Setting Ourselves Up for Failure
Doesn't that seem like what we are doing with New Year's Resolutions? How long do those things usually last, anyway?
Let me tell you about mine from last year and how I did. You can see the full post of resolutions HERE if you are interested.
Not wearing a ponytail or sweats unless I'm heading for the gym: OMG. But it's just so easy. Plus, yoga pants rock. FAIL.
All of us out of pajamas every day by 9am. Hmmm, well, I'll go with only partial fail here. Because my oldest is now in kindergarten and has to go to school 5 days a week and my middle goes 3 days a week, this one does usually happen. I've only taken them to school in my pajamas....um...a few times. And this week doesn't count because we're on winter break. So, it's totally okay that I'm writing this at almost 4pm and I'm still in pajamas, right?
Avoiding massive amounts of butter and losing 10 pounds. But, I LOVE butter. Though, I didn't do too badly with this one until the holiday season, when everything is better with butter. Have I lost ten pounds? Nope. I don't think so. I hate getting on the scale. But, I think I'm doing okay.
Read one book a week for a total of 52 books this year. Really, this one shouldn't be hard. I used to read a few books every week- even with having kids. But, it's harder with blogging. Wonder how many blog posts I have to read to count as a book? I did read 55 books this year, so hey, I feel pretty darn good about this one.
My resolutions for 2011:
1. We will be a diaper-free household before 2012. Before the year is up, there will be no more little boys in diapers in this house. Only Cub left to potty-train and we have the extra incentive of preschool starting in September.
2. Read 52 books this year. Okay, so I'm recycling this one. But, I don't ever want to give up books, not even for blog reading. Even if I'm now obsessed with the Kindle, like I swore I never would be.
3. Go to the gym on a regular basis. I'm really not sure what "regular" basis means, other than that when someone asks me when the last time was that I went, I shouldn't have to stutter trying to come up with the answer or answer in terms of months.
4. Have a once a month date with the Hubs. I'd love to say once a week, but I'm trying to be realistic. We need a babysitter for these dates. And it's still better than what we did in 2010. Though, we did have a lot of date nights in, after the kids were asleep. There's a reason our kids go to bed at 6:30, y'all.
That's it. Four is enough. Five or ten are usually good for lists, but damn, I want to have a chance at actually keeping these resolutions. Though, I could cheat and make #5 be something like "Go to Blissdom."
What about you? How did you do with last year's resolutions? What are your resolutions for the coming year?
Let me tell you about mine from last year and how I did. You can see the full post of resolutions HERE if you are interested.
Not wearing a ponytail or sweats unless I'm heading for the gym: OMG. But it's just so easy. Plus, yoga pants rock. FAIL.
All of us out of pajamas every day by 9am. Hmmm, well, I'll go with only partial fail here. Because my oldest is now in kindergarten and has to go to school 5 days a week and my middle goes 3 days a week, this one does usually happen. I've only taken them to school in my pajamas....um...a few times. And this week doesn't count because we're on winter break. So, it's totally okay that I'm writing this at almost 4pm and I'm still in pajamas, right?
Avoiding massive amounts of butter and losing 10 pounds. But, I LOVE butter. Though, I didn't do too badly with this one until the holiday season, when everything is better with butter. Have I lost ten pounds? Nope. I don't think so. I hate getting on the scale. But, I think I'm doing okay.
Read one book a week for a total of 52 books this year. Really, this one shouldn't be hard. I used to read a few books every week- even with having kids. But, it's harder with blogging. Wonder how many blog posts I have to read to count as a book? I did read 55 books this year, so hey, I feel pretty darn good about this one.
My resolutions for 2011:
1. We will be a diaper-free household before 2012. Before the year is up, there will be no more little boys in diapers in this house. Only Cub left to potty-train and we have the extra incentive of preschool starting in September.
2. Read 52 books this year. Okay, so I'm recycling this one. But, I don't ever want to give up books, not even for blog reading. Even if I'm now obsessed with the Kindle, like I swore I never would be.
3. Go to the gym on a regular basis. I'm really not sure what "regular" basis means, other than that when someone asks me when the last time was that I went, I shouldn't have to stutter trying to come up with the answer or answer in terms of months.
4. Have a once a month date with the Hubs. I'd love to say once a week, but I'm trying to be realistic. We need a babysitter for these dates. And it's still better than what we did in 2010. Though, we did have a lot of date nights in, after the kids were asleep. There's a reason our kids go to bed at 6:30, y'all.
That's it. Four is enough. Five or ten are usually good for lists, but damn, I want to have a chance at actually keeping these resolutions. Though, I could cheat and make #5 be something like "Go to Blissdom."
What about you? How did you do with last year's resolutions? What are your resolutions for the coming year?
Labels: resolutions
posted by Shell at
7:00 AM
75 Comments:
I didn't realize people still made resolutions. Why? Because I stopped years ago and really haven't heard anyone mention theirs. I don't set goals for the new, just like any other extreme goal, I F.A.I.L.
Love your resolutions, Good Luck!
Nice...keep it simple, right? I read a lot of books this year. Have you considered getting a Kindle? It has changed the way I read...for serious.
I made two...get birthday cards out on time and get better at meal planning. Both of which are going swimmingly at the moment!
No resolutions here either.
Once a month date night is far more than we do so I think that is great!
Good luck!
I think pajamas after nine are very fashionable.
We are working on going diaper free at our house. We have be by August to attend preschool.
Last year I was determined to be more organized at home. That would be a huge FAIL!
I might have to go with the once a month date night as well because we need to do that more often. I have a few personal goals I would like to meet. I figure if I stick "try" in those, I can succeed without totally accomplishing my goals.
I had to laugh at the first one because the day I met you you were in sweats with a pony tale! LOL! But you totally rocked it!
I have the same problem with books and blogging, heck the internet in general. I just need to win the lottery so I can have more time to lay around read go on the internet and eat butter!
Happy New Year!
I am still wrestling with the resolutions this year. Another blogger asked me to pick a one word resolution so here was mine: determination.
Those are good resolutions. I like them.
I did a post on resolutions today too.
LOL at you failing to not wear a ponytail or sweats/yoga pants. If I didn't work, I wouldn't get dressed at all. ;-)
I posted about date nights just today!
I don't do resolutions but I did post yesterday about getting back on track with my diet and exercise. I gave myself permission to slack off for about 2 weeks over the holidays and now I'm getting back into high gear!
I don't make resolutions, but the reading one is impressive!!
I think date nights with husbands sound so nice. Maybe I'll add it to my list. Some time for just us.
Time for adult conversation and a table where everyone can cut their own meat. :)
I give up on resolutions. I might as well call them predetermined failures. :(
I hope everything you are hoping for your year comes true!
That's a great list, Shell! And it sounds as though you really were able to accomplish much this year. Also 52 books in a year is very impressive. I take the subway in the morning and home at night and always intend to get some reading done but I've carried the same book with me for weeks now. Terrible.
I stopped making resolutions a few years ago, because as you said: I hate to set myself up for failure. So instead, I'll think of goals throughout the year of things I'd like to work on. Seems to work so far (and I don't have that "new year's" pressure).
I consider yoga pants dressy. Does that make you feel better? :p
Hey! Those are pretty good goals. I really like the reading one. I love to read- problem, I like it to be "my" book. It's my own weird idiosyncracy...can't get over it. Workout more- good one. No diaper- I wish! my 2 yo has ZERO interest in the toilet. Date nights- we've been setting that goal forever...I'd like to actually follow through sometime soon!
Great resolutions but I'm afraid I'd fail miserably at most of them!
potty training needs to be on my list too! surely we can do it in a WHOLE year.
With your once a month dates, you should try to do something different each time or if you eat out, eat at a different restaurant each time. We do once a week (granted we're kid free) and with the new year comes new restaurants.
Good luck!
I totally laughed at the ponytail thing because I'm dreading having to do my hair AND put on makeup 3 days in a row for blissdom!
and i'm so with you on the diaper-free by 2012 thing! good luck to us!
I hate resolutions because I never stick to them. I did lose 20 lbs last year, but I packed 5 of them back on over the past couple of weeks. And I totally stayed in my PJs all day yesterday. I had the sickies so that is ok...right?!
Girl, I wish we lived closer. I have 3 babysitter girls in this house. I would love to help you fulfill that resolution.
Oh and by the way, I think staying in your jammies all day should be something to aspire to. there's nothing better than jammies. And yes, I am in mine still.
I don't even remember my resolutions from last year, so I think that means I broke all of them.
I made three this year. The biggest is to get my revisions finished and shop my book around.
Then there's the take better care of myself one. I'm not sure, but I don't think eating a bowl of Captain Crunch for breakfast counts as a step towards that. So maybe, that one's already down the crapper.
And my last, is to walk this earth as a kinder, better person. We'll see about that one.
Good luck with all your resolutions!
I totally remember reading your post from last year. I'm glad you accomplished some of them!
Good luck this year. :D
Ha! You know I think sweats are more than okay.
There are lots of cute, fitted ones for women out there, so I say GOOOO sweats.
Now if you're wearing guy sweats, that you MIGHT have a problem
hee hee
I have to say, yoga pants rule! (On women, not men. I should say, SOME women)
I'd say that gym on a regular basis is up for serious debate. Regular basis could mean 1 time a month ;) which would totally work out for me.
My only resolution is to make more time with my BFF.
I am SO with you on the working out and the date night thing. Hubs has been gone EVERY week for 2 months now, and I'm kind of over it. I liked the alone time at first, but now I just miss him, which I guess is a good thing?
We have date night this Sat. and I can't wait. Movie and dinner!
I'm going to adopt 2 of your resolutins.. Especially the potty training one.... Shell/// i am praying hard for this one...lol!! Ps... i have to tell you... yoga pants do rock..!!! lol!! hugs and happy new year my dear friend
I live in yoga pants and always wear a ponytail- even if it is a short stub b/c my hair is short. I am glad you failed this...just embrace it!
Reading on the Kindle still counts as books, as long as you are reading books and not blogs - lol. A book a week is a good goal to have. I also don't make resolutions because I haven't a lot to resolve. I do have a lot of goals to make and so far, I'm on track for the most part (it only being the 3rd of January, helps that I've not gotten too off kilter so far).
Good luck with the potty training stuff and being a diaper free house by the end ofthe year. Have fun on your date nights when you can schedule them in - I think it's okay to be comfortably dressed whether you are just going to the store or taking the kids to school - I work at home and get dressed because I do a virtual class room visit twice a week and wouldn't feel right about visiting with the kids if I were in my nightgown and my house is way to cold not to get dressed on most days - but hey, jeans and whatever else I have here to wear work for me - no dressing up for me except when I'm going out to do book events - good luck with everything - you will be fine, keeping it simple and all - E :)
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Excellent list. I have the opposite goal, to get my hair in a ponytail. I regretted the short cut before I left the salon.
I put more date nights on mine too!
Good luck! They seem manageable enough. Unless you have another kid. In which case it's going to be a messy year.
I think you have a good list :) Good luck! I didnt make any resolutions last year but this year all I said i would do was complete this couch to 5k program I started :)
I never really make the resolutions bc i don't want to set myself up if I don't do them...so I call them more of a "reminder" ha!
I do love your book one...and Will is going to be potty trained for sure!
I did so good with keeping up with my books for about 2 months last year then I stopped. I need to get better with that. I have no idea how many I read but its a lot.
yoga pants rock....I work in them.
55 books? I'm beyond impressed. Reading books has kind of taken a backseat to blog reading for me. And I love a good book.
Truthfully, I don't even bother making resolutions because I never keep them. But I think you've picked some really good ones and I think four is plenty to hold yourself too.
Good luck!
I think that's a great list! Especially the one about dating your husband. I need to do that too. :)
I dont usually set resolutions but I feel like this year one is necessary for me: Lose weight!
How do you keep track of the number of books you read? I'm sure I've come close to 50 but with all the exchanging and now with the Kindle I've just never been good with knowing the number.
I think these are very reasonable goals! I hate setting myself up for failure, which is why I have the goal that I have.
All in all, I'm hoping for a downright AWESOME 2011! **crossing fingers**
Love these goals, especially the reading. I want a Kindle so bad! Do you just love yours? I'm hoping the birthday fairy might bring me one next week 'cause Santa didn't have enough room in his budget, er...I mean, sleigh. =)
I made only one...and that was to get rid of the toys in the boy toy cave. You would think with all those toys I had 11 kids instead of just 1. I may actually get this one done!!!! ;)
Oh yeah - sweats!!! Love them but they don't love me. Books - yep, reading way less now that I read blogs. We've been past diapers for many years but still need to work on all the pee getting into the water!!
Here's to a wonderful 2011:)
Those are great! Very reasonable! Your one from last year about no pony tails would've been THE HARDEST of them all! I'm with you on 52 books. I did 37 this year and I know I can/should do better!
As far as resolutions go, I would venture to say that you've been more successful than most, lol. This is the first year that I actually sat down and wrote (read: blogged) mine in an effort to really get down to business.
I've got some easy ones (i.e.-have a baby. Since I'm already halfway through my pregnancy I figure that's a good one to not fail at, lol) and mainly creative ones since I can't tackle the weight things till after she's born.
I wish you the best of luck in reaching your goals, I'm sure this time next year you'll have a post saying you surpassed them all!
Ah books...I used to be a huge bookworm, I'm more of a bookflea now. lol
How about switching that old resolution to a "no sweatpants in public" rule. I'm know,I know, I could like such a snob, but seriously, it's just as quick to pull on jeans and a cute top-maybe not as comfy though, huh? LOL!
I think your 2011 resolutions are very achievable. Good luck!
I don't even REMEMBER last year's resolutions, so that should tell you how well I did with them ;)
I think you've made some realistic resolutions. I wouldn't say you're setting yourself up for failure because they're doable. And the date resolution, well, that's just important anyway and needs to be honored regardless. :)
I'm gonna do #s 2 & 4 with you...well, I mean over here in my neck of the woods...I think it would be awkward if I sat with you when you were reading or on a date with your husband ;)
I refuse to actually make a "resolution" so that I can't fail! But I do like goals. In September I set a goal that I will only wear yoga pants at night and so far I've been able to stick to it. I was LIVING in them! I have to say, I actually feel better about myself when I wear "real" clothes (Riley's words!). So my new goal is to just get exercising again. No expectations...just something is better than nothing! God luck to you!
I like your kids' bedtime, might have to make ours earlier here, then hubby and I will have more time together!
As for resolutions, I'm not one for making them! I've done so in the past and they have lasted I think for about a month! LOL! Good luck with yours.
(and regular basis might be good in conversation if the words "the other day" fit in there! LOL! just sayin...)
I like your list sister. And no sweats, ponytail unless gym thing would never happen for me either. Ha!
First, and this is a man’s view, I don’t care what others say, a classic pony tail and sweats is an awesome look. I’m serious. Don’t get me started.
And who wants to avoid massive amounts of butter anyway?
And get those date nights in this – it’s nice to take a woman on a date – we men should always remember this. If we cherish you – we date you.
As for me – I just named my year - one overarching theme – I like it.
Blessings Shell
THAT is a TON of books! I am seriously impressed.
and "real clothes" are over rated.
I have to wear them all day at work, and just wish I was at home in a pair of yoga pants.
My resolution list looks like this:
1. Make List
2. Wad list up and burn it
I am ALWAYS successful at accomplishing what is on my list!
