Checking on Intentions - January

In order to stay true to my intentions I decided to do monthly check in, a way to track myself and the changes I wanted to bring forth in the New Year.  By listing things we hold ourselves accountable, and with these new habits change occurs.

I decided for my goals I would take pieces each month and work towards the whole.

For Health and Fitness I have signed up for 6 races already, began strength training twice weekly while discovering new healthy recipes, as well as my running to train for races. (Giving up alcohol for the month of January - more to come on this journey in another post)

tracking my miles and races here

One of my favorite recipes I tried was this vegetable soup, thanks Chelsea

Ingredients:

• 32 oz. low sodium chicken broth
• 1 large can of diced tomatoes
• 2 cans of canal beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 15 baby carrots, chopped
• 4 stalks of celery, chopped
• 2 small zucchini, chopped
• 2 cups chopped spinach
• 1/2 Tbsp of garlic
• 1/2 tsp of himalayan salt
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp rosemary
• Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a bowl mash 1/2 of the beans with a potato masher, and save the other half of the beans for the soup
2. Heat the oil in a large soup pan
3. Add onions, carrots, celery, zucchini, and all spices to the pot. Allow to cook until vegetables are tender (about 5-7 minutes)
4. Add the broth and tomatoes to the pot. Bring this to a boil
5. Add the mashed beans, regular beans, and spinach leaves
6. Continue to stir the soup allowing it to cook and simmer
7. Enjoy!

HEALTH AND FITNESS

• Run 500 miles
• complete 16 races for 2016
• Strength train twice a week
• New recipe monthly
• more greens and grains

CAREER

Making time for writing has been a priority, waking early and showing up with constant effort will provide the results I am searching for. So far submitting more stories outside while craving more for myself and blog.

• Write one more blog posts per week
• Submit two stories a month to various publications
• Write more short stories
• Begin book layout

FINANCIAL

Setting up automatic payments higher than the minimum due was a simple step in working toward debt relief, as well as automatic deposits to savings accounts. Once its set up you can watch the debt go down while the savings goes up. Mindful spending has arrived more easily as I declutter and become more conscious of what I want to allow in.

• Pay off debt
• Add to savings
• Mindful spending

BODY AND SOUL

Discovering a few apps to begin my meditation routine was very helpful. One is called headspace and the other is called calm. Both were a great way to begin building the meditation habit. With CALM you could sample several settings on your desktop, a wonderful little escape. 

• Weekly creative time (painting, crafting)
• Journaling
• Write gratitude daily
• Discover joy
• Meditate 5 minutes daily and increase practice weekly

MINDFUL INTENTIONS

Taking out books on CD from the library is another way to get some reading time in. Listening as I drive too and from other events help me finish off books in no time. Already finished 5 books for this month. You can see my completed books list here

First pay it forward in January a collective gift with Sara at Vita Bella for someone to be pampered with new hair color, cut and style.

• Read 50 books or more
• Try something new (snow ski, water ski, etc)
• Fill happiness jar
• Share joy and pay it forward monthly
• Give the gift of time

HOME

Part of my declutter goal was to assign a room a month to work on. My first room for January was my scrapbook room. Within days of beginning I was able to create a space free of clutter and still have the rest of the month to fine tune. Creating a space to enjoy while not distracted was the goal I achieved. Although there are small details I need to address (sorting pictures), a huge shift has occurred and I am ready to move to the kitchen for February. Pictures to come...

• Declutter and simplify
• Finish projects
• Organize