Tag Archives: goals

My New Year’s Resolutions

Happy 2019, y’all! We’ve made it through the first chunk of the month and I’m happy to report that I’ve successfully done yoga every day and stuck through the beginning week of the Whole 30 (if you’ve done one you know those first few days are the hardest part!).

As far as shorter-term goals and January resets go, I’d say I’m doing pretty ok. 🙂

But today I’d like to talk about some of my other goals for the year…

Health and Fitness

30 Day ChallengesI’ve talked about fitness challenges a ton on the blog, but here we are again. In 2019 I’d love to find a few new and exciting challenges to participate in. But when not participating, I want to work on listening to my body about the type of workout it needs.

Fitness Tracker – I got a fitness tracker in December and finally set it up the other day! (baby steps lol) I want to experiment with the best ways to use it — maybe identifying a “steps” goal or finding a fun response to the inactivity alerts!

Whole 30 – Actually sticking to a plan after Whole 30 reintegrations. Should I work to completely eliminate dairy? Less gluten? I want to pay close attention to my body when reintegrating foods to see what changes I should make long-term. 

Household

Work Closet – I have a closet in my office that has sort of become a dumping ground. I don’t just want to clean it, I want to figure out a cool organizational system.

Wall Art – We have all sorts of beautiful wall decor that I will put off ever hanging until the day I die because I get so worried about not liking how and where it is hung. I need to divorce myself from the outcome (hi, just because there’s a nail in the wall doesn’t mean it is permanent!) and just do it.

Power Hours – When we moved into our new house in Alabama, I implemented a cleaning practice that I’d love to stick with in 2019. I have a list of cleaning chores that take me about an hour to complete. So, every Thursday at 11am I bang ‘em out. I’d like to create a similar system for deep cleaning something different once a week…so I’ll throw that here, too.

Work

Website – I have a fairly full plate of clients, and in the past garnering new clients has usually been accomplished through word of mouth (ie. client a brings in client b). But this might not always be the case! Perhaps it is time to put together a website dedicated to my freelance work? (I know, I know…it’s ridiculous that I don’t have one already BUT see next goal…)

Time Optimization (Clients vs Self) – I always feel as though my time is better served growing my clients’ brands and businesses. In 2019, I need to find a better balance between working to build my own business and projects and taking on client work.

Offline Strategy – Like my fitness tracker, this is definitely a research phase resolution. But I think long-term success working from home is going to necessitate throwing a few things against the wall in this arena and seeing what sticks.

Marriage

Enneagram – Last year we identified our enneagrams. (I’m a 9, he’s a 1.) To kick off 2019, we’ve decided we’re going to read up on each other’s numbers to learn more about how the other ticks, best communication practices, and better conflict resolution. We have this book and would highly recommend it.

Sharing the Mundane – My husband definitely takes on more of the mundane, administrative tasks and decision making in our household and I’d love to work towards taking more of this off his plate.

Quality Time – More outings together, more adventures together, more travel together!

Self-Care

Quality Time – Like the resolution above but for me, myself, and I! Doing things outside the home that are just for me? Crazy, I know. Errands do not count, lol.

Non-TV Activities – More free-time activities that aren’t TV — walks, reading, pocket letters, decorating, organizing, writing, playing outside, etc, etc…you get the idea. I watch too much tv.

Travel – I have a few shorter trips planned in Quarter 1 of 2019 but I’d love to fill up my calendar with adventures short and long(er)! Since moving out of South Florida, we are within driving distance of so much more. I’m feeling the wanderlust this year already. Where should we go?

Blogging

Batch Writing Posts – I’d love to approach writing posts in a new way this year. I’d like to set aside a few hours every other week to write a bunch of posts all at once. I’ve talked to a bunch of bloggers recently about this and it seems it really helped them all stick to a consistent posting schedule while freeing up time throughout the week for other things. I also think it would be some nice me-time to head to a coffee shop or my local library and spend the afternoon writing without any other distractions.

Book Club – When I first started Finding Delight, I did a series of posts that were basically like a virtual book club. I would spend a month on a book and post 4 times throughout the month with my thoughts, extended reading, links, and fun ideas. I really want to revamp this series and bring it back in 2019. While I didn’t have it together enough to prep this in 2018 for a January 2019 relaunch, I’m thinking I can get it going in February or March. I’m super excited to bring it back!

More Non-Blog Materials – I have so many ideas (and honestly outlines and first drafts) for non-blog materials pertaining to Finding Delight — think: printables, courses, e-books, etc. Maybe this will be the year I see one through?

Wow, ok. That ended up being way longer than I had anticipated but it felt good to write everything out. Next step – turn all this word vomit into some actionable steps for the year ahead! I’m feeling on fire with possibilities.

What about you? Care to share a few of your resolutions in the comments below? I believe in you and all you will accomplish in 2019! xoxo

P.S. Everyone says you should have one word to focus on for the year that encapsulates your goals and intentions. Reading all this back, I feel like mine should be COMMIT. So, I’m gonna go with that. 2019, I’m comin’ for you and I’m COMMITTING.

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List 7: Blog Goals

A new series in which I share lists which I hope will help you to get to know me better. Why? Because I started this blog what feels like forever ago and there’s bound to be some new faces peering in once and awhile! So these posts are kinda like an introduction (or a reintroduction for those who’ve been with me since the jump!). A nice to meet ya, so glad you stopped by, now STAY AWHILE! Why lists? Because I love making ’em! (+ it’s the summer and I can give myself some grace when it comes to not posting overly-elaborate blog posts.)

PRE-P.S. This will be my last list in this summer series. HOWEVER, I’ve really enjoyed sharing a bit more about myself in this manner…SO – I’ll plan to keep adding lists here and there throughout the coming year. It just won’t be every Thursday. Hope you enjoy!

My blogging goals…

Continue to organically grow my readership and network.

Find more ways to meaningfully engage with other bloggers.

Reach out to more brands about collaborations.

Brainstorm (and keep track of) series ideas, not just post ideas.

Create an email onboarding sequence to send out when someone subscribes to my mailing list.

Start a Finding Delight book club.

Write an ebook!

Tell me a few of your blogging goals in the comments below! xoxo

[And in case you’re curious…

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LIST 6]

A 12 Day Workout Challenge (Inspired by Social Media Favorites!!)

–> This is your daily reminder that you don’t have to spend a fortune on fitness to come up with fun and challenging workouts. You just have to know where to look, make plans and show up for yourself! <–

Here's the deal, I'm a set it and forget it kinda girl. (As you'll know if you've been around these parts for a bit…decision fatigue, BE GONE!) So, the first time I found a 30 day yoga challenge on YouTube it was like angels circled up around my yoga mat to sing an Alleluia chorus. For 30 days, I didn't have to think about my workouts. I just unrolled my mat and hit play!

For me, yoga challenges have a lot of appeal. I love batch decision making. I love the sense of accomplishment I feel once I've hit the last day. AND I LOVE THAT THEY'RE FREE! #ballinonabudget I decided it wouldn't be so hard to create them for myself! With all types of workouts!

[BALLET CHALLENGES I’VE DONE — HERE and HERE!] 

And since I just finished one such challenge, I thought I’d share the details here with y’all!

12 day workout inspired by social media favorites

For this challenge, I thought about who had killer fitness #GOALS on my feeds. I settled on Madeleine Shaw and Britney Spears.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Britney Spears’ Instagram is one of the most amazing gifts bestowed upon us. I knew I wanted to include one of her workout posts. I CHOSE THIS ONE.

I’m obsessed with Madeleine Shaw’s cookbooks and her healthy lifestyle videos on YouTube. But she’s also a badass yogi and I’d never done one of her yoga videos. Her voice is the most calming thing on the planet so I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. And lucky for me, she had just put out 7 days worth of yoga! 

