On Un-Plugging...

Un-plugging is the third and final of my New Year's Resolutions! Honestly, I have so far found this one to be the hardest.

I do a lot of my preparation for school on my computer. It's also the way I stay on top of basketball practices/games (via emails from the coach) and JP's school needs (via emails from her tutor). It's also one of my hobbies!  I love reading blogs and finding inspiration on Pinterest! And, then there's this blogging gig. (Though I'm not that consistent with ye ole blog!)

While none of these things is inherently wrong, I find that if I am not careful, hours can slip away while I am enjoying the world wide web!

When I think of unplugging, this is exactly why I find it imperative.

So, I'm putting some practical parameters on my computer time in order to keep myself accountable to just how much of my time is spent on-line.

Here's what I'm thinking...
15 minutes in the morning (email)
15 minutes at lunch (email)
1 hour in the afternoon (blogs/Pinterest)
30 minutes-1 hour in the evening (depends on other obligations!)
1 day/week-no computer

I realize 2-2 1/2 hours still seems like a lot, but I'm thinking I'm currently on-line much more than that.

They are all now out there... all of my self imposed parameters and plans for keeping my New Year's Resolutions. My hope is that by putting them all in writing for someone else to see, I'll be more accountable.

As always, I'll try to be honest about how I'm doing. (If you don't care, you can skip those posts!!)

Hopefully, no one will have to pry my laptop from my cold dead fingers!

On getting up earlier...

For the first couple of weeks in January, I started slowly bumping the alarm clock back (I guess technically I started using an alarm clock again!). My intension was to ease myself into the hour earlier awakening to which I had so easily committed. I am a woman of great intensions!

Here's where it gets tricky.

I also began weaning myself off caffeine (because of the whole eating better thing).

And processed food (again with the eating better).

Processed food includes sugar (I miss sugar).

I've never claimed to be a person who thinks things completely through before diving in. By not being such person, I had ultimately created THE PERFECT STORM.

When the phone rang at 5:22 AM on my first "back to the real world" Monday morning, ROBBING ME OF 11 PRECIOUS MINUTES OF SLEEP, I jumped out of the bed and dashed to see who was calling because, clearly, a 5:22 AM phone call is NOT good news.

It was a wrong number.

So, day 1 of getting up earlier, no caffeine, and no processed is off to a wonderful start. Throw in the traffic on the way to TAFA this morning to the tune of a normal 20 minute jaunt taking 52 minutes, and my less than perky personality is making an appearance.

Needless to say, my intentionality is biting me in the butt.

So as of right now, I'm tired, I'm groggy, I'm irritable, and I have a TERRIBLE HEADACHE. The goal is to feel BETTER right?

I guess there's some wisdom to that whole ONE step at a time stuff. I may have to re-think this plan over some coffee and a Snicker bar!

Day 1: ROUGH

No where to go but up, right?

2012 Resolutions

I've been a little wishy-washy on the whole resolutions thing.  I don't really enjoy setting myself up for failure!!  But, truthfully, there is something to be said for setting goals and working to achieve them.  So here are some things I've been tossing around to work toward in 2012.

1.  Pray more.
I have found that I spend a lot of time worrying, fretting, thinking, and solving, when my time would be better spent in communion with God. Prayer doesn't really come that naturally to me. I am more of a prayer bench-warmer!  I can get into the game occasionally, but haven't learned to live in a rhythm of prayer.  So, I want to be more disciplined in my prayer.

2.  Eat Better
This is a common resolution, I know; but, 2012 is the year of turning 40 for me and I have noticed a significant drop in my energy level.  Also, my body cannot bounce back from abuse (like eating all things cream cheese, sausage, and sugar for 4 weeks) as quickly as it used to!  I have headaches, and stomach aches, and all kinds of various boring aches.  I know that my food choices heavily influence the way I feel.  I want to feel better, so I'm going to eat better.

3.  Unplug
I think this one goes hand-in-hand with #1.  I need more down time.  I think about the needs of so many people all the time and am constantly bombarded with interruptions (I'm not talking about being thoughtful here!  I mean things like, "Mom, where is my uniform?" and "Mom, how do you work this problem?" and "Shell, do you know where I put my keys?").  I crave stillness, quiet, and solitude; but, I find I spend much of my "me time" on the computer.  I enjoy Pinterest and blog-hopping and follow way too many people on my google reader; but, I've got to limit myself.  I'm pretty sure I am an electronic device addict!  So, I'm going to put some parameters around when I am on the computer and for how long.  Sadly, I am finding this to be necessary!!

So, that's it for me!  Three little resolutions.

Sure, there are about a thousand other things I could do better, but I think these three will be a great start.

Here's to renewed hope at the start of a new year!

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

   his mercies never come to an end; 

they are new every morning;

   great is your faithfulness.

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,

   “therefore I will hope in him.”

-Lamentations 3:22-24