I already talked about my green changes in 2010 but now I need to address what changes I would like to make in 2011. My first list was actually much longer than this one but I decided to cut it down and make it more manageable (and more likely to get done). As you can see, being green is a process. Even I (a self-proclaimed green mom) have a long way to go and an endless list of green changes that I can make.
- Come up with a good blog “nickname” for my son. You simply can’t be too careful when it comes to protecting your child, especially online. So far, I have referred to my son as . . . well, my son. I’m toying with calling him “Sun” (in honor of the name of my website) or maybe NatureBoy (because he loves nature and being naked). He wants to be called Monster or TRex. I would love any other suggestions.
- Learn how to knit. My sister-in-law makes beautiful knit hats and I am so envious. So I signed up for a knitting class this weekend. I’m going to focus on making hats, scarves and toys.
- Learn how to sew. I said before that I am trying to spend less and get out of the habit of just buying whatever I want. So instead I would like to learn to sew so I can create funky pillows and homemade placemats instead of just buying them. I have my mom’s old sewing machine which I will have serviced tomorrow.
- Exercise at least 3 times per week. Exercise and I have not always been on good terms. Sometimes I am great about getting out and being active and other times (especially during the winter) I find myself becoming more and more sedentary. My plan is to get to the gym for some pilates, yoga and Nia classes and to use the Wii and our elliptical trainer when I am at home. Wish me luck!
- Cook more at home. I love to cook but I don’t always have the time to make the elaborate meals I come up with in my head. As a result, we end up eating out a lot and it is getting to be our biggest expense. My goal is to plan meals for the week every Sunday and to use our local grocery delivery service more often. I found a great cookbook that I LOVE so I plan to do almost all of the recipes in it.
- Schedule more family time throughout the week. Our family is great about taking trips to local parks and museums and other large activities. But I want to make more time for smaller activities to take place throughout the week – such as family games and movies, making crafts together and cooking together. Or when my son asks me to play Legos with him, I need to stop washing dishes and just do it. This also includes more date nights with my husband . . . so I better add “Find a good babysitter” to the list.
- Plant a fruit and vegetable garden again – and create a separate one just for my son. We had a garden the summer before last but then we moved to a house completely covered in shade. We just moved again and it looks like we may actually have a good place for a garden this spring. And now my son is old enough to do some of his own planting. He is super excited about planting broccoli, peas, strawberries, watermelon, pumpkins, marigolds, pansies, and green beans.
- Get chickens this spring (if our landlord allows it!). I love the idea that chickens will compost my food scraps and provide me with fresh eggs. And it would be a great experience for my son.
- Go to bed at a reasonable time and get into a consistent sleep schedule. I am guilty of working on my website until the wee hours of the morning. As a result, I am tired all the time! From now on, I want to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day and, hopefully, I will have more energy. Speaking of which, it’s just about time to go to bed!
- Stop worrying so much and learn to relax! I plan to keep paper and a pen by my bed so I can write things down instead of thinking about them all night long. I also want to practice mindfulness meditation, which I learned in a class but never actually used. I used to practice yoga too but switched to pilates because I liked the faster pace. But I think I would like to add some yoga back into my routine.
What are your 2011 resolutions? Do you think it is worth it to put together resolutions?