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Inventory of habits

December 18th, 2017 at 05:01 pm

NT's bonus came, and it was $250 more than last year! We did everything I laid out in my last post except we sent $2250 to renovation savings instead of $2000.

I've been thinking a lot about my 2018 goals and what could help me achieve them. One thing I kept going back to is that things that become habit by being gradually added to my routine tend to stick. In fact, I have several things I don't feel like need to be goals anymore because they're pretty much ingrained into my life. Now THAT is an achievement because it's making things stick.

My habits aren't all 100%; for instance, during vacations or the winter holidays, I let myself go on snacking and exercising. Not all the way gone, but I have many more cheat days than during the rest of the year. But they are things I can maintain in my everyday routine.

So I made an audit of all the good habits I've added to my life over the past year or so. Then I added some of the habits I've added since I started my journey to financial freedom, because even though I take them for granted now, they were once struggles for me. It felt important to recognize how comfortable my good habits can feel once they're truly part of my routine.

Then I did an audit of my bad habits. I wanted to see how many of them could be cleared up by my 2018 goals. I actually think my goals could help me at least cut back on some of these bad routines or habits, if not eliminate them entirely.

I'll get to my New Year goals in another post, but here are my habit audits:

Good habits already set:

- Intermittent fasting (no breakfast/no night snacks)
- Walking approx 10K steps per day (incl 3 mi to work most days)
- AM strength training
- NaNoWriMo every year
- Capsule wardrobe 2x year (fall/winter & spring/summer)
- Personal finance (keeping a budget, setting goals, blogging)
- Grocery & menu planning, including CSA every year; cooking nearly every meal at home, taking leftovers for lunch vs eating out
- Daily flossing
- Consistently use Google Calendar & work calendar to keep on top of schedule

Bad habits:
- Too much screen time (esp social media)
- Not enough book reading
- Too much alcohol
- Need screen to get to sleep most nights (watch show on phone)
- Biting/picking at nails, lips, fingers, etc.
- Don't pick up after myself enough at home; don't help out much with indoor/outdoor chores
- Desk & email boxes get cluttered
- Don't play with the kids enough
- Lose focus at work sometimes; have some unproductive days
- Grooming: could shower more often, dress professionally more often, wear makeup more often
- Don't brush teeth second time before bed

I don't expect to turn into a perfect person overnight, but I'm really hoping that some of my 2018 goals will help create new good habits, or decrease some of these bad ones!

6 Responses to “Inventory of habits”

  1. snafu Says:
    1513619754

    Wow! You've done so well 2017 with a great many, large unanticipated twists like A's mom's heart surgery and issues uncovered during remodel. Offering a 'Well Done,' WoooHooo cheers for huge list of accomplishments.

    I look forward to seeing your 2018 goals and the order you choose. In hopes of being helpful, I know from experience, a bit of pamper like mani/pedi + polish, even if done at home, avoids self inflicted nail damage. If there is a Beauty Culture/Cosmetology School within a reasonable distance, it's remarkably low stress. low cost.

    Since you are accustomed to meal planning and see the benefits, with hesitation ...I mention it's easy peasy to likewise to add wardrobe planning to your before bed routine. It's merely a large hanger on the back of the door with every piece of apparel + accessories, you wish to wear in the morning based on weather and anticipated tasks for unrestricted movement right down to shoes.

  2. ceejay74 Says:
    1513622491

    You are absolutely right, snafu. And it's something AS has recommended more than once. We make the kids lay out their clothes the night before, so there's no reason I couldn't lay mine out while they're doing that. (Same goes for toothbrushing -- my dental hygienist mentioned that I could brush my teeth the second time while I'm making the kids do it before bed.)

    And I should do some home nail care. Manicures tend to make me focus/obsess on my nails even more, so I probably wouldn't do polish. But soaking, moisturizing, keeping them nice and neatly trimmed -- that might help with some of my fidgety habits.

  3. My English Castle Says:
    1513628980

    You are so right--habit is almost everything.

    Have you been to the Holidazzle in Loring Park? We may be by over the weekend, and before we go out in the subzero, I'd love your opinion.

  4. ceejay74 Says:
    1513629909

    It's OK -- we've gone every year and the kids love it, but mainly I think because it feels festive; a little holiday tradition we've gotten into (speaking of habits) Wink. And I get them cider and mini-doughnuts. Smile Other than that, we ignore most of the holiday vendors. Sometimes we buy Xmas ornaments for our neighbors.

    Sometimes there will be free outdoor music, and you can take pics by various decorations. Oh and there's an indoor warming place.

    It's nice that the sculpture garden is on the other side of Hennepin/Lyndale -- have you seen the new blue chicken? It's wonderful!

    We'll probably go at least briefly on Saturday afternoon! With the temps expected, I doubt we'll linger.

  5. Out of the Dark Says:
    1513630535

    Your honesty, transparency and dedication to bringing your "world" to a higher standard is inspiring. Thanks for that!

  6. My English Castle Says:
    1513644708

    That blue chicken, ceejay, used to be on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. He's had a long flight!

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