It might seem like the goal of getting fit is the same as losing weight and I suppose they can go hand in hand. But there are plenty of skinny people out there that can’t make it up a steep hill and that’s what makes it distinct.

Not being skinny can even serve as an excuse for getting to this later. Unfortunately it’s not something that can be achieved sporadically – lifting weights or going on a hike once every two months will not get you a cumulative result. Without a doubt, I don’t have time and I’ll get to it later have been my favorite excuses for not making an effort. And yet as goals go this one plays into so many of the others from travel and treasure hunting to photography (got to get up that mountain!)

Next week: The steps to make it happen

Holding myself accountable:

• Treasure hunting: more research and concrete plans for San Diego
• Travel: on track for a week exploring San Diego in September
• Writing: no action this week but clear steps outlined for the next few months
• Photography: research and submission for a multi-leg competition (I guess finding these things a week before the deadline beats a week after)
• Jewelry: a quiet week except for planning next steps
• House projects: a week off to recover before tackling the closet again
• Garden: keeping up with the plan
• Losing weight: finally making some strides to forging a  new exercise routine
• Friends and family: on track for making time to socialize
• Romance: made some changes to my environment with more to do

Technorati Tags: excuses, getting things done

Like most homeowners I’ve got a list of things that need doing that never seems to get shorter. It’s not hard to come up with an excuse as to why sitting down with a book is more urgent than painting the airless unfinished closet (left over from 1950). That’s on top of all the other little things that come up and need attention. Sooo… while it will never be as efficient as a 30 minute home improvement tv segment, here’s my basic plan going forward:

1) make a list of everything that needs time and attention for each room during spring cleaning (when you notice that the latch isn’t catching right or the trim needs repainting

2) Get one major project done a year (this year it’s that dreadful closet) by breaking it into smaller steps that can be done each week – research, trip to the hardware store (or two or three) priming, etc.

3) take care of the small stuff room by room and as the budget allows

It may not seem like much but gradually things get done and looking the way I want them with the excuses staying in the background

Next week: Getting in shape – different from losing weight and the last topic!

Holding myself accountable

• Garden – hanging in there but the snails maybe getting the upper hand
• Jewelry – on hiatus for the week
• Photography – ramped up again and working hard on getting exposure (the marketing kind)
• Writing – small steps on the current project
• Losing weight – have got to find the time for more exercise (not exactly news)
• Check-ups – see me after the dental crown in August
• Chores – it comes and goes but ok for the moment
• Family & Friends – a veritable social whirl last week, now for some downtime
• Romance – back to researching social activities I actually want to participate in
• Travel – decided that the lure of beaches and gemstones is taking higher priority than people:-)
• Treasure hunting – got out the maps for local gem hunting – not a lot to work with but that just means less competition

Technorati Tags: diy, excuses, home projects

Excuses don’t have to be innovative to be effective in holding you back. That’s certainly the case with the ones I’ve used to delay various writing projects or leave them half started on the top of the filing cabinet. The cure is no more exciting really.

First off – keep the focus on only two actual projects plus the regular blogging. For now that’s the meditation book and the road trip book. Until those are done, nothing else gets worked on

Beyond that, a hard and fast goal for each project to be done every two weeks. I’m great at polishing or staring into space so it’s important to take the focus off of the quality, at least initially.

That’s really all that needs to happen. If I keep to that the excuses won’t be taking charge. Like so many things getting into good habits will keep everything else flowing. That doesn’t mean there won’t have to be some juggling with all the other goals – that’s why a summary calendar is in the works.

Next week: Home improvement projects

Holding myself accountable

• Jewelry – almost caught up and a specific action plan in place for this week
• Photography – worked on marketing, but behind on taking new photos
• Family & friends – doing ok but a little behind on correspondence
• Romance – proud of myself for not falling into some old  that were tested this week- probably time to work on expanding my environment
• Losing weight – my horoscope promised better results. Right there that says enough about what hasn’t happened!
• Check-ups – on track for now
• Garden – keeping to the plan with good results
• Chores – had to do some catching up over the holiday weekend but now on track
• Travel – making plans for both the practical and the un – should be a busy year
• Treasure hunting – maybe a little behind here but even I don’t care for treasure hunting in the pouring rain…

Technorati Tags: excuses, getting things done

While relationships can also serve as an excuse “can’t make those calls – need to take Mom to lunch” too often they are the victim of having too many other things to do. Relationships can also be a goal unto themselves – those more strained that you feel the need to improve.  But what about the ones with friends and family that are just fine but which you manage to neglect rather than avoid?

I know I’m guilty of looking up from everything else and realizing that I haven’t seen a particular friend for two months or that maybe it’s been a bit longer than I thought since I reciprocated on family stuff. It’s neither conscious nor deliberate but “I’ll do it later” or “I don’t have time” still slip in there.  All the other goals are going to lose quite a bit of meaning if these folks aren’t there with you when you achieve them.  Delayed gratification has some merit but not when it comes to people. Relationships like so many other things are about process not the end result.

Next week – some thoughts on carving out time for the really important people

Holding myself accountable

• The garden – still going strong despite the appearance of the first mosquito
• Photography – an unexpected request for more information that took up the allotted time but that’s acceptable
• Losing weight – renewed focus after a frustrating shopping trip, doing better with exercise and not picking up the office treats
• Jewelry – ok – this one is a miss for the week
• Romance -doing ok on the plan to get out more
• Treasure hunting – also ok – nothing due this week!

Technorati Tags: balance, excuses, family relationships

It would be nice to think that eliminating all the excuses would somehow cause the day to double in length – wouldn’t that be an incentive?  But it doesn’t seem to work that way.  So here I am trying to turn sea glass jewelry into an active business and finding everything else getting in the way, including the excuses.

The first thing I’ve done is make sure I’ve got the essential supplies (the ones that would actually stop me in my tracks) restocked before I run out. I’ve listened to the feedback I’ve gotten and incorporated that into the plan as well.

The rest of it is execution and marketing. So my plan is to do at least one thing in each area every week. One marketing action, one production action. The real question is is that enough?  There certainly may be times when I need to do more but that will become deadline driven. My weakness is losing momentum during the slow periods when there is no immediate deadline or it is far enough away to feel that way. That’s when the excuses really take hold.

Realistically things are getting to the point where I can’t keep track of them mentally – do this once a week and that every other week.  I’m thinking it’s about time for a chart with some gold stars to help make this happen!

Holding Myself Accountable

• Gardening – sticking with the new plan; it seems to be going well
• Photography – basically good; no new pictures this week but high marks on marketing
• Exercise – not so good; clearly I need to reinforce the priority
• Romance – making progress; time to make some changes to old habits and ways of doing things
• Treasure hunting – plans to go out next weekend  so on target for now

Technorati Tags: excuses