I actually intended for last week’s post to include my monthly goals. My introduction ended up being so long, I decided to write two separate posts.
I prefer writing monthly goals to New Year’s resolutions. I know I still don’t attain every goal every month, but small goals are easier for me to tackle.
I’m glad that going into December, I gave myself permission to grieve my mother above all else. December was really really hard for me. Several days I could barely get out of bed, and I couldn’t even manage to get dressed. Going to Greenwood for Christmas, however, really boosted my spirits. I don’t think I’ll ever feel quite like “my old self” from before Mom entered hospice, but I do feel okay again, like I was in the fall.
December Recap:
For my career:
- I reached ~1400 Instagram followers.
- I didn’t do anything else (and that’s okay).
For my health:
- I loosely meal-planned for Whole30. I gathered recipes for dinner and wrote out a bunch of variations on breakfast and lunch for myself.
- I didn’t make any freezer meals for Whole30, although I did try a few recipes to make again (or not) this month.
- I did allow myself to grieve my mother above all else, without any guilt.
For my marriage:
- Dan and I picked out the cutest little Christmas tree!
- We decorated the tree together, plus he hung up our ornament wreath and a strand of lights around the window. I decorated the mantle, and he figured out how to hang out stockings.
- We actually spent the entire weekend before Christmas being romantic and Christmas-y. Instead of just an at-home date night, we enjoyed an at-home date weekend, complete with snuggling by the fire.
- I loved including Dan in our Long family Christmas traditions. We also skyped with my in-laws after Christmas to exchange our Secret Santa gifts. Mary Kay got me exactly what I wanted–an R2D2 teapot!
For our household:
- I cleaned the downstairs half-bathroom. I very thoroughly cleaned the master bathroom. I did not clean the guest bathroom… But we didn’t have any guests, so it’s okay.
- I dusted the entire downstairs, but not the upstairs.
January Goals:
For my career:
- I’m heading back to the basics. I think I tried to do too much, all at once, with my blog. So this month, I’ll blog 1-3 times per week.
- Work through my online courses, take good notes, and figure out the right direction for writing career.
For my health:
- Successfully follow Whole30! I started on January 2.
- Schedule a physical/women’s exam.
- Schedule an appointment with an allergist.
- Workout 3 days a week.
#Whole30Day3 Breakfast bowl of 3 scrambled eggs, avocado, salsa, & bell pepper. Let's see if I workout… #BBWhole30 pic.twitter.com/87INfDNT2T
— Brita Long (@BelleBrita) January 4, 2016
For my marriage:
- Go through a Couple Checkup with Dan.
- Enjoy our trip to Dallas!
- Get a couple’s massage.
For our household:
- Clean all the bathrooms.
- Dust the entire townhouse.
- Make Dan-approved, Whole30 compliant meals for us.
Have you ever done a Whole30? I would love your tips and recipes!
If you’ve written a monthly goals post, share your links in the comments below!
I love your monthly goals. You are always thinking about balance and how to best suite your current needs. Cheers to the new year and I hope January is a good month for you.
That’s actually why I prefer monthly goals to annual resolutions. We change a LOT month to month–what we need to improve changes too! Happy New Year <3
Good luck with the Whole 30! Here’s to a brighter 2016 for you! xxx
Thank you! <3
We’re doing couple checkup too! I’m glad you were able to grieve in the way you needed to last month. And it looks like you got a lot done on your goals as well. Good luck this month!
We actually did it during our premarital counseling, but that was almost 3 years ago. I’m excited to try it again!
I’m so sorry you are grieving but I think you are handling it really well! It’s healthy for us to let ourselves be upset and then chose to pick ourselves up again. You’re gonna rock your goals, I just know it!
Thank you for the encouragement!
There definitely shouldn’t be any guilt in grieving, we have our own process of dealing with something so tragic. *HUGS* Great goals and check in hon, will you link this up to my linky as well? I like your health goals definitely, and like how you have specific areas of the house to tackle. That’s how you make achievable goals. I should do that.
Thank you so much, Julie, for your encouragement <3
2015 was a big year for the both of us! I’m glad you started your grieving process and even though you’ll have spells where you just sob in the car, I promise that it will get closer to normal. I find a great deal in comfort in my belief that families are forever and that your Mom is still close and loves you very much! That doesn’t always make it easier that she isn’t here now, but it definitely gives me comfort with my sister.
I really want to try whole 30 as well, but not this month. I’d love if you share some recipes if that is something you do! 🙂
I am hosting a goal link up here and this would be a great post to add if you are interested! 🙂
Thanks for joining the linkup! ♥
It’s both disheartening and encouraging to hear from others grieving. I never want someone else to be hurting too, but it helps a little to know I’m not alone.
I probably won’t share any unique recipes, but I’m definitely including links to the recipes I’ve tried, plus details on any changes I made. I’ve pinned tons of recipes too if you want to look at my Cooking board on Pinterest!
Hi Brita, I am new to your blog just visiting from the #gratitudeandgoals linky, but I wanted to say sorry for your loss. I’m glad you gave yourself time to grieve as that’s important. Good luck with your January goal I’ve not heard of the whole 30 – I think I need to google it 🙂
Thank you, Laura. <3
Whole30 is a stricter paleo diet that you only follow for 30 days before slowly reintroducing foods into your diet.
Girl, you’re killing it! I love that you post your monthly goals and recap how you did last month, too. It’s such a great way to stay accountable. And that’s awesome that you reached 1400 IG followers! I’d love for you to share your tips on building an Instagram brand and gaining followers. Thanks for sharing on Inspiration Thursday! Hope you have a great week.