NST JUST JUNE

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for the morning sunshine to dry the washing and the afternoon rain to water the garden, for the insurance people not writing the car off but mending it, for getting all my reports finished, for fresh home grown rasps + strawbs, for catching up with a furloughed friend.

f0xh0les

Today I am grateful for dh making lovely sushi and saving me a plate  for when I got home.   He manfully defended it from all 4 children, beating them off with rolled up newspapers when they had eaten theirs, and realised mine was hiding in the fridge. 

For a fun game of Scrabble (I lost). For ys bargains at bargain o'clock.

For coming in well under budget on this week's groceries.

ditty1234

Grateful for a beautiful evening on the river in my little kayak with a friend, for generous colleagues helping me put my old bike back together (my son crashed badly on it, and It should have been maintained better - or not used. So I'm hurting a bit, but I think getting it rebuilt will help) People were definitely built to move, not to sit strapped to a screen like I did from 9-4. Have a great week, and enjoy the rain, even when it's inconvenient. 

Narola1976

It’s going to be a busy day at work, so not much planned.  The house is a mess and I really need to get on top of it but I find myself completely without a will to do anything. I am going to set a timer for 10 minutes and do what I can in that time. My microwave has started giving me problems, the start button refuses to work intermittently but fortunately I managed to find a free one on Freecycle yesterday. I just need to give it a good clean. I also managed to pick up a couple of bedside cabinets. I am going to try something I saw in Ikea where they have 2 sets of drawers and a table top over them to create a desk/dressing table. I already have the table, so will just unscrew the legs. It won’t look very pretty but if it works it will be very functional. 

So grateful I did not have to spend money on a microwave and I might actually get a version of a dressing table. Also grateful that my finances are on an even keel so far. 

Lookafterthepennies2020

Been an odd few days for me   unfortunately I had my bank details stolen on Saturday night so I was up until 2 on the phone to the bank then barely slept panicking...I have however managed to sell all but one of my eBay items and have posted them all.  I  have a hold on payment until there confirmed as received (I am not really sure why but think it may be because I'm a first time seller).  
I bought a few things to put away for xmas for ds2 so feel like I have made a good start and switched my EDF tariff as per Martins recommendation last week so I should be getting £25 cash/back for that too
I haven't done anywhere near as much as I should in terms of my uni work, work is really busy this week so not much hope for then and I have started knitting a scarf LOL (burying my head in the sand I think)

mothernerd

June Challenge Day 16
We are now at the halfway point of the month and one of our objectives is to set some goals for the second half of the year. So here are a few ideas (there are dozens available so I've tried to be selective)
How to Set and Accomplish goals
1)   Evaluate your situation
Assessing your past and present situation is key to setting goals tailored to you - What worked before? What didn't? Based on these what do you want to improve on and achieve?  (You are already wonderful as you are, we are working on being your true self)
2)   Make it SMARTER
S    specific
M   measurable
A    attainable
R    relevant
T    time-bound
E    evaluative
R    revisable
3)    Write it Down
Write down your goals to clarify and strengthen your goals
4)     Break it Down
Break your goals down into small manageable steps so that you do not get overwhelmed
5)    Hold yourself accountable
Hold yourself accountable by maintaining focus and discipline throughout your process (and if you slip, get back up, don't waste time beating yourself up and turning a blip into a binge
6)    Reward Yourself
Rewarding yourself will help reinforce the positive actions you've taken so you can continue doing it
7)    Develop Systems and Habits
Effective systems and habits make it easier to accomplish your goals on a regular basis

Wheel of Life
When I did CBT therapy we were encouraged to consider different categories of our lives to consider where we were and where we wanted to be. The seven areas are Career, Financial, Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Family and Social. The categories do not exist in isolation - if your work is enjoyable and reasonably remunerated (even if you have debt) it's easier to plan your finances than if you are living hand to mouth with the constant threat of losing your badly paid, stressful job. On the other hand, concentrating on only one or two areas may have adverse effects on other areas eg if you use physical exercise for meditation/ avoiding worry or doubts about one of your primary relationships the absence of this outlet may have brought the problems you have been avoiding (partnership issues, a 'difficult' child, unsatisfying work life, worrying when your mind has no where to go to) to the forefront. Some people suggest you should work on all areas together but if some are 'urgent' prioritise them but consider the areas that are 'fine' or 'ticking over' from time to time (depends on the subtext for 'fine'.

Beyond SMART Goals
Some people have had problems with SMART goals and insist on inspiring goals. Some start with dreaming and the big picture, so there thinking goes Someday goal > Five year goal > This year goal > Monthly goal > Weekly goal > Daily goal > Something you can do right now

You can have more of this if you want but I don't want to do too much and overwhelm you. The point is there is always something you can do, even if it's only to ask for help because you are struggling. We are all in different situations and making progress at different rates but that doesn't matter . In the same way that having a budget is 'telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went', I see goal setting as 'making your life go in the direction you want it to instead of wondering where the day/ the year/ your life went'.

mothernerd

Grow what matters
One step 
At a time
Little by little, your
Steps will add up
This amazing thing happens when you start to grow in one area of your life: other areas improve alongside it

My goal in 2020 is to accomplish the goals which I set in 2019 which I should have done in 2018 because I made a promise in 2017 which I planned in 2016.

You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step   (Martin Luther King)

abbi_aurelia

Morning all

Thanks mothernerd for the information on goals. We are working on paying off a car loan early currently, had an email that I managed to hit a reward for my bank account so that should be another £50 taken off once it comes through, might look into moving my current account again to get a reward from another bank to help towards the this year goal of paying it off

Didn't sleep amazingly last night but was on call so ended up dealing with an issue after I fell asleep which woke me up quite thoroughly. OH is in the garden moving the shed around in readiness for the new massive shed to be delivered at some point in the next few weeks

Today am grateful for OH cracking on with the shed hopefully meaning I won't have to help next week when I am also on holiday, LO learning how to communicate she is hungry and ask nicely for food and for a takeway last night (I know we shouldn't have but we had a voucher)

Calling14

Thanks for the goals Mothernerd.

Yesterday I had my Monday lockdown treat, cake and coffee on the seafront. Naughty but nice and cheers up my Monday. Will knock this on the head when we can go further than 5 miles.  Otherwise no other spending, failed to get paint I was after.

Today need some basic food items so a little shop lidlee on the way home.

Struggled to sleep last night, wish we would get the thunderstorm getting warned about all the time.

Had a clean kitchen night as it looked like it was it was going to pour down but nothing. Pleased my high gloss doors are now streak free and sparkle.

Grateful for

Dry day - hopefully washing dry by time I get home from work.

Savings going well at the moment.  Do need a few house jobs done, will arrange into seperate savings accounts.

Lunchtime - trying not to get too excited - a salad!

Toni'sfriend

Still on NSD No 12. Sent some flowers to my cousin but I think that's a justifiable spend even if it wasn't actually budgeted for.

You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step   (Martin Luther King)

I love this quote. It is so true. Love the others as well.

So today, I'm still plodding along. Making sure that I at least do the minimum, making lists and getting myself more organised. It doesn't matter if I don't tick all the extras off - just move what I haven't done to the next day. I feel much less stressed, everything is cleaner and tidier and I feel so much more in control.

At the moment I am clearing a cupboard full of cooking equipment, dishes, cutlery, etc. A few things at a time, giving them a thorough wash (I haven't seen some of them in years) and when I'm finished I'll give the cupboard a good clean. This is my ongoing project for just now.

Calling - I love a salad. Had one at lunchtime. Rollmop herrings and salad. Heaven!!!