MY “Challenge 10” for 2012

Some of you may have heard about the guy who asked for 10 people to come up with 10 personal challenges or resolutions for 2012 as a type of cyber support group.  Great idea!  The concept is brilliant because each person is expected to “post” to the page and provide updates on their progress.  I find that being accountable makes all the difference….so….I decided even though Mr. Challenge 10 is not accepting any more participants (drat!), I will do my own challenge 10 blog for 2012.  And, in true fashion I am already 30 days behind…hence the need for some changes! J

Just as a little background…in 2011 I: 1) managed to keep my job (no small feat), 2) finally finished my Master’s Degree and maintained my 4.0 GPA and 3) got back to my goal weight.  The latter being an obvious result of total stress/anxiety combo from 1 and 2, but I’ll take it anyway.  I’m not a huge drinker, I don’t smoke, I don’t have any crazy self-destructive habits…so I’m just going to focus on the things that have bothered me about ME in the past couple of years.

These are my Top 10 for 2012.  Things I really want to improve, start doing, stop doing, or have generally just decided are necessary for me to be the best me I can be (they are listed in no particular order of importance…)

1. Take a Photography class

Now that I’m done with school I really want to take a “fun” class.  I’ve always had an interest in photography and digital image enhancements.  I have the camera, so step one is to take a class on all the settings and gadgets that are on it.  Step two is to take a class on Photoshop or something comparable. 

2. Stick to my budget

The word budget….so ugly and restrictive.  So “no you can’t have that.”  I need to really dig in this year and keep myself on track.  I’ve purchased Dave Ramsey’s “Financial   Peace University” and plan to wipe the dust off the book and see what Dave can teach  me!

3. Pay off misc debt

This coincides with #2 and my budget.  I’ve read enough to Dave’s book to understand the proper way to “snowball” a debt pay down.  I don’t have a ton of debt, but I have enough that it steals vacation/entertainment money each month.  If I don’t have $25 here,  $50 there in misc monthly bills I can use that money for travel, fun, whatever! 

4. Volunteer at my son’s school

My son is in 3^rd grade.  I’ve been his hockey team manager for the last two years, but I’d   also like to become more involved in the academic side.  I help out with parties and such, but I know there’s a great need for parent volunteers so I plan to reach out to his teacher and see where I might be of assistance.  I think this will help me feel more connected to what he’s learning and doing each day.  Plus it will reinforce to him that what he does is important and I want to be there for him.

5. Leave work on time

Pretty sad that I actually have this on my list.  This past year my workload has increased         substantially, yet the hours in the day have not.  In order to get it all done I’ve been working A LOT of hours.  Like leaving work at 8pm hours.  The nights I don’t have my son I’ve been know to stay at work way too late, which takes away from my personal life  and leaves me very little downtime to recharge.  MUST LEAVE WORK at a REASONABLE HOUR!  I struggle with leaving projects unfinished, so step one is to realize that it will be there tomorrow, and to prioritize which things must get done before         I leave, and which can wait.  I need to shift from Living to Work….to….Working to Live.

6. Make more time for friends

 I actually have an entry on my calendar every other Friday which states “BFF Coffee Date.”  I’ve specifically carved this time out to spend 30-45 minutes of no kid, no interruption time with one of my dearest friends…and it is so nice….but it’s only happened TWICE in four months.  So step one is to make realistic plans and stick to them! Schedule time with my friends, get it in pen, on a calendar and make it happen!

7. Better organization at home

Ugh, I remember the days where my OCD consumed me and every inch of my house was orderly and I had a perfectly stocked and faced pantry with a month of menus planned.  Lately it’s more like DGS (don’t give a sh*t) has been taking over and my OCD self is lost somewhere deep down, hiding under the procrastinator I’ve become.  GAG! Back to my cleaning routine, 15 minute clean up session before bed and mid-week quick clean.  It’s not hard to keep up a house (even with 2 very hairy dogs and an 8 year old), it’s just getting back in the routine of not letting things sit where they don’t belong, making a place for everything, organizing, keeping up on laundry, etc.  Step one: don’t sit down   when I get home!  Do some chores first, because once I sink into the couch, it’s quite unlikely I will get up…unless it’s to get another beer.

8. Date night

2010/2011 was a very turbulent time for my romantic life, however, in the late summer I started dating a FANTASTIC person who I love madly!  I finally realize why people get married, and although we’re not, it feels so good to have him in my life.  But, like any good thing, we soon take parts or all of it for granted.  I don’t want this to happen….so I am committing to planning 2 date nights a month with him.  No kids, no friends we’re meeting, just the two of us. 

9. The phone is not my enemy

That little thing that resides in my purse, on my desk or on my coffee table at home….I hate it.  It rings, dings, beeps and hollers at me all day long.  I have one in my office too, and that one sucks just as much!  I think my low point of hatred for this contraption was when I actually Googled, “How to delete 27 unheard voice mail messages without having to listen to them.”  (which, in case you’re interested….wasn’t possible with my phone) Who does that?  Really?!  Horrible.  Because the obvious answer is if I hate it that much, get rid of it.  Well, I can’t.  I’m in a dysfunctional love/hate relationship with this thing because when I want to speak to someone, it really is quite handy!  It’s just that           when I don’t want to talk, when I’m wiped out, feeling like I need to disconnect…..it becomes the enemy.  Step one: answer it when it rings; therefore I won’t have to do double duty of listening to voicemail AND returning the call later.  And I will be riding myself of guilt! Plus, I’m genuinely happy to talk to my friends, it’s just the thought of being on the phone that I dread.  (This is all 100% completely a result of aforementioned obnoxious device on my desk at work which literally rings upwards of 50 times per day.....it's PTSD for sure.) 

10. Celebrate important dates

I have so many great friends and family members – and I love, love, love celebrations!  I’m just absolutely horrible about planning ahead and successfully getting a card in the mail before their birthday or anniversary.  I mean seriously, my Christmas cards are still at Costco…waiting for me to pick them up.  Clearly I need major help in this area!  Step one: put the dates on my calendar and use the weekend before to shop/get cards, etc. in the mail. 

There you have it…10 things for me to focus on in 2012.  I will post weekly updates on my progress, challenges, roadblocks, etc.  If you find it interesting, follow me and leave comments.