New Year's Resolutions 2018

I'm not the kind of person that starts the new year off saying it will all be different, that I will change, but I am the kind of person who is always becoming, always growing and learning about myself. I don't want to be a new more. I want to be MORE me. I do, however, take the advantage of the fresh start and reflection that the new year offers, and I make some goals. Same old Kelly, still striving to become, but the goals help by giving direction.

Last year I started off by saying this would be MY YEAR. My time to shine. I will rock 2017! Well, I fell flat on my face almost immediately and spent most of the year recovering. This year I set a variety of goals, and I kept them open ended so that I would have room for error, a little wiggle room for interpretation, and I set different kinds of goals. I made some general goals that aren't time sensitive, 365 day challenges, monthly focuses, blog and video making schedule, a mantra, and a guiding word. Somewhere in here, I hope by the end of the year, I can look back and say, "Hey! I did that! Good for me!" 

365 Day Challenges:
These guys make me nervous. I don't think I've ever in my life done something every single day without fail except maybe eat. But to me, challenges are meant to inspire, to be fun, and if I fail, what do I have to lose?

1. Use my planner -- Because when I don't use my planner, things don't happen.
2. Wake up at 7 am -- Because I thrive when I wake up relatively early and at the same time every day.
3. Eat only whole foods -- Because I have gained weight, because I have no energy, and I know this will help! (But this is going to be so hard so please send all the happy thoughts my way!)
4. Do my dishes -- I do this almost everyday anyway so I thought it would be nice to have something easy to check off, but I also notice that if I skip dishes (I'm only human!) the house work gets out of hand quickly.
5. Do 1 creative thing -- Because I need a creative outlet.

Monthly Focus:
For 2018, I plan to rotate through a series of monthly focuses to try to reinvigorate certain goals that are especially important to me. The focuses are eating, water, exercise and creativity. This should help if I start to slip in certain areas or to keep from getting too bored in a certain area.

General somewhat random goals:

1. Take my iron and b12 (I tend to be a bit anemic)
2. Drink lots of water (how much is lots? I don't know! keeping it general here people!)
3. Exercise (see above note on keeping it general)
4. Find healthy ways to deal with stress
5. Create using Adobe Illustrator 
6. Knit
7. Create 2 videos and 2 blog posts per month
8. Laugh more with the kids
9. Be better about house work
10. Homeschool and include the youngers more
11. Patience!
12. Work on self care skills with the kids
13. Work on getting kids to help clean up

A Mantra and A word
I've never picked a mantra, quote, or word for a year before. Well, at least that I remember. It sounded like fun, and if anything, I hope that these will mean something to me in December.
Mantra: "I am rooted, but I flow." Virginia Woolf
I tried explaining this quote, and I didn't make a lot of sense. (Putting that literature degree to work!) Virginia Woolf says it best, but in short, like a tree, I want to develop a firm foundation, but allow life to flow through me like wind through a tree. I want to welcome the breeze, bend, not break, and return to something akin to my previous posture. (Good grief, I'm still not making any sense...)
Word: Rhythm 
I chose this word because I want to find a rhythm to my days, weeks, and months. I don't want strict schedules or rigid structure. Just a nice harmonious rhythm.

And that's it! Totally doable! (sarcasm) I expect to fail, but I hope not to. Maybe I will surprise myself? In the end, any progress I make towards these goals IS progress and if anything I will learn something about myself in striving to achieve them. What goals are you setting? Anyone else pick a mantra or word?