When I was a stay-at-home mom, I used to make long to-do lists – 10 items at least. I would get so frustrated because I could never get them all done. Usually, I only crossed off a few of them. I felt like a failure. I mean, I’m home ALL day – I should be able to get more done. Since then, I learned that I wasn’t a failure. My list was just too long. Ten is not the magic number. Three is.
Three is manageable. Three pushes me a little, but not so much that I give up. Three helps me focus better and accomplish the most important things.
So, with that introduction, I’ve chosen three broad goals for 2014.
- Health
- Home
- Happiness
Why these three?
- Well, for the past 10 years, I guess, I’ve wrestled with fibromyalgia. Add to this a love of (addiction to) sugar and a recent switch from stay-at-home mom to sedentary accountant. What do you get? Fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and an extra 30 lbs.
- I have my dream home – a little, 1916 farmhouse with nary a picture on the wall and little space for accumulating things. I’ve also noticed that when I’m organized at home, everyone’s day runs more smoothly.
- The first two goals started with ‘H’ and really, who couldn’t use more happiness?
I’m planning on sharing what works for me as I work on these goals during the year. I’d love to read your great ideas, too, so feel free to share.
Happy New Year!
-Jennifer
Work Home Balance 
Here are my goals for this year.
1. Continue with my weight loss by losing 55 more pounds by June (I have already lost 45 so I am half way there) This weight loss is not for beauty it is for mental and physical health.
2. Read my scriptures every day on my own and as a family
3. Family Home evening I have to counter act the worlds influences on my children by teaching them about the gospel at home also.
I agree that 3 is a good number there are many more changes that I hope to make and many things I pray will end successfully this year but as they say some are out of my control so I put my Faith in God and others will take more then a year to achieve so they are on the work on it list. I put more exactness and time frames because it makes it more measurable which as a teacher we learn that goals should be measurable. I love you my sister and you are often on my mind and in my prayers. I love your stories about the farm and the animals. you are good to roll with what comes and appreciate the good along the way. I can barely keep up with my one crazy dog Chiquis and the presents of a dead mouse on the porch I have to admit I screamed and ran to my room and hid under the covers. Xander said” Chiquis killed Gus” (he watches Cinderella almost every day so he knows the mouse’s name) I laughed when I came out from the covers. Two year olds say the funniest things.
I did not mention the total goal is 100 pounds that is why I am almost half way there.
I like it! I think it helps that those will be easier to remember than ten to remember. They can be a mantra to you. During my first husband’s two-year fight with brain cancer, my mantra was Romans 12:12 – Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. It is also a mantra of three.
Perhaps I should follow your lead and cut my list to three. That could cut back on my nonstop disappointment in myself.