SYL - Week 32

Balance


Ok, I'll admit it. I was scared to do this week's post. I didn't want to look back on my Wheel of Life. I thought it was possible that I had made some progress towards balance but I didn't think very much had changed.

After getting back in to reading and commenting on blogs, I found that I missed getting really involved with this challenge and it was time to do some real soul searching again. The time management block was great but I forgot to focus on the inner stuff for a while as I set up the concrete materials I need to keep me going. No wonder I was worried about the balance wheel!! But I got a pleasant surprise and not because everything had become perfect but because there was a shift in everything, some up, some down, and the overall look is much more circular...

Week 4

Week 32

I still can't believe how good the last wheel looks. My friendship score has lost a point because I am busy and don't get to catch up as much as I used to, spend less hours chatting on Facebook and my friends are the same. So this is really a good thing, much more balanced. It also means that my wheel lost a layer which makes it look better haha, but I've also realised that I will probably never achieve a level 5. I don't want to either. I am so happy with 3's and 4's. They are maintainable. That is what I want. Not some super impossible live but a nice, happy, sustainable one.

Next step for me is keeping it balanced. Surely the hard work has been done and now I can work on my routines and with practice I can keep this wheel mostly round!

SYL - Weeks 30 and 31

I'm down trodden. Weeks are flying by and I am hardly noticing. I think it's one of those times when I have too much on and I am not organising myself well enough. I used to love blogging, reading, posting, planning, Googling images and quotes. I still want to do it but feel like I don't have the time or the energy.

Tonight I have realised what part of the problem is, a BIG part when it comes to SYL. I am not reading other blogs or commenting on them. I've let myself drop out of the little community that we used to have and it has really taken all of the emotion out of this challenge for me. I need to get that back. I know that week 32 is all about balance and as usual, that is coming along at exactly the right time. I am making sure that I follow along properly though so I will complete weeks 30 and 31 first!

Creating Habits Week 30


I honestly struggle to create habits. I don't have the best memory so if I am not used to do something all the time, chances are I will forget to do it. It's like when I run out of draining paper. It's not something I often buy so I never think of it when I'm at the shops. If it is written on my list I will but if I haven't glanced in the pantry to see what we're out of, then I won't give it a thought. I never forget bread or milk though because I'm in the habit of buying it every single time.


So the trick is going to be to set up the habit in the right way. Some way that will allow me to remember what needs to be done, in a way that makes life simpler.


Obviously, if I put draining paper on the shopping list every week I won't forget to buy it. Habit formed! Problem - we will have a pantry full of draining paper and no room for food. So I need to look at it in a different way. 


The plan now is to write things down as we run out of them. The shopping list sits on the notice board in the kitchen/dining area so that anyone can write on it at any time. On a perfect day, I won't have to check the pantry before I write the list, the list should be already written for me! So far so good with this. Everyone is starting to use it and it has really taken the pressure off me.






I love that instead of giving up like I once would have, I've learned to think outside the square and find a system that works for us. There are many systems out there, I just never took the time to look.






Week 31 is a catch up week, which I obviously needed! I revisited my vision board the other day and it put a smile on my face. Without really concentrating on it, I have managed to move along in recent months and get everything heading in the right direction.

We might not own our own house but we have moved in to a bigger one. One that fits our family well. It's tough to house 2 teenagers and 2 toddlers and keep everyone happy but things are going much more smoothly in this new house. The organisation is still to come, moving was more than difficult and we have gone easy on ourselves but it is time to get in and do a new home audit and get things set up the way we want them.


I spend every night falling asleep to meditation and relaxation recordings. I feel much more calm and centred than I did 6 months ago. I feel like I manage to find more time for myself than I used to.


My business is now a fully fledged business. Little Hannah Bear now has an online store at Oz Handmade and I will have some of my products sold on consignment in a real bricks and mortar store in Belgrave, Vic early next month. It is all so exciting and going so well. I've never known what I wanted to do 'when I grow up'. I think now I do, I want to create. Who knows where it will take me, that is not important right now. Baby steps again, that's what works best for me.


My relationship still needs some work but we're getting there. We won't always have 4 kids at home, 2 of which are little and home with us 24/7. I feel that if we can just hang on to each other for a few more years, there will be time for us. I can't wait but kids grow up way too fast so for now we shall enjoy them all.


This week I am going to find some time to read and comment. I miss the usual bunch of SYL people! I need to get back in touch and cheer them on again. It makes me feel good and that's exactly what I need today 


xo Jo