Creating this challenge was shaping up to be easier than anticipated. A whole 7 days already sorted! But now I needed to convert Britney’s post into a workout:


IT’S BRITNEY, BITCH
~25 Minute Workout~

Equipment:
2 sets of dumbbells (one lighter, one heavier)
and 1 kettlebell (or heaviest dumbbell)

30 Seconds Active, 15 Seconds Rest

Overhead shoulder presses
(w/ lighter dumbbells)

Plank rows

Hold wheel pose
or modify:
bridge pose or camel pose

Warrior III w/ weighted row
left leg extended

Warrior III w/ weighted row
right leg extended

Overhead shoulder presses
(w/ heavier dumbbells)

Kettlebell overhead press
left arm

Kettlebell overhead press
right arm

Hold splits on the left side
or modify:
pigeon pose or half splits

REPEAT 2 MORE TIMES

Cool down stretch!


Now that we’ve got the Britney workout figured out, let’s lay out the 12 day plan!

Day 1 It’s Britney, Bitch
Day 2 Yoga 1
Day 3 It’s Britney, Bitch
Day 4 Yoga 2
Day 5 IBB
Day 6 Yoga 3
Day 7 IBB
Day 8 Yoga 4
Day 9 Yoga 5
Day 10 IBB
Day 11 Yoga 6
Day 12 Yoga 7

Congratulations! You made it!


This workout challenge was awesome! A daily commitment of 25 minutes that, combined with nice long walks, felt like the perfect dose of fitness. Each workout made me feel strong, energized, and flush with endorphins. The “lower weight-more reps” approach in the IBB workouts made for a fast-paced session that I paired with pump up jams. While Madeleine’s yoga was calming and grounding. A perfect pair!

What do you think? Let me know if you give it a try! xoxo
And do you have any ideas for future challenges I could put together. I love a challenge CHALLENGE! And I’d be sure to share it here. ❤

List 5: Weekend Goals

A new series in which I share lists which I hope will help you to get to know me better. Why? Because I started this blog what feels like forever ago and there’s bound to be some new faces peering in once and awhile! So these posts are kinda like an introduction (or a reintroduction for those who’ve been with me since the jump!). A nice to meet ya, so glad you stopped by, now STAY AWHILE! Why lists? Because I love making ’em! (+ it’s the summer and I can give myself some grace when it comes to not posting overly-elaborate blog posts.)

madison al sur la lune photography

This is the last weekend before my professor-husband’s Fall semester starts. We plan to make the most of it!

Weekend goals…

Take a bunch of photos for social media.

Finish a book or two.

Explore Decatur, AL.

Spend some time in water.

Try a new restaurant.

Work on a new side hustle project.

Send out cards to a few pen pals.

Laugh a bunch!

Note: I’ve been tracking my days on the Daylio app for a little over a month now. (Have you ever used this app?) Something that always seems to be present when I rank a day as being “THE BEST”? Doing anything new — going somewhere I’ve never been, trying a new food, starting a new book, etc. etc. Trying to set my weekend goals accordingly! (I guess I love an adventure!!)

Tell me what you plan to do this weekend in the comments below! xoxo
(Photo above: Sur La Lune Photography)

[And in case you’re curious…

LIST 1
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How To Stick To Your 2017 Goals

you-do-you-calendar

Did you get a pretty 2017 wall calendar for Christmas? Still trying to figure out the best way to use it because you are happily married to Google Calendar (or iCal or your Jofelo journal or phone reminders)? Why not display it some place prominent and use it to track your goals in the months ahead.

It can be easy to stick to resolutions right off the bat. Early days and all that. But it can get a little trickier as your enthusiasm starts to wane. For a jolt of accountability, I love the idea of picking three goals for the year and buying a stockpile of three different types of sticker. Correspond the stickers to a goal and award yourself one for each day you complete your goal. Your goals for 2017 may be big — like training for a marathon or saving money for a down payment on a house — or they might be slight — like packing  your lunch more often or apologizing less. Either way, there’s something so satisfying about watching those stickers add up.

I’ve got my eye on these gold stars (always a classic), hearts, and EMOJIS(!). 2017 – me and my stickers are comin’ for ya!!!

Have you set any goals for the new year? How do you hold yourself accountable? 

(The calendar pictured above is from the Etsy shop cobblestonestudio2 and you can purchase one HERE. 10% of the proceeds from these calendars go to Mental Health America. Which is awesome.)

Summer Bucket List

chetandbeth5

Last summer felt like such a whirl-wind. What with Chet’s graduation, getting engaged, packing up my life in Lexington, and moving to Miami. While we still managed to squeeze in lots of fun it seemed to go by in a flash! This summer isn’t free from big changes/life events by any means(our wedding is SO SOON!), but I’m more than ready for the little moments, too. I want to slow down and enjoy my surroundings. To take full advantage of the extended daylight. And make memories to last a lifetime as I enter this next season of my life.

So, in honor of the first day of summer, I thought I’d jot down a few items for a seasonal bucket list…

Sample the fare from new-to-me restaurants like this one and this one.

Concoct a pitch perfect summer cocktail to enjoy while taking in the vibrant sunset skies on view from my balcony.

Rent one of those surrey bike contraptions and take it for a spin around Tropical Park.

Stick to a Sunday morning ritual of Farmer’s Market haulin’.

Find the perfect coffee shop to soak up free AC and Wi-Fi. Bonus points if they serve delicious cafe con leche and piping hot empanadas.

Take a road trip up the west coast of Florida, and stop to snap photos at whatever abandoned tourist attractions and motels that strike my fancy along the way.

Capsule my summer wardrobe.

Give our screened-in outdoor space a little design face-lift. Fairy lights! More potted plants! Wind chimes!!! The possibilities are endless.

Experience a quiet moment of reflection, and check out the giant Buddha statue, at the Wat Buddharangsi Buddhist Temple.

Challenge myself to reach a new fitness goal. Think: mileage, daily yoga challenge/achieve a pose I have yet to master, or a new-to-me form of exercise.

Three words: SWIM UP BAR.

Spend a few evenings playing disc golf, once I learn how to actually play of course.

Add more books to my spreadsheet, like this one and this one and this one looks good too!

Go on a middle-of-the-day adventure to track down lunch from an obscure and tasty food truck.

Blog about all of the above RIGHT HERE on findingdelight.com! 

What’s on YOUR Summer 2016 Bucket List? Share below! xoxo

(Photo by Sur La Lune Photography.)

mid-week round-up

in the water

How are you this week, my friends? This one started out rough so I hope you are taking sweet and gentle care of yourselves. I hope you are finding ways to laugh and hugging your loved ones tight. Love is love is love is love. I long for a time when senseless tragedies didn’t feel so familiar, but encourage us all to keep fighting for a world where they aren’t. In the wake of what was happening in the world, I was super lucky to have my mom visiting over the last few days. We saw a cool art exhibit, checked out a farmers market, took tons of pictures of tropical plants, and lounged at the beach. What a fun few days! She flew back to Lexington yesterday afternoon but I’ll be headed that way too in just two short weeks. Wedding countdown and all that. Eeps! Alright my dears, have a good week, and check out the links below…

The story behind a failed Chinese investment is stranger than it seems.

Paying a premium for fancy bottled water.

20 renter-friendly decor ideas.

How Instagram stars bring home the bacon.

A parody of every TED Talk ever.

The incredible story of a man who survived 20 hours treading water in the Gulf of Mexico.

Mother Teresa: Sinner or Saint?

Made me laugh.

11 ways to eat healthy on a budget.

Do you set skill based or aesthetics based goals?

What a beautiful couple. My heart is broken.

More than blood.