Thursday, August 2, 2012

My Happiness Project: July Recap & August Goals and Resolutions



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Last month, I did not have an easy time with my Happiness Project goals and resolutions.  As much as I wanted to accomplish them, I didn't.  I am happy to report that I was much more successful this month.  Here is a recap of the goals I carried forward.

1) Become more active in the blogging community:   I spent a lot of time working on my blog this month.  I made an effort to post daily (during the week) and to visit other people's blogs and comment as often as possible. The results were great.  I felt much more engaged in the blogging community, and discovered a whole bunch of new favorite blogs in the process.  

3) Continue With Meatball's Recovery:  Meatball is now fully healed.  We have resumed taking family walks down to the creek.  All feels right in my world once again.

What I found difficult was achieving balance.  Being as active as I wanted to in the blogging community meant that I wasn't going to bed as early as I would have liked.  This would lead to me being tired in the morning and going back to the bad habit of making coffee my breakfast.  So this month my resolutions are all about energy and time management. I figure I need one to accomplish the other.

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August Resolutions

1) Garbage In, Garbage Out:  For the most part, husband and I are healthy eaters.  However, when life gets crazy and we get busy, healthy eating can fall by the wayside.  I can feel it in everything I do.  I have a harder time going to sleep at night (all hopped up on sugar), I can't get up in the morning, and I suffer from a general lack of energy.  I feel sluggish and lazy, and I get annoyed with myself because of my poor choices.  I can usually tell it is going to be a bad week when 80% of my grocery shopping isn't completed in the produce section.  The cleaner I eat, the happier I am.

2)  Plan My Week:  The fact is, if I don't plan my week starting on Sunday,  I will not accomplish much.  This goes for planning my meals and making sure I pick up everything I need when I am at the grocery store (to avoid bad take out decisions later in the week).  This also applies to what I am going to post on the blog.  If I have a good idea of what I am going to write about going into the week, I can get a head start editing photos and starting posts, which I usually finish during the week.  This also gives me more time to visit other blogs during the week and stay active in the blogging community.

I am also continuing to practice my resolutions from previous months:  drinking more water, going to bed earlier, eating breakfast, and being more active in the blogging community.  They are continuing to make a very positive impact on my life.  

Feel free to post any advice below, regarding how you keep the balance between doing what is important in your personal life and staying active in the blogging community.

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66 comments:

monica said...

i think ur happiness project is awesome, and that it is so great you are continuing with your goals!

Pratishtha Durga said...

Erin,
I love you happiness project, and relate to so much you say and do. You give voice to so many people's life and priorities, and that's a big plus for any blog.

Keep at it. You make us happy.

Mandy Crandell said...

This is a great list! I need to start doing many things on here, but like you, I'm also having trouble finding balance. Best of luck with your goals!

http://mandycrandell.blogspot.com/

Magdalena said...

I wish you the best of luck, Erin!! Going to bed earlier....This is so hard for me..

xoxoxo

Niki {Glossy Blonde} said...

Meatball looks like such a sweetheart! I'm glad to see that he is healed after such an invasive surgery.

I need to set monthly goals for myself - I think this is such a great idea!

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

I struggle with all of the same things that you do. It's hard to find a balance but don't worry. Especially where blogging's concerned. But eventually it will happen. Good luck! :) xoxo

Portuguese Prepster said...

after eating out a ton this Summer (as you can clearly see on my instagram haha), I need to clean up my diet!

rooth said...

I like how you've been making these monthly goals. They've really encouraged me to do the same. Sleeping earlier is definitely on that list

danielle p. said...

congrats on achieving last month's goals, and good luck with this month :] i'm definitely going to try to eat cleaner and get to bed earlier myself!

Steph said...

These are all really great resolutions! Something I have started to do is draft and save a couple of blog posts when I have some down time, that way I'm not taking so much time out of every day writing posts.

Thanks for checking out my blog and commenting...and reminding me I hadn't mentioned the quality of the polishes :p

Trish said...

I give myself a cutoff time. Usually at 9pm I put everything away, get ready for bed and settle down to read or catch up on something I have recorded. That means sometimes (okay, a lot of times) I leave things for the next day, but I've learned to be okay with that. It helps me prioritize because I know if quitting time is 9pm, I better have the most important things done by then!

Ang Lam said...

