Mom Loves 2 Read 2 - backup blog: Mom Rings in the New 2014 with a To Do Task List

Ok it is the very first day of a brand New Year - and what am I doing? Searching the internet to help me decide what my "New Year's Resolutions" will be and how I can actually achieve them. After finding that I have been online for nearly 3 hours, I've finally come to the realization that making "resolutions" is the wrong way for me to start my New Year (plus getting off the computer might be a good place to start as well - lol)

So, starting now, I am working on a more reasonable "New Year's Task List" that I will check off as I accomplish each little Step of Each Task - making smaller goals that are easier to achieve and give a sense of accomplishment and purpose to start out this 2014!

Task #1 - Take Care of My Needs

As a Stay At Home Mom in a One income Family - I usually ignore my personal wants and sometimes even my needs in order to take
care of

my family first. My health, self esteem, physical appearance and
confidence have suffered because of this. What I want and NEED to do is focus on ME from time to time and make myself a priority in 2014 - because as I have heard over and over "IF MOM ISN'T HAPPY - NOBODY'S HAPPY"

So with that in mind, here is my step by step plan:

Get dressed every morning-no more PJ’s all day

Shower everyday - (expecially after exercising)

Do my hair and makeup before leaving the house - even if only to go to the grocery store

Add things I want and need to a wishlist and make sure hubby has access to it!

Drink More Water (see task #2)

Exercise for my Health (see task #3)

Make sure to remind myself of at least 5 positive things about myself each day

Task #2: Drink More Water

I know this is a reasonable goal for me because how hard can it be to keep a nice cold glasstic bottle full of ice water handy. And as long as it is ice cold, I have no problem drinking it.

The hardest part for me will be drinking less soda and more water - my goal is to get up to 80 oz of water each day.

Here is my step by step plan to help get the final Task Completed

Start with 2 full Glasstic bottles per day (32 oz total)

by the middle of Feb add a third bottle per day (or bottled water from fridge) - 48oz total

By end of March 4 bottles per day - 60oz total

By end of April 5 bottles per day - 72 oz total

By end of June - 6 bottles per day - or min 80oz/day

Task #3 - Excercise 45 mins at least 4 days a week

Ok,
I know excercise is one of the top New Year's Resolutions for most
people, but for me it is a health issue so I have to do this. For
myself, for my kids, for my well being - I have to get healthy - not
"fit" not "in shape" but healthy.

The hardest part for me
will be well, making myself do it. I have a treadmill in the basement -
but rarely use it. I have several excercise Wii Fit 'games' but don't
make myself do them. I even purchased Zumba but after trying it ended
up with knee and back pain for three days - and that was just the
training part - lol

I'm really out of shape and for my age it is
not good. I should be and want to be more active with my kids - so for
my own good - I am Going to Excercise - whether I like it or not! ;)

I am going to keep a calendar in the Kitchen where everyone can see it and help keep mom on track . . .

Here is my step by step plan for this Task:

Start with walking on the Treadmill for 10 minutes 3 mornings a week.

Add a 5 to 10 min Pilates Wii Fit routine to 2 of those mornings each week.

By end of February - be up to 10 min of Pilates plus 15 mins of treadmill 3 days a week

By end of March - add another day - exercise 4 days a week

By end of April - 15 - 20 mins Pilates plus 20 mins on Treadmill 4 mornings a week

By
end of June - 20 - 30 min Pliates or beginner Zumba plus 20 to 30 min
Treadmill 4 days a week - AND hopefully lose at least 5 pounds - lol

Task #4 - Make home and family a priority.

My family and home are my first responsibility, but as I grown in blogging and get more and more reviews, I

tend to let home and quality family time slide in order to meet blogging deadlines.

My step by step plan to fix this priority issue is:

Do a better job of keeping the house clean

Make a weekly "homework" list of house cleaning that HAS to be done then Do it!

Be consistent in making mornings for House work and afternoons for blogging and computer time.

Utilize my blogging calendar to add in reading/reviewing time, housework time, kids' activities and free time spaces so they are always in front of me!

Create and stick to a budget that works for us

Family Game Night Twice a Month on Sunday Afternoons

DATE NIGHT at least once a month, whether hubby likes it or not

Task #5 - Grow My Blog

As blogging is growing, and social media
grows with it - I find that as many people as I have "following" my blog
- I have a considerably smaller amount that actually visit, read and
comment. I plan to work more on keeping faithful readers as well as
growing my numbers of followers to hopefully continue to be able to get
better and better books and products to share with everyone.

For this to work, here is my plan: