Tag Archives: Resolutions

My New Year’s Resolutions – Follow Up

Since today marks the half way point of 2009, I thought it would be a good opportunity to look back at my resolutions from my New Year’s 2009 – My Resolutions post and check in to see how I’m doing.  While there is always room for improvement, overall I think I’m doing great.

Do more

I made this resolution because I have had problems being inert in the past and not really living life.  I have done pretty good here and this blog is one example.  I have had periods where it didn’t get updated as often as I wanted, but lately I’ve gotten back on track.

I want to keep the ball rolling with this blog and I also have ideas for two other sites.  Also, last year I had started the site drivemoregreen.com which has languished without any attention.  I’d like to revamp that and get it going again.

I resolve to continue doing more and keeping my momentum going for the rest of 2009.

Spend more time interacting with my kids

This one I have done pretty well.  I’ve really tried to focus on enjoying being with the kids (which isn’t always easy!) and finding more time to spend with them.  I have also spent more one-on-one time with my son.  We started watching Deadliest Catch on Discovery.  Yes, it is a little hypocritical for an ethical vegetarian to enjoy watching them pull so many crab out of the ocean, but it is exciting and has great talking points for conversations with my kids.  I just had to shoo away my daughter so I could finish this post 🙁 but overall I’m still doing better.

I resolve to continue spending more time interacting with my kids.

Stay in shape and maintain my weight

This one I’ve done great at.  My ideal weight is 175 and I don’t like going over 180.  So far this year I’ve only been over 180 once and have stayed between those two numbers the rest of the time.  I have been biking about two times a week, which is up from last year’s one time a week average.

I resolve to continue staying in shape and maintaining my weight.

Get stronger

I don’t have an official or proper program for this yet, but about a month ago I started doing pushups every day.  I have seen an improvement in my arm muscles and I’m really happy about this.  I plan on continuing with the push ups and will consider adding in more strenght training if I can figure something out.

I resolve to continue working on getting stronger.

Conclusion

This has been a good excercise to write down my resolutions and track them.  I highly recommend it – and even though it isn’t New Year’s right now, you can make a resolution right now and start trying to live better.  Do you have a follow up for your resolutions, or something you want to start doing better now?  Be sure to post a comment and let me know.

New Year’s 2009 – My Resolutions

This follow-up to my previous post is a place to document my resolutions for 2009.  I will periodically check in and see how I am doing with these and keep you updated.

Do more

I have struggled with being “inert” my whole life.  I spend far too much time letting others or the world decide things for me.  In 2009, I resolve to be more active and assertive and simply “do more”.  That includes keeping this blog alive and continuing to post.

Spend more time interacting with my kids

I have been fortunate in that I have been able to spend quite a bit of time with my kids.  I get home fairly early, we’ve taken vacations, I had time at home with them when each one was born.  I have found myself being with them, but not necessarily interacting with them or really listening to to them.  In 2009, I resolve to interact more with my kids.

Stay in shape and maintain my weight

I lost over 20 pounds last year and I’m happy with my weight.  Look for future topics on what worked for me and some of my tips.  I resolve to keep the weight off and maintain the healthy weight I have worked so hard to achieve.  I also resolve to continue to stay in shape.  For the last few years I have managed to get out mountain biking at least once a week and I want to continue and build on that habit.

Get stronger

I have never been one for weight training, but have always had an interest in having more muscle and being stronger.  I resolve to find a plan or program to strenghten my muscles.

New Year’s 2009

Happy New Year’s 2009!

As we start another new year, it is an excellent time to think about resolutions for living better.  I want you to live better and by making resolutions that actually work you can progress on your path to living better.  In this article I will offer some tips for making resolutions.  In a follow-up I will detail my own resolutions and then check back in later to see how I am doing.

Be Realistic

Don’t make a resolution you know you will never manage to keep.  If you are behind from the start, then this will only serve to depress and upset you.  Find things that are realistic and that you are excited about.  Even taking a small step will improve your spirits and that can help motivate you to stick with it.

Be Specific

Don’t make generic resolutions like “I’m going to lose weight and exercise more”.  Instead be specific like “I’m going to lose 5 pounds” and “I’m going to walk for 30 minutes once a week”.  This way you have a tangible goal to meet and it will be clear if you are following the resolutions.

Write It Down

It is much easier to let a resolution slide if you just made it up in your head.  Take the time to write your resolutions down.  Do something like writing them on paper and hanging it up somewhere that you will keep seeing it or write it on the web in your own blog or facebook/myspace/twitter/personal web page.

Don’t Get Discouraged

If you fall short of your resolution or skip a few days/weeks/months, don’t get discouraged.  There is nothing stopping you from starting back up with your resolution and getting back into it.  Instead of feeling like you have failed, give yourself a break and make the most of it.