Monday, February 06, 2023

February Intentions/Things I am leaving in January

In the spirit of being deliberate, I am going to spend a few minutes at the start of every month thinking carefully about how I want to spend my time. Here’s what I have for February:

 This month I will…

 Really appreciate the shavasana moment of my yoga practice instead of thinking about my to-do list or just skipping it all together. I do have time for a few more minutes, and I am going to take them.

Use my work time wisely. If I want to comment on bogs or write here, that’s OK, but I am going to try setting a timer to reign in this enjoyable but not productive use of time. I am also going to commit to doing the hardest item on my to-do list first every work day in February and see how that works (LOL) for me.

Wash my hair only on Wednesdays and Sundays. I KNOW. Kind of gross. But the brassy— it’s a real thing.

Commit to spending 45 minutes with the big kids after everyone else goes to bed before I pass out from exhaustion— at least 5 nights a week. Two nights of couch naps is a-ok.


Things I am leaving in January:

Treating a gift like a burden. I chose this busy life with these million children, and the truth is, I like taking care of everyone. There is something deeply fulfilling about it. I am going to spend this month acting like I love my life as much as I actually do love it.

Eating mindlessly. This month, I am going to focus on experiencing and appreciating the delicious food I am eating.

Forgetting to drink water. This month, I am going to drink water and decaf tea like the responsible adult human I am.


Bonus intention:

 Take Minnie to more libraries. Our town and the surrounding burbs have some really great ones, and she loves to explore. We need to keep the visits to our local branch pretty regular because that’s where I have my holds sent, but a library is such a good free way to kill an hour during the week.


13 comments:

  1. I've always been a fan of how much you do with your kids, Sarah. Even with just two at home, I did not do half the library trips and find-the-mascot trips you did. In my eyes, you're crushing the intentional aspect of enjoying your life already!

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    1. what a lovely comment to read-- you made my morning-- thank you!

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  2. I love that you have so many cool libraries handy. I miss this part of the toddler stage; we passed SOOO many happy hours at our local library. *Sob*
    Those colourful cushions are SO fun. Wow...I just love libraries so much!

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    1. this library is TINY and in a random strip mall and has kind of lackluster adult books (although I got a huge volume of Audre Lorde's poetry from a "too good to miss" display), but the kid area has some EXCELLENT and unassuming toys.

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  3. Interesting bit about shavasana. I ALWAYS skip it in home practices and get so bitter about it during classes. Ha. I could be moving and using my body and instead I'm just laying here counting off the seconds until it's acceptable for me to move! Maybe I should try to be more zen in your honor.

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    1. I have always skipped it, too, but a lot of the 20 minute yoga videos I like include it as part of the 20 minute time, and I am a major rule follower-- I set a goal to do 20 minutes, damnit, so I am going to do that LOL. Today, I fell a little asleep and didn't notice the video was over, so, so far I like it.

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  4. Well, I love a good savasana, and I try to make sure I leave at least 5 minutes at the end of practice for it. I have a sweet little eye pillow that helps me with that. It's so important to let the practice sink in and just lie there and breathe.
    I wash my hair every 2-3 days, so that doesn't sound gross to me at all. I have had trouble with thinning and brittle hair, and that has really helped!

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    1. I think this is what my practice has been missing, honestly.

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  5. These are such excellent intentions Sarah! I am so moved by the thought of accepting a gift for what it is - something I need to be more intentional about as well. And hooray for libraries! I love the idea of you and Minnie touring them and discovering all the treasures they hold.

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    1. I even walked to one on campus the other day-- I am library obsessed.

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  6. I am terrible at enjoying shavasana. And then I talk to people who fall asleep during and I'm like - HOW?? I try to enjoy it but I don't think I would do it if I had a home yoga practice!

    My kids only bathe twice/week in the winter so I do not find the hair washing thing gross either. I wash mine more often but generally every 2-3 days. I would do it less but I have wavy hair so it gets very frizzy and no amount of product or brushing w/ a blowdrier will tame the frizz!

    I should try to check out more libraries, too. We have a lot around us but I tend to go to our local one so we can pick up our holds. But we should find a new-to-us one close to gymnastics, maybe this weekend!

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    1. I am for sure tethered to my holds location.

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  7. I wish I could get away with washing my hair twice a week. I have tried to train my hair to handle less washings but the most I can go is 2 days before it gets gross and super oily. I have friends who wash their hair once or twice a week, and I'm just in AWE of how their hair still looks great even when they're on day 4 or 5!

    Here's the drinking more water in February like the adults we are!

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