2021 New Years Resolutions

Here are my 2021 resolutions.

• Slow the f down– Pre-pandemic, I rushed around like a chicken just like any other working mom. Groceries, swim lessons, work, commute, household things, etc. While I lost my commute during Stay At Home (and somehow ended up working more) I did gain some extra time with my family. Everything was closed and we have yet to go back to my daughter’s extracurricular activities. So what I hope for in 2021 is that even after everything re-opens, we still maintain that sense of slowness, of center. I like watching a movie with my daughter and eating popcorn, sans phone. I like going to the park and taking a walk and not worrying about being late somewhere. I like having extra space to breathe.

• Love Where You Live – Well, now that I’ve spend countless hours at home, I realize that a lot of my frustrations come from myself. (Duh.) So little by little, I’ve decided instead of being frustrated that my house does not look like a Pottery Barn catalog, I’m going to enjoy what I have and Kondo the hell out of my house. I don’t just mean donating things, I really mean looking at the house’s flow as a whole and doing projects around the house that make me happy. In December, we re-painted the dining room. We haven’t done anything to that room in 10 years. We hung up “temporary” artwork then, it was still up. We bought a new light, a new mirror, curtains and painted. I have to admit, I wish we had done it sooner. And so around the house I go, refocusing on loving where I live. And if I don’t love it, making it into something I love.

• Have a Plan B – 2020 taught us that you need a Plan B. Whether that’s daycare or financially or a savings. This coming year I’m focusing on all of that. Who would have thought a pandemic in 2020? Well, honestly, a lot of people who study viruses, that’s who. But for the majority of us, we were unprepared. That’s why I’m being all doomsday and stocking up on things. I want to have a solid emergency supply area along with some just you know, life stuff settled. So even if the worst happens, I won’t get anxiety about basics.

• Sitting Still – And breathe. After my daughter was asleep I would usually around stressing about all of the things I had to do. I still kinda do that, but I also have found that sometimes I just need some time to sit still and stare at a wall. No joke. I’ll just stare at my books and zone out. No television. No music. Why? Because my body needs quiet and stillness to decompress. And then I can move onto doing something fun (Ted Lasso) or something unfun (laundry folding). I used to get annoyed with myself for “losing” this time, but I realized that I actually need this. Sometimes it’s for ten minutes, sometimes it winds up being my whole night. It doesn’t matter. I put expectations on myself that don’t need to be there. You had a long day. Everyone is fed and alive and safe. You’ll have to do it all again tomorrow. Rest.

• Focusing on Friends – I was lucky in my last job to work with so many wonderful people and we became genuine friends. (We have a trivia day every few months to catch up.) That said, I found that in 2020 I had some time to reach out to my older and solid friends from high school, who I miss dearly. You know the ones. You don’t talk to them for months or years but when you get on the phone it’s like no time has passed? I want to focus on friendships of all natures, near and far because pandemic has taught me that time is short and it matters who you spend your time with. Even over Zoom.

• Be Better – Mother, worker, spouse it doesn’t matter. Every new year I focus on being better than I was last year and this year is no exception. As my daughter gets older, the challenges change. And working at home with a spouse is no joke. Being mindful fo the changes in our environment and moving along with those changes is something I cultivated in 2020 and I would like to continue on.

• Support local – I make a point of supporting local shops in my area, but honestly I do spend a lot at Amazon. I am not giving it up completely, I have been supporting local shops more than ever before.

And yes, I’m going to “stop buying books” (yeah, sure) and “use my yarn” (uh-huh) and save lots of money (well….) but you know, maybe next year? 😉