Pillsbury Bake-Off, surely domestic divas need something big too.

I’d practice decluttering by pace. I can only imagine what my house would look like if I spent an hour or more cleaning most days.

Compete against others for extra motivation?

Tackle a project in each of the 50 states?

I’d need to surround myself with appropriate ‘gear’ ie: a powerful vacuum, storage bins, garbage bags, etc.

There’d have to be some shiny, blingy reward to entice me. Maybe a sterling feather duster I could wear proudly around my neck or how about a toilet brush charm?


So any takers? Nah, me neither. My monkey brain and I checked out awhile back.


Now I’ve got it: The next time my Monkey Brain is taunting me to get off the treadmill, I’ll resolve to get off only if I plan to spend the time CLEANING!
Are there things you resolve to do because you should rather than really want to do?


I’ve been tagged!
Lacey asked me to share 10 things that make me happy so here goes:
1. Snow days!
2. Horses
3. Running downhill
4. When my brain is marinating in endorphins after a good, hard run
5. The first buds of spring
6. Sledding
7. The wonder in a child’s eyes
8. Spooning with my dogs
9. Playing hopscotch, jump rope, Polly Pockets with the kids
10. Completing something I wasn’t sure I could


TAG! You’re IT!
Saundra
Kenley
Steel Springs
Kerrie T.
Tricia
Shelly
Kathy
Rachael
Alicia
Jill

Comments

  1. Hi five from a fellow household organizational drop out! I SUCK at housework. I mean, we aren't living in filth or anything, but the clutter…ugggh. I walk into other peoples homes , who ALSO have two little kids, and just stare in amazement. I wonder if they do anything BUT clean? And I say that out of awe and jealousy. I guess I just don't have it in me. I tell Rich that I was born without the "clean gene". haha

  2. we got a snow day today too!! 🙂

    maybe i'm a workout snob – but i'll be glad when the resolutioners are gone and i don't have to fight for a treadmill!

  3. screw resolutions. make goals. Start a log to declutter one thing every day. recycle a magazine. added a pair of socks to the goodwill bag. one item a day will make a huge difference over the year. and the log will show your progress.

    don't sweat the du. they seem like a lot of fun.

  4. i always let "housework" (really just keeping my dorm room clean) pile up then one weekend just do everything! i need to get better at maintaining an even state of clean ha.

    and yay for putting the du on your list. that'll be really fun 🙂

  5. Nice list. I also fail at housework. You will love the Du – biking is nice recovery from running 🙂

  8. Ugh- I'm a Flylady flunkout also – really, really should get back to that again! But there's only so much time in the day…I guess I'd rather be running. Or doing stuff with my kids. I agree with Melissa above – having people over is the best motivation for cleaning!

  9. I am horrible at housework! I think my mother in law wishes I was better though 🙂

  10. Thanks for the tag and thinking of me – I will make my happy list this weekend (and I really needed this cuz I seem to be a big downer the past couple days) so thank you dearly!

    I looked at my bathroom in disgust today and wondered why I can't get motivated to clean it. Where's the magic wand??? I think I need to have more people over to make me clean up more. Planning a trip to Denver anytime soon? 😉

    Happy Weekend!!! Run well!!!!!

  11. i actually LOVE cleaning!!!!! it is so calming to me to put things away. i don't know much like scrubbing… and i hate cleaning the bathroom. but i love organizing and even vaccuuming. gosh i can never spell that word tho.

    great happy list! i lol-ed at running downhill. yay! thanks for playing !! and "marinating" in endorphins what a picture.

  12. I am very, very organized but suck at running. Wish we could trade a little bit 😉

  13. Oh yay! I'll try to do that later this week, thanks for the tag!

    Uh, ditto on the cleaning. It's been a life goal since I was 5. Now my mom isn't here to clean up after me and I married someone even messier. Boo.

  17. Great list. If I could only clean up my mess inside and give it full attention as my working out. lol. Yeah, the gym parking lot is full NOW, NOW being the operative word. Wait till Feb. have a good one, and since I have been tagged, guess I will submit too. Regards.

  19. Haha, I'm right there with you on the sugar and the cleaning. But I think being clean just means you're boring, that you can't think of anything better to do with your time. That's what I tell myself, anyway.

A Final Word on Resolutions

photo: Marina Oliphant

From the looks of the gym parking lot, I’d say everyone has started making good on their New Year’s resolutions. I think I’ll arrange to drop in by parachute the next time I want to workout there. I haven’t set any terribly ambitious goals.
I will be a happy camper if I can:


Run well avoid injury and pace myself properly so I can enjoy my races rather than bust my spleen as I careen into the proverbial wall.


Ride More I put a duathlon on my schedule this year that scares the living daylights out of me. 


Eat well resurrect the whole foods diet and get the sugar-free train back on track. Actually the whole foods part isn’t tough for me but the sugar issue is another story. The last of the mint m&ms;, English toffee and Christmas cookies have been exorcised from the pantry and I’ve been sugar-free once again almost 2 weeks now.
The one thing I consider attempting, for about a nanosecond anyway, year after year, is to declutter and be better organized at home. I’m a Fly Lady flunky, zone cleaning zero. A simple request from my kids for a permission slip sends me foraging like a dyslexic rat. I sooooo admire those of you who keep a neat, organized, abode. But I never make it an ‘official’ resolution because on some level I know I won’t do it.


What if if I took some of the things that motivate me to run and applied them to organizing?
First, an event to work toward: Runners have Boston, football has the Super Bowl, cooks have Iron Chef, bakers have the Pillsbury Bake-Off, surely domestic divas need something big too.

I’d practice decluttering by pace. I can only imagine what my house would look like if I spent an hour or more cleaning most days.

Compete against others for extra motivation?

Tackle a project in each of the 50 states?

I’d need to surround myself with appropriate ‘gear’ ie: a powerful vacuum, storage bins, garbage bags, etc.

There’d have to be some shiny, blingy reward to entice me. Maybe a sterling feather duster I could wear proudly around my neck or how about a toilet brush charm?


So any takers? Nah, me neither. My monkey brain and I checked out awhile back.


Now I’ve got it: The next time my Monkey Brain is taunting me to get off the treadmill, I’ll resolve to get off only if I plan to spend the time CLEANING!
Are there things you resolve to do because you should rather than really want to do?


I’ve been tagged!
Lacey asked me to share 10 things that make me happy so here goes:
1. Snow days!
2. Horses
3. Running downhill
4. When my brain is marinating in endorphins after a good, hard run
5. The first buds of spring
6. Sledding
7. The wonder in a child’s eyes
8. Spooning with my dogs
9. Playing hopscotch, jump rope, Polly Pockets with the kids
10. Completing something I wasn’t sure I could


TAG! You’re IT!
Saundra
Kenley
Steel Springs
Kerrie T.
Tricia
Shelly
Kathy
Rachael
Alicia
Jill

Comments

  1. Hi five from a fellow household organizational drop out! I SUCK at housework. I mean, we aren't living in filth or anything, but the clutter…ugggh. I walk into other peoples homes , who ALSO have two little kids, and just stare in amazement. I wonder if they do anything BUT clean? And I say that out of awe and jealousy. I guess I just don't have it in me. I tell Rich that I was born without the "clean gene". haha

  2. we got a snow day today too!! 🙂

    maybe i'm a workout snob – but i'll be glad when the resolutioners are gone and i don't have to fight for a treadmill!

  3. screw resolutions. make goals. Start a log to declutter one thing every day. recycle a magazine. added a pair of socks to the goodwill bag. one item a day will make a huge difference over the year. and the log will show your progress.

    don't sweat the du. they seem like a lot of fun.

  4. i always let "housework" (really just keeping my dorm room clean) pile up then one weekend just do everything! i need to get better at maintaining an even state of clean ha.

    and yay for putting the du on your list. that'll be really fun 🙂

  8. Ugh- I'm a Flylady flunkout also – really, really should get back to that again! But there's only so much time in the day…I guess I'd rather be running. Or doing stuff with my kids. I agree with Melissa above – having people over is the best motivation for cleaning!

  10. Thanks for the tag and thinking of me – I will make my happy list this weekend (and I really needed this cuz I seem to be a big downer the past couple days) so thank you dearly!

    I looked at my bathroom in disgust today and wondered why I can't get motivated to clean it. Where's the magic wand??? I think I need to have more people over to make me clean up more. Planning a trip to Denver anytime soon? 😉

    Happy Weekend!!! Run well!!!!!

  11. i actually LOVE cleaning!!!!! it is so calming to me to put things away. i don't know much like scrubbing… and i hate cleaning the bathroom. but i love organizing and even vaccuuming. gosh i can never spell that word tho.

    great happy list! i lol-ed at running downhill. yay! thanks for playing !! and "marinating" in endorphins what a picture.

  13. Oh yay! I'll try to do that later this week, thanks for the tag!

    Uh, ditto on the cleaning. It's been a life goal since I was 5. Now my mom isn't here to clean up after me and I married someone even messier. Boo.

  17. Great list. If I could only clean up my mess inside and give it full attention as my working out. lol. Yeah, the gym parking lot is full NOW, NOW being the operative word. Wait till Feb. have a good one, and since I have been tagged, guess I will submit too. Regards.

  19. Haha, I'm right there with you on the sugar and the cleaning. But I think being clean just means you're boring, that you can't think of anything better to do with your time. That's what I tell myself, anyway.

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