Good for you!! Healthier life does mean a happier life!! All you need to do now is just to find balance between blogging and a healthy lifestyle :)

ang-closet365.blogspot.ca

little luxury list said...

your resolutions totally speak to me! I've been really stressed lately and ate a lot of junk food and continue to be tired. I'm going to the gym and getting a fruit snack tomorrow!
I also need to plan my blog Sunday (I have a lot of changes to make this weekend too!

xoxo,
Chic 'n Cheap Living

Courtney Erin said...

I'm so glad Meatball (great name, BTW) is recovered -- and I really admire all your resolutions. I need more of that in my life!

Courtney ~ http://sartorialsidelines.com

Heather said...

I love your August goals and need to work on those aspects myself. I also feel so much better and am more productive when I eat healthy.

Bonnie said...

Achieving a healthy balance in life can be really difficult. I struggle with that, too, when it comes to what I want to do and what I have to do - such as school and work. It is easy to let grad school overwhelm me, but I always take time every single day to do one thing for myself.

http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88

Ashley said...

This is such a great project. I think its a constant battle to try to find balance in life because there are always new things being thrown at you. I always have to plan my week also, you gotta do what works for you! Good luck with your goals for this month!

Unknown said...

Hooray! It sounds like you have done well! Don't try and do too much though! I love that last quote.
So true.

Suz said...

I am so happy Meatball has recovered. I keep a lot of lists and there is no start or end to my week as I don't work anymore, but hubby still struggles on with it and I'm on the sidelines cheering him on.

Emily grapes said...

I've been having a tough time with my schedule. Its always something and I feel I'm always struggling to manage it all w/blogging mixed in. and in turn I stay up very late just to get the day's blog post in.

Hopefully your month's goal will go well with your schedule. :)
Emily at Amazing Grapes

Elle Sees said...

I've gotta work on time management!

Test said...

It's amazing how many people you get to meet when you dive in fully into the whole blogging thing. Good luck with your August resolutions!

Katie said...

Love these posts! Its so neat to hear about ways to always be working on balance and happiness :) Also, yay for Meatball's recovery!!!!

LeaChoue said...

Thank youuu :D

Amy's Fashion Blog said...

Good Luck on your goals for this month.

Why Girls Are Weird said...

Planning your week makes things SO much easier. I try to have a good idea of what's going on each day so I don't get overly stressed.

Good luck!

Beauty Follower said...

Wish you a great month!

honey my heart said...

best of luck with your august goal! i really need to get on the "garbage in, garbage out" train and start enjoying more healthy foods.

Sherry Ellis said...

Good luck achieving your resolutions. I love your quotes!

Lorena said...

I am glad to hear that Meatball has fully recovered.
I think you are putting a little too much pressure on yourself - maybe you can try out a schedule where you blog and read blogs 3 times a week.
I was away for 3 weeks and i have so much to catch up on, but at my pace.
The idea is to enjoy the process :)

Girls Love Fried Pickles said...

I shall hire you as my life coach. I live in the house of crazy in which i create 90 percent of.

Anonymous said...

Erin, you are so smart already to be putting your finger on balance because it's the thing that blogging definitely can topple especially when I've got other things going too--but I look at it as a little sacrifice, okay sometimes I'm a little tired because I took time to interact with my blogger friends etc. but what I get back is so wonderful, I haven't been able to stop yet and it's been 7 years. I've also taken big and little breaks from it when it's gotten too much and that's helpful too. Glad you have been enjoying it!
xo Mary Jo

Rowena @ rolala loves said...

This is an awesome project and I hope you will have even more success with it in the coming months. Planning ahead can go a long way to improving time management so I think that should help you with achieving that balance you're looking for. Meatball looks like a lovely dog. I'm really glad to hear he's doing better.

Rowena @ rolala loves

Erica said...

Exploring other blogs has been one of my favorite things about blogging. I've discovered so many awesome blogs and people I otherwise would have never found.

Emmylou said...

Good luck for this month's project, Erin:) Glad to hear Meatball's fully recovered.

colleen said...

that last quote is so true. such a good reminder. and yay for meatball! glad to know he's all better :)

Megan, TfDiaries.com said...

i'm loving your blog - now following
Xo Megan

StylishByNature said...

Your happiness project is awesome... Great that you are continuing with your goals :)

❤ StylishByNature.com

The Dainty Dolls House said...

This is great. Finding balance can be hard, but once you do and it works for you, it's a lot easier. Sometimes I find it, sometimes I don't. This idea is super. xx

Heather said...

I completely agree with you! I would love more balance... I feel like I've been so rushed lately. But I love the idea of sitting down on Sunday and planning out the week! Great inspiration :)

XO
www.pearlsandpaws.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Going to bed early is one of my challenges too. I am a night owl but then I have difficulties getting up early. I have set myself a goal time by which I want to be sleeping but I don't always succeed...

Carla said...

I love that you're setting goals for yourself. I really feel that if you write them down on paper, they'll be more achievable! I really need to start doing that. In fact, i bought a couple of moleskin notebooks yesterday to keep my thoughts organized so that i can hopefully do the same! We shall see.. lol xoxo

www.fashionmavenmommy.com

angie said...

these are certainly achievable goals, you can do it!

Amanda said...

I definitely think I need to start planning out my weeks more, mostly with meal planning. We end up eating not as healthy when we don't. I'm glad Meatball is fully healed though!

Unknown said...

I love how you have this! I usually make lists to help me with happiness goals but I kinda just write it down and forget about it :p congrats on reaching yours :)

Jess said...

I love making lists! It might just be my OCD though! It's definitely all about balance! Love the inspirational images with this post :)

Rebecca Miriam said...

ooh, I'll have to watch that show then!
great quotes :)

xx, rebecca
awayinparadise.blogspot.com

Oh to Be a Muse said...

I think your August resolutions sound awesome. I have to do my own Garbage In, Garbage Out resolution some time soon.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the comment on my blog!!! It's so awesome to find yours! I LOVE your respective on balance! I couldn't agree more :)

And yay for being more active in the blogging community!! :)

Anna and Klaudia said...

Wow, it's great :) I'm your new follower :)

http://anna-and-klaudia.blogspot.com/

Shop N' Chomp said...

You have a great list of resolutions. :D I also want to eat cleaner. So tough though!

A Very Sweet Blog said...

Well, I'm so glad you found my blog Erin. I love reading yours. Blogging is tedious, but very rewarding. I love your goals. You're such an inspiration.
http://www.averysweetblog.com/

Blond Duck said...

I have such a problem with balance. It's like I'll be great at blogging but suck at fiction writing, great at work or suck at blogging...it never ends.

A BRIT GREEK said...

Like Kim and many of the others mentioned Blogging is hard work if you have little time, but if you love it, then it can be a bit of a breeze. It's tricky to find time to do everything... commenting, reading, writing etc...
I try to put a little time each day in the evening to respond to all comments and gathering up images/photos/info for the next post, but bear in mind I don't post everyday!

Good luck with the resolutions and commenting on my blog!
x.o.x.o

Prisla Buah said...

Ibest of luck on this months goal, Dear

Style, She Wrote said...

Great job achieving your month's goals, and good luck with the new ones! xo style, she wrote

P.S. Don't forget to enter our boyfriend blazer giveaway! http://www.styleshewrote.com/2012/08/giveaway-win-body-centrals-boyfriend.html xo style, she wrote

Ashley Urke | Domestic Fashionista said...

I am with you...life is a constant balance. I think when I am able to be proactive and set goals, like you have, I am so much happier. Good luck as you continue to find that balance! :)

Ann said...

This post is so inspiring.
I heart the last quote,
so true and an eye opener.

SpryOnTheWall said...

Balance is so hard! I'm with you on the clean eating, feels so much better when I do. I've made a habit of meal planning and I can honestly say that we only eat out probably a max of 10 times a month (that includes breakfast, lunch or dinner). It's made a huge difference in our health and our budget! My main goal for August is to exercise! I've let that slip and need to get back in the habit!

aki! said...

mmm. Good goals! I feel like I have a lot coming up in life and so I'll have to seek stability in some way.

Unknown said...

it's so awesome that you have monthly resolutions. :) something to do for myself. yes, i believe community is a big part of blogging. :) thanks for stopping by my blog! your blog is so pretty! :)

kisses,
jasmine
Adam ❤ Alex Mommy

Always Maylee said...

I love these, such great inspirations. And good for you on your monthly resolutions!

xo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee

Aline said...

i really need to work on #1, it's so hard when you are busy!!!

my bf and i recently started planning our weeks and so far so good. good luck!

Mrs. Pancakes said...

Your monthly goals sound awesome!! Good luck with them!

Unknown said...

Oh, loving the inspiration you've posted!

xo
http://hautecouture3.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

thank you for the wonderful inspiration!

http://www.ohmydior.org

I'm Erin

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Hi, I'm Erin. I am living back on the east coast after 15 years out west. Currently readjusting to humidity and mosquitos. I love to take pictures and read fashion magazines.... and to talk about nothing in particular (ok, and my dogs).

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