This year I decided I am making New Years commitments instead of resolutions.
No more bold (and usually unrealistic) statements like “I’m going to lose those last five pounds!” or “No more carbs!” (items that have found their way on to my New Years Resolution list for the last, oh, ten years). Instead, I want to focus on committing in 2013: committing to myself, my family and my dreams and aspirations.
Resolutions are so black and white, which makes it that much easier to bail when they get too hard. It’s more difficult to back out of a commitment that you’ve made to your loved ones and yourself.
So in honor of 2013, here are my 13 New Years commitments:
1. Unplug. It’s embarrassing, but many nights Dr. G. and I find ourselves tapping away on our iPhones after we’ve finished dinner. And while the kids are taking the baths. And before we go to sleep. Trust me, we’re not important types who have corporations or businesses to run; we’re usually messing around on Facebook or reading New York Times (Dr. G.) or People.com (me). And I know we’re not alone.
Lately, Buddy has been calling us to task on this, and it’s a humbling reminder of how plugged in we are at all times, and what a poor example we’re setting for our kids. So my goal is to immediately plug my phone into the charger as soon as I get home each day and only check messages, etc. for a set amount of time (20-30 minutes?) once the kiddos are in bed. Sounds like a piece of cake, right? I’m not so sure. Being plugged in is kind of addicting. But I only get a few precious hours with my kids each day and I no longer want to be hooked up to an electronic device for most of it. Which leads me to …
2. Be more present. I admit, I’ll be playing Candyland with Buddy and thinking about what I’m going to wear the next day, or I’ll be reading a book to Mimi and my mind will wander to a frustrating work incident from earlier in the day. I want to work on being present and more mindful of where I am, what I am doing and (most importantly) who I am with. I want my kids to know they have my 100% undivided attention.
3. Operation Closet Redux. No clothes shopping for two months. More to come on this.
4. Keep up with my weekly meal planning.
5. Attend my first blog conference and create KMS business cards.
6. Continue sending out freelance pitches and queries. You never know unless you try.
7. Clear out the junk. We have so much crap stuff lying around: baby gear and old computer monitors and broken furniture and clothes that are too big or out of style. I think the time has come to say goodbye, old friends.
8. Get more involved in the Crohns & Colitis community. Why? See here.
9. Practice patience … especially with my kids.
10. Take more videos. I’m pretty good about photos, but I never seem to remember to switch to video mode. I know that in ten years, I’ll be kicking myself for not recording Mimi’s toddler version of “Twinkle, Twinkle” or Buddy’s karate moves.
11. Organize my photos. Like most of you, I rarely print out photos anymore. But part of me misses those days when you could physically flip the pages of a photo album and laugh or reminisce. It’s hard to do that when scrolling through thousands of similar images on a smartphone. A compromise? I want to create yearly photo books, one for each kid and one for our family, including special books for vacations, etc. (Disney 2013, anyone?).
12. Get involved in Buddy’s school. First step? Next week’s PTO meeting.
13. Spend more quality time with my husband. Because he’s pretty awesome.
What, no health-related commitments? Ha, don’t be silly. I consider my health and fitness goals to be a category onto themselves; see my 2013 Health and Fitness Bucket List.
Are you making New Years resolutions/hopes/commitments/goals, etc? What’s tops on your list?
Jennifer (Savor) says
I NEED to do #1 and #3 as well
Jessica says
LOL – I’m posting soon about my whole closet redux thing. I think of all my New Years commitments, this was the one my husband was most on board with 🙂
Sheri says
#7 is my biggest mission this year. my husband hides so much crap in our basement. It all needs to go!! He’s a borderline hoarder.
Jessica says
Hmmm, is he related to my husband? 🙂
Jane - MomGenerations.com says
I love the idea of commitments rather than resolutions. There are many on this list that I need to work on, too!
Jessica says
Thanks! Resolutions seem so negative and unyielding; commitments have a more positive feel. We’ll see if it works 🙂
Courtney Buteau says
I am with you on #1. I’m hoping I can unplug once baby #2 gets here. I don’t want to miss a moment! I love how you picked 13 things for this year. And it’s something that doesn’t have to be done all at once. 🙂
Jessica says
I know, it took my 6-year-old to call us out on it to open our eyes. I think this will be the most challenging item here, but also the most important! Wish me luck 🙂
candice says
This is a fantastic list. I may have to take your lead on several INCLUDING #1!
Jessica says
I know, #1 seems to be very popular. I think we’re all a bit guilty of being too plugged in. I tried it for the first time last night and it wasn’t too bad 😉
Heather @ Kraus House Mom says
I want to do photo books too. I may have to break them into seasons though, I have 1000s of pictures on my computer.
Jessica says
It is seriously such an overwhelming task!!
Megan says
I think I could have written this list myself! I’m working on a 12 month plan this year, in terms of “resolutions.” Each month I set one big goal (this month, is “Be healthier!”) and I have little goals or actions to take to help me reach that one bigger goal. Hoping it works! Good luck with your commitments. (and ps…I can’t wait to hear more about the closet redux!!) xo
Jessica says
Thank you! Good luck to you, too. Operation Closet Redux coming on Monday 🙂
mel says
I need to take some of your list and incorporate it into my own! Unplug is #1 for me too!
Jessica says
Unplugging is a popular one! We should do a Rhody Blogger check in on this and see how we’re all doing in a few months 🙂
Kristin Wheeler (Mama Luvs Books) says
Great list!! I need to getting to mine!!! =)
Dollops of Diane says
Numbers 1 and 2 are definitely things I’ve been thinking about, too. I have the opposite problem in that I spend SO much time with my kids that I feel like I need an escape and I often find it on my laptop or on my phone. However, I think I might be taking it to the extreme lately. Same with being present – I’m with them all day but am I really present?
Jessica says
I know, the whole “being present” thing is tricky, isn’t it? A consequence of being a multitasking society 🙂