New Year's Resolutions!

Yeah, it's that time of the year again,  where we make promises and commitments that we hardly follow through.

We were supposed to lose weight, be more organized, better Christians, or whatever our resolutions were for 2012, and yet many of us failed to follow through most of these.

It is easy to be cynical about New Year's resolutions, but I believe that going through this exercise of self-examination is useful, even if the end result isn't what we hoped for. This exercise can help us look inwardly and set goals that can hopefully help us grow.

One recommendation on how to follow through your resolutions is to let as many people as possible know about your resolutions. People can hold you accountable for what you commit to, and the embarrassment of possible public failure can be used for motivation.

And so, I decided to not only make 3 New Year's resolution, but to also share it with all of you.

Resolution #1: Achieve my ideal weight.

I have lost a lot of weight, more than 100 pounds actually. But I still haven't achieved my ideal weight, which is 220. Right now I weight around 250. The last 30 pounds can be the most stubborn, and the habits required to achieve this is nothing to scoff at. Those who have struggled with weight loss can tell you, this is no easy goal.

Resolution #2: Keep my room clean, year long.

Yes, this is an endless task, but it is time. I have struggled for long enough with this issue. I am able to keep my room clean for  a couple of weeks, and then, I conveniently "forget" about it. Not this year. At least that's my hope.

Resolution #3: Update my blog regularly, minimum of one post per week.

I always wanted to do this, and I'm even able to keep at it for a couple of months, but then I disappear for many months, and return as if nothing has happened. No "good to be back" or "sorry I've been gone for too long", just a simple "what's for dinner people?". Time to be responsible with this, even if it is a hobby.


There they are! I will also post an update of these resolutions at the end of each month. This will help me keep focused on my goals, instead of just forgetting about them in the frenetic dance of life.

As you can see, all of my goals are specific and the results are tangibly measured. I want to be more organized, but this goal is too broad, and so keeping my room is just one more step in being organized. I want to be more consistent, which again, would be a vague goal, but being consistent with my blog is more specific.

Most of us know that the more specific our goals, the more likely we are in following through them. Also, having something or someone that can keep you accountable is also helpful. And that's where I need you folks! Please keep me accountable!

Also, I would love to hear your New Year's resolution in the comment section below.

Photo Credit:simplyla.

Operation Room Clean Up

When I introduced the recent blog changes, I made a brief mention of how my room would be like my little kingdom, and how I deal with it should reflect my personality and growth.

Well, how is my room since I moved in two months ago?

Let's just say that if my room were my little kingdom, and the things living in it my subordinates, I would have probably been found dead already, murdered for my disorