New year Old Style resolutions...

Topher

juliapenguin wrote: »

I have longstanding anxiety issues and get easily overwhelmed when term starts (I'm a teacher) so keeping on top of things is absolutely essential for me. I'm like a different person when I'm organised compared to when I'm not.

Not sure if this one is realistic but......

Don't do any lesson preparation or marking at the weekend. This would make a huge difference to my stress levels!

I've got a really heavy term coming up as I'm trying to get an additional teaching qualification which is essential if I want to keep working in my current job (I'm only on a temporary contract).

Fingers crossed....

Do you use CLEO (maths plans) and Hamilton (Literacy & topic plans?)
Save Our Sundays seems to have worked for me. (We'll see how the up & coming INS***T**N goes before I recommend my other time saving ideas.)
T

LittleBrownFrog

OK ... I've been thinking about this too.

1 - I am going to stick to the budget plan I have worked out, and review it properly every month to make sure I stay on-track.
2 - I am going to make as many presents as I can - I've put a list in the back of my planning book of all the people/occasions I need to sort presents for, and I'm planning on adding some ideas for what to make as I come across things. I also need to just get in the habit of making things all the time, rather than in a mad panic when it's almost someone's birthday.
3 - meal planning / freezer cooking - used to be really good at this, but kind of fell off the wagon sometime between baby number two and baby number 3 ... need to get this sorted in 2010.
4 - wean myself off the tumble drier - we didn't use it at all from Jan 1st 2008 to Dec 1st 2008, then everyone got sick, I was poorly & pregnant & everything went pear shaped - for the last twelve months I've been shockingly lazy about drying laundry!!

There are plenty more 'must dos' in my head at the moment, but four is enough for me to be going on with.

ChocClare

Topher wrote: »

Why not, (while its all still fresh in memory) write a countdown calendar for next year, so that by Chrismas week (we'll be breaking up on Tuesday 21st Dec 2010 making Weds 22nd the first holiday day, and Friday, Christmas eve.) all should be in hand, having done it in easy stages.
I know this is so obvious, and has been for the last 20+ years, so the key thing is to DO IT!
Support anybody?
T

Absolutely, I couldn't agree more. I bought my Christmas cards in October, meaning to write a couple every day: still did them all in one go at the last minute. Similarly, I have a box of "special" decorations - my own favourites - which stayed in a box on the floor until I tidied them away on Christmas morning before my parents turned up. And I didn't put out the Christmas creche for the first time in 18 years - still packed away - shame on me. I just don't know what happened this year; I seemed to be firefighting throughout December. I think probably as we weren't having anyone over for Christmas for the first time in recent memory, I just felt that I didn't need to do anything - so it was all a bit of a fiasco. Day itself was FINE, don't get me wrong, but involved a lot of last-minute running around.

In previous, organised years, I have used Flylady's Cruising through the holidays technique. Obviously the Americans have Hallowe'en, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas, one after the other, so it's very stressy for them. Flylady pretends she is going on a cruise for the first three weeks of December, so everything has to be done by then (allowing you to relax and enjoy the run-up to Christmas). There's a lot of stuff in there that you may never do but it's very helpful and you can get reminders sent to your email, plus there's a weekly "mission" to get things done. Explanations here.

Oh, and though I thought I was being organised buying cards in October, when I got the decorations down on December 1st, I remembered I'd bought 8 million cards in the sale last January and put them away so I didn't have to buy any this year. Oh well...

Olliebeak

This is a good site for helping to organise for Christmas: http://christmas.organizedhome.com/christmas-countdown

there's a section on having a 'christmas debriefing' afterwards to check on what worked and what didn't: http://christmas.organizedhome.com/printable/christmas-countdown/holiday-debriefing

franby64

I do love the feeling of a new year/new start so here's my first attempt at a list:

Get down to 9st 9lb (see sig for progress or lack of it). I have been overweight for too long and this is something that needs doing now for the sake of my health

Sort and dispose of kid's old toys properly.

Always have a book and some/knitting etc on the go. No new books - I have enough to keep me going this year.

Sort out a box of old photos (I have put off this job for at least 8 years) .

Get the garden sorted and try and grow a decent amount of food this year.

Cook more meals that we can all eat together - and then eat them together!

As somebody already mentioned I am going to save all my loyalty points (esp Game and Tesco) etc for next Christmas and save 1p &2ps.

I am sure I will think of more things to add in but this will do for a start.

sammy_kaye18

Hi All

Have been off the MSE band wagon for some time now so need to get back on it this year I think majorly. I was doing really well spend wise but now not so good and with little one getting older things are getting more expensive and I have fallen behind with bills due to other half being ill with his surgery and dealing with depression early in the year after my miscarriage so now i need a kick up the backside to get in gear and I'm determined that 2010 will be my year so with that here is my list for the year.

1. EXERCISE! --- I started 2009 at 14st 3lbs and currently I'm sat here at 11st 2lbs so the weight is gone or going - goal was about 11st 7lbs but now i need to get exercising regularly to help keep it off and tone up. So my boyfriend has a mountain bike he doesn't use, I have a dog and weights, a toning band and beautiful welsh countryside so there's no excuse for why i cant do it!

2. Meal planning / money saving shopping --- I will go to the market in town on a Tuesday when little one is in school and buy cheaper veg/fruit then. So in theory what I save money wise I can Hopefully save to buy a new bigger fridge freezer at some point in the future. Also need to reel in the monthly shopping budget again - its gone well beyond a reasonable spend! Also baking bread will make a reappearance I think as its good stress relief, exercise and money saving.

3. Catch up on bills --- again due to partner being ill and myself being depressed I have fallen behind on payments. I have an over draft of £250 which I'm currently £275 into and Halifax changed their charging method so everyday IN my overdraft im charged £1 and everyday over my arranged overdraft I'm charged £5 so want back in my overdraft asap and then hope to pay it off quickly. plus I have a catalogue that I owe £200 to so that needs to go then the gas and electric needs to be tackled and I hope to be ahead by Christmas next year

4. Savings --- I want some! I have none at the minute at all and haven't had any since I was about um...........18 and im now 25 so think it would be nice to either have some rainy day money or at least a cushion in case anything goes wrong because if something went wrong now we'd be up s*** creek without a paddle!

5. Come spring/summer grow some veg. --- have tried this in the past but my garden is a shade trap so was unsuccessful but hoping to get it going again this year if Wales manages to have some sun.

6. Redecorate and declutter --- I have started redecorating with some free paint we were given - so the hallway and half the living room is currently done so need to finish painting the living room and then hoping to crack on with the kitchen and toilet. The bathroom still needs the fan fixing so cant do anything till the council pull their finger out. Then I will do Bens room which has been winnie the pooh since we moved in and he's now 5 so think he needs it updated to a little boys room rather than a baby room.

7. look for a new job --- I hate mine - I'm not happy there and filled with dread at the beginning of every shift so think its time for a change after 4.5 years

well i think that's all for now so besides watching the pennies etc that is what im hoping to achieve - Looking forward to getting to know you all on this thread and will keep you updated - now off to fill in my new jack Russell calendar with dates etc.

x x x x x x x

rosieben

This thread prompted me to start on my Christmas 2010 plan last night, thanks sunshine.

I’m re-using my christmas control journal based on Flylady’s Christmas Cruising journal which ChocClare mentioned, this worked well in past years; I include sections for christmas meals, food shopping, decorations, gifts, cards and a month-by-month schedule - which includes food shopping - starting from September

I’ve ordered myself an A4 page a day diary – I’ll use this instead of Outlook as I’m (still ) trying to wean myself off the pc. I fix a plastic pocket to the inside cover to store my menus and food inventory, and my [STRIKE]menu plans[/STRIKE]:o shoping lists are in a loose plastic pocket which lives in the current week.

Since my DD and her family moved to Australia I’ve struggled with getting parcels etc to them on time so this will be a large part of my scheduling. I’m restarting my OU studies in February too, so I really need to get my act together; I’ll be watching for more ideas on this thread.

Sammy, I’m so sorry to hear about your miscarriage . You’ve been such an inspiration here in the past, I’m sure you’ll find loads of support and help to get on top of your problems. Please take care of yourself.

larmy16

Here are my goals for 2010 (The same as every year :rolleyes:)

Get more organised. For example I could not find any of my Christmas cards or decorations so had to buy a new load!

Follow at least the very basics of Flylady. I don't find cleaning easy as I do it for a living. You try cleaning your own home when you do it for 6-7 hours per day!

Melt away some fat from my body. (My therapist says weight is not the issue - fat is!)

Keep a track of all spending. No more Oh I had £70 yesterday and now I have £10 left....what has it all gone on".

Menu plan and stick to it.........No, "Oh I'm so tired tonight....I cannot be bothered to peel those vegetables etc."

Stop procrastinating and get on and actually DO all the things I talk about wanting to do!

Wish me luck.

dobs

wow there are some great goals there, i have so many i'm hoping it's not unachievable. Main ones are:

Clear out all house, esp loft which u can't get into easily its so full of stuff. Ebay about half the boys clothes up there they wll never wear it all, even with 3 of them there's too many up there!
Lose the weight so i can fit into my 3 tubs of clothes in attic, then won't have to buy any and will help with clearing the roof!
Clear out the shed and garage - charity shop/tip contents - full of stuff that didn't sell at car boot this yr.
DO online surveys etc again and save money from this and ebay for xmas.
Give blood, meant to do this this yr and didn't.
Meal plan and freeze extra meals, wiv 3 fussy boys and a veggie in the house i quite often cook 3 different meals at once!
Be happier and friendlier, forget the past and be grateful for all i have.
That's the main ones for now!

parsniphead

I do this every year and fail miserably. Perhaps this will be my year to achieve. Here is my starter list.

To sort out the piles of washing and put away/ give away what I don't want.
To compete the decorating in my bedroom and the bathroom. Hopefully the start on the kitchen.
To clear out the spare room and put away my ever expanding stash of fabric. I did start this as it was being turned into a nursery, but couldn't face it after my miscarriage. Hopefully one day.
To be more flylady - it's so hard as I am so easily distracted.
To do more dressmaking to earn more pennies, on top of my full time job.
To grow more veg this year and cut down on grocery costs.
To get back to budget with groceries. The past month or two seems to have gone to pot - too much money spent.
To get rid of all my unwanted stuff on ebay - oh my!!!!!!

Going to get started.

Wishing you all a happy new year. :beer: