September 3in30

I jumped on board late with the August 3in30.  My plan was to keep the same goals for September, although I've since changed my mind (I do that - a LOT).

1.  Develop a healthy morning routine (which doesn't include yelling, fighting or rushing - ANYONE).   

I've joined #hellomornings.  Since committing I've only managed to get up before everyone else 3 out of 6 days soooooo...this stays for September.  My goal is to get up EVERY day before everyone else.  Even if I don't have time to do all those crazy things I want to in my head (like an hour long jog - jog? HA! I don't even run - but some mornings it sounds fun, right?). I will get up and make time for the important things...a bible study/prayer time, some exercise and a few minutes to plan my day.  

2.  Purge my junk (and not become a hoarder)


I have a friend who just had a yard sale.  She told me she cleaned out her 'hoarder rooms'.  Which freaked me out.  A LOT.  I've seen that show.  I have those roomS...as in more than one.  My mom and I are having a yard sale at my house next weekend.  So really, I hope to accomplish most of this between now and then.  I did manage to clean up  my bedroom making somewhat of a dent (I really should do a follow up post - it really is clean now...promise!).  Now if I could just make about a thousand more dents, I'd be good to go.

3.  Read a book (I used to read a TON, now I have a Kindle and I read none - go figure)

I thought if anything this would be the easiest.  I love to read.  I have bookshelves full of books, not to mention I just got a Kindle and download every single free book I come across.  Unfortunately though, other than doing a couples bible study with my husband and going online, I've never really read anything on it. So I'm just giving it up.  With 7 kids I'm sure if I leave this here I just be setting myself up to fail so off it goes.  

Replaced with

3.  Drink more water.

Sounds slightly lame but I should.  And not to sound lazy but it is an obtainable goal and goes along great with #1.  

Taking Back the Pep in my Step

So I started a new morning routine last week.  On Wednesday.

My goal for the first week was to get up 15 minutes early than 'normal' for prayer/journaling, exercise and a few minutes for planning out my day.  Wednesday, Thursday & Friday were great.  Got up early, did what I had planned - I even started feeling good from the exercise.  

I noticed I had more energy…there was a pep in my step.  Though out the day I felt renwed…refreshed.

Then the weekend came.  I wasn't sure about what to do.  It was the one weekend a month we have all 7 kids.  I knew in my heart that getting up even just a few minutes early and starting my day with some prayer and exercise is exactly what I would need.  With Hurricane Irene looming and the prospect of being stuck inside all weekend, I knew it was going to be one dozy of a weekend.

But I didn't.  This is where I learned the importance of going to bed at a decent hour - having a good bedtime routine.  Usually on the weekend my husband and I stay up later and Friday was no except.  He was up playing computer games…I was up catching up on tv.  Bedtime Friday was almost 1:30am.  I knew at that point, when I checked the clock before dozing off, I was doomed.  And no, I didn't learn.

I was very disappointed with myself this morning when I got up at my normal time.  I was sad almost.  I really enjoyed my days of that.  Its hard once you commit to doing something and fall off the wagon.  It’s a good reason really to just give up and not try anymore because you feel like "Why bother now?"  I'm not going to let that happen to me this time though, with this. 

I really enjoyed my new morning routine those 3 days and starting tomorrow I'm going to continue to enjoy it.