Start New Goals With Your Back To School Routine

 

Goal setting doesn't have to be just for January 1.  A great time to set new goals is when you start a new routine, like when the kids return to school. 

Why set goals:  Setting goals gives you something to achieve and look forward to. It helps to motivate you towards your future achievements.  It's easier to see goals when we visualize them.  Maybe you can visualize your goals by closing your eyes; if that doesn't work, try making a vision board. 

How to make a vision board: You can take a poster board and put pictures of your dreams or goals, write words, cut words out of magazines, and put up quotes or scriptures to make your vision board a success.  Remember to set long-term and short-term goals.

I struggled with fertility but knew someday I would be a mom.  For over ten years, I have had a picture of myself holding a sign that says, "A good mom." Initially, this helped me focus on doing whatever I could to be healthy and follow physician recommendations to become a mom.  But I still keep it up because now that I met the goal of becoming a mom, I want to be a good mom.  I'm not perfect, but each day I try, and that's what matters.

Start small: work your way up to the big goals. Change doesn't happen overnight, and if you set your sights so high that they are not attainable, you will only get discouraged further, causing setbacks. It's okay to praise your baby steps.

Types of goals to make

Health goals- Again, we don't have to work to lose weight or eat healthy only on January 1; we can do this any time. First, only some people need to lose weight; talk to your doctor before making extreme decisions. You want to avoid starving yourself or doing exercises that will make you unhealthy, which may only hold you back from your health goals.

Drink more water- I recently realized there are days I drink no water; yes, I said it, no water. That's not healthy.  I may not drink the required number of glasses per day, but I will try to drink at least two of these bottles a day. I love that my new bottle has time reminders regarding how much I should drink according to the time of day.  I love this water bottle because it has a wrist latch that allows me to carry it with me and still have a free hand!  It is a game changer. 

See link: https://amzn.to/3X35Mn2   

Exercise - I'm often so focused on my homework that I sit too much.  Honestly, if I got 6,000 steps, it would be a miracle.  Also not good… I bought myself a boxing machine and will try to use it at least three times a week.  My husband was less than impressed when I hung it in our hallway, but hanging it across from my bedroom next to the bathroom will help me remember my goal. So, what I have accomplished with it is seriously fun and feels empowering. 

See link: https://amzn.to/3XnETvE

Exercise - Another thing I miss is yoga.  I feel calm when I do yoga.  I have a great book I realize I need to pull out more often and use to help me with flexibility and stress reduction.  So, hit up a yoga class or try this book. Either way, you feel your physical and mental health should improve.

See link: https://amzn.to/4e217Zn

• Healthier Food Choices – I’ll admit I have loved my iced coffee this summer.  I have often gone and got an iced or frozen coffee and have been buying the pre-made iced coffee when I do my grocery shopping.  This isn’t good because I had been drinking black coffee, yes, black!  So I plan to get back there by mixing my pre-bought deliciousness with pre-bought sugar-free coffee, then only sugar-free, and then back to black coffee! I find that flavored black coffee is delicious.  My favorite is hazelnut, and I like the Cameron brand.  But this year, I want to take my healthy coffee choice to a whole new level, and I’m starting mushroom coffee. I did a lot of research and spoke to people who have tried mushroom coffee and found it's “earthier,” so I’m starting with a flavored hazelnut coffee that’s part coffee and part mushroom coffee.  

• See link for my favorite coffee: https://amzn.to/3YXGNEl
• See link for mushroom coffee: https://amzn.to/3yXkrbm  
  
  

Routine Goals

Chores are necessarily evil which is why I suggest adding chores into your daily or weekly routine goals.

My routine Goal: My new goal is to help eliminate some of my clutter. I have been unloading and reloading the dishwasher each morning while I make coffee. It's the simplest thing I do and having my kitchen countertops clean feels so good.  Clutter is stressful, and this new chore routine has helped me.

Other Chore Goals: Sometimes, we overthink things.  An easy way to get necessary chores done is to make the most of your time.  For example, when my child was younger, I needed to be in the bathroom during bathtime, and I used this time to clean my bathroom.  Also, the best time to clean up the dog poop is when you are already outside waiting for the dog to finish up.  So, your challenge is to make the most of your time. 

See Link for this bathroom cleaning brush that makes the tub cleaning chore much easier: https://amzn.to/3WMheDt

Kids Chore Routine - Back to school is a great time to start a new routine with your kids.  A routine can include bedtime or bath days.  But it can also be your child's daily or weekly chore list. Is your child old enough to throw their own fruit snacks rappers away? Can they put their dirty dishes in the sink? Can they pick up the dog poop once a week? Can they fold laundry? Getting them on board with a chore routine helps prepare them for adulthood, but it also helps take the day-to-day stress off of us parents.

I use this excellent chore chart.  See link:  https://amzn.to/3M5NnRw

Rewards

The most important part of goals is celebrating the wins! Celebrate the small steps and reward yourself or your child for well-done work.  The rewards do not have to be expensive. Depending on your child's age, they may find a quarter in their bank or a trip to your local dollar store rewarding.  And the rewards you give yourself don't have to be expensive. Alone time is often free, especially if a family member or friend can babysit for you.  Or another mom with whom you can trade babysitting.

Reward ideas for moms:

*Have a spa day, get a massage, get a pedicure

*Go out with friends

*Take a bubble bath

*Go out on a date

*Stay up late and watch your favorite show

Reward ideas for kids:

*Movie night with popcorn and candy

*Day at the park or zoo

*A new toy or video game

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