*big cheeser*
Those seem like realistic and attainable goals...
Mine is the same as it always seems to be... lose weight... it was even my resolution when I weight 20 lbs less than I weigh now... I frustrate myself and have a post set to go up about it later this week!
As usual I've decided not to make any resolutions. I'm realistic in that I know I won't accomplish any of them. The reading one tho, that one I can join you in. My 1st blog started off as a book review site, but has taken a back seat to life and my other blog! LOL
Here's hoping a diaper free year for you!
~Mimi
I like your list of resolutions. I'm impressed with the amount of books you read. My goal is 10!
I totally believe that resolutions just set us up for failure! When we aren't sticking to them, we get discouraged, and then totally give up! At least that's my experience:)
My favorite on your list of resolutions is "Date Night." I think I might just steal this one, ok? :)
Hi Shell - thanks for stopping by my blog! I don't do annual resolutions, preferring instead to delve into self criticism on a regular basis throughout the year!
Although maybe this year I should resolve to avoid Charlie Sheen sitcoms!
Im still trying to think up my resolutions...or as I like to say not likely.
You have some really excellent resolutions. I have a feeling you'll keep all of them! :)
I haven't made a resolution since I was a teenager. I'm amazed that you can still read a book every week in addition to reining over this blog empire!
Hope you have a great 2011!
Those are great resolutions! I'm aiming to potty train my 3yo this year, that'll leave me just one in diapers. I think the date-night one is the best new year's resolution I've heard yet- considering my husband and I go out without kids on our anniversary and that's it, I think that is a perfect one for me!
I'm so with you there on the yoga pants. Believe me. Especially after the holidays. Who needs jeans to remind me of the 5 pounds I gained over the holidays? And I write about food addiction...anyhoo.
Thanks for coming by Finding Heaven today!
I feel shamed. I'm often still in pjs by school pick UP time and some days I'm lounging, reading blogs, drooling on myself and trying to remember if I brushed my teeth.
Those are all good goals!! And fun too!
Best of luck to ya!
I'm planning on 52 books this year as well; hopefully more. Nothing wrong with staying in pajamas all day once in a while - my girls and I have "pajama days" on the weekends and vacations if we have nothing going on.
Good luck with the no-diaper goal!
Shell, don't be ridiculous: if you read one book a week, when will you blog?...priorities woman!
As for the butter and losing ten pounds one, how 'bout use half the amount of butter, and go for a weight loss of half of what you'd hope for.
And from 2010, you really can't do without yoga pants. The ones from Lulu Lemon have this panel that pulls everything in so you technically could still eat butter!
I used to be an avid reader before I began my blog - now, I just blog. :)
Happy New Year!
I read lots of books. kid's books. I don't see how you keep up with all the blogs you do, read grown-up books & keep up with 3 little ones! I'm looking into getting some of those PJ jeans!
You know, I try the "read more books" one every year, and somehow I just can't meet my goal. You're right, it seems easy enough, but it's actually the one thing that I don't set aside time for. I am aiming for 25 books this year. If you read any good ones, please let me know!
Sooooo with you on the diaper duty. Hopefully Coop will cooperate. Really? A book a week? You go girl.
So I got featured on Pint Size Social as a "famous foodie" Gave you a shout out. Go see!
http://www.pintsizesocial.com/famous-foodies/
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
www.mawhats4dinner.com
I think the date with your husband is a wonderful idea, and terribly important.
And I do hope your house is a diaper-free zone fairly soon.
I mean, that's a lot of poop.
I'm loving your list. Last year's too. Loosing ten lbs has been on my list for two years! I am still heavier than I want to be. :( I got some new running shoes yesterday, so we'll see if that magically sheds the lbs without me puting them on...
I also love the 52 books. I have been seeing book goals, and they seem outrageous. but, 52 books makes sense. I'm stealing that one. :)
Loved reading this list - you make me laugh!!
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