Blogging and Habits

In 2023, I blogged about "decluttering" most weeks. It was a very helpful, motivational tool for me. (I made 48 blog entries in 52 weeks and got rid of a lot of stuff . . . )

Since I keep wanting to spend more time in my studio, sewing and being creative, I set that as my 2024 blogging theme. I made 43 entries in 52 weeks, so clearly I was a bit less successful. 

I've thought about when we were doing the "One Thing" challenge back in 2016. Each week, Louie and I picked one thing we wanted to get done. If I got mine done quickly and had time, I'd add another thing to the whiteboard. He stopped doing it when he realized I was blogging about it. I promised to stop mentioning him, but he was done. 

I'm also thinking that I should be focusing on more important, spiritual matters. I think if I just go with "One Thing" and decide each week, I can be prayerful about what God wants me to do. I have a monthly white board that might be a helpful tool. I'm going to give it a try - first entry on Sunday, January 5th, 2025.

I think I'll also do a monthly "recap" / look ahead . . . let's see how this goes.

Paradox

More than a few times lately, I've thought about blogging something and then checked myself. Just because it has been helpful and motivating to me to blog about getting rid of stuff doesn't mean I have to blog about every darn thing!

I'm finally evaluating the why and the future worth. Sometimes "hanging on to stuff," even electronically, is helpful. The archives can be searched and the info can be found. (I've looked up my own entry on breaking my wrist as a child and the corresponding hospital bill several times!)

 

Sometimes it is a bit of history . . . when I went through my father-in-law's yearbooks, I only took photos of the pages that included him. But boy oh boy! There was a treasure trove of a teen's life in the 1940s! I almost wanted to keep it but am so glad that his high school has those yearbooks. They're more relevant there than here.

Sometimes I pause to think "will I need this information in the future?" This morning (1.28.24), I have the note about the St. Paul Winter Carnival Jigsaw Puzzle Contest. The date I registered us, the amount paid, etc. I have a file folder for the contest. I could chuck this slip of paper in there. Does it matter? I haven't kept meticulous records of all the years we've competed (over the last 20ish years). 

So . . . keeping track and blogging has been a helpful tool, but I don't need to track and quantify everything!

Louie and I have started doing some exercising in the morning. Nothing major, just trying to develop healthier habits. I have an alarm go off M-F after coffee and before showers. It feels good to do SOMETHING, and as I was tempted to start tracking WHAT I did and how many pounds, reps, seconds, etc., I decided I just didn't want to. Later, I may get serious about it and tracking can help with a fitness plan. But for now, I am choosing to not add that thing (tracking workouts) to my day.

There are so many things that I do out of habit or compulsion. I need to be more mindful about what matters!

Blogging, Goals, and Plans

I have found that blogging about decluttering has been very helpful and motivating for me. I will continue that for the rest of 2023. However, I have a new plan for 2024. I keep wanting and intending to spend more time in my sewing room.  I have been using a monthly calendar white board to "help" me. I have tried rewarding myself with sewing time if I get other stuff done.

As you can see by these pics of my white board for the first nine months of 2023, I have not been very successful. It occurred to me that if I blog weekly about my studio projects,  that will probably motivate me to do them! Everyone has different ways of doing life.  Apparently, being accountable to a blog works for me! It's worth a try. 

I have worked on some projects in October,  but when I thought about erasing the September info and writing in October,  it felt a bit futile.  If nine months of this "system" wasn't helping, why continue? 

I may use the white boarddown in my office to focus on connecting with people - phone calls, snail mail, lunch dates, road trips . . . TBD.

Book Clubs

I just changed over my non-used blog "SOLC Book Club" to "Eileen Frances Pahl Somers" so I can start collecting stories and photos to share. This was the one and only blog entry for SOLC:

In 2006, Jodi Prip started a Ladies' Book Club at Spirit of Life Church in New Prague. We have had so much fun and fellowship (and a few heated discussions) over the past few years. As we continue to read more titles and expand our group, we sometimes forget a past title or author. This blog will be our one handy place to gather book thoughts. Feel free to comment! We welcome the interaction.

I just never did anything with it and I don't think the others were interested. I have a list of past titles on my regular reading blog. Onward and upward!