November Goals

Published on 11/04/16

November. I wouldn’t believe it considering it was 80 degrees yesterday. However tomorrow I’m flying off with my mom, dad and brother to WISCONSIN. It’s gotta be cooler there, right? I’m ready to feel some fall weather and see some football (GO PACK GO) but most of all to spend some time with my family. I’m not the best flyer though, despite my love of traveling, so I’ll be bringing my new planner with me to distract me with organizing the upcoming year (what can I say, I like to plan ahead).

But before I get to 2017, I want to look at now, November. In hopes of getting the most out of my favorite time of year, I compiled a list of goals to keep my attention where it belongs this month.

November Goals

Complete all our Christmas shopping. I’ve written lists and now just need to follow through.

Be more consistent with intentional exercise. Isn’t this always on my list? 3 days a week of bootcamp is totally reasonable and I need to be hitting that consistently.

See both my grandmothers. The week around Thanksgiving might very well be my favorite holiday stretch.

Pick an organization for our family to be involved with during the holiday season. I’m 99% sure we are choosing Levine’s Children’s Hospital. It’s been pulling at my heart with too many stories that hit close to home lately.

Clean out my closet in a real way. Sure, that shirt is comfy but it’s not flattering. And that dress? I haven’t worn it in over 2 years. I’m waiting until I have my tough face on then I’m bulldozing through it because I feel so much better when I wear items I feel good it (like this shirt that I wore yesterday that is now on sale (!) – I have dark teal but am considering olive and rhododendron too because it’s basically the perfect shirt for leggings).

Order Christmas cards. Now how to pick my favorite card layout from Minted? That will be tough.

Plan a fun night out with my babe. That would be David. But I call him babe so often that Hailey sometimes does it too in a mocking manner. It makes me laugh because I totally don’t realize how often I say it!

Don’t look at blog pageviews. I think it’s natural that when you put a lot of who yourself into something, you want it to do well. I put a lot of time and effort into this space and though there are multiple ways to gauge success, I tend to focus in on pageviews to tell me if I’m doing a good job or not. I know it’s not the best indicator, thank you social media algorithms for largely controlling that, but I tend to think a post with high views means people like that topic. Low views? Don’t write about it again. But honestly, it’s sucking the fun out of it and I want to do better at shielding myself from that kind of measuring stick.

Say no. I’m not great at this. But saying yes too often is leading me to saying no to much more important things unintentionally. I need to say no so I can say yes- to my husband, to my kids, to myself.

Do a gratitude project with the kids. We already play the “gratitude game” every night at dinner where we all have to say what we are most grateful so that day. I’m thinking we might write these down and do something with them… it’s a work in progress and I’ll report back.

Finish the two books I’m currently reading: Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone (I’m a first time Harry reader and secretly want the entire hardcover set so we can read as a family down the road) and The Basic School.

Do what makes me happy. If that means listening to Christmas music- do it. If it means wearing jammies and watching a movie with the girls at 2pm- do it. Light my candles every single day? Sure, why not! The holiday season is my favorite time of the year and I’m going to soak. it. up.

Speaking of, we finally got around the carving a pumpkin, 2 days late. My initial reaction when Hailey asked was to say why? Halloween is over. But instead I said- sure! And her face lit up. I want to say yes more often. Thanks Mr. Bob Spookypants for my reminder to be present and joyful during this busy and magical time of year. Disclaimer: I did not name him.

What are you hoping to accomplish/ soak up in November?

Is there an area in your life you feel like you are always trying to focus on?

Have you read any great books lately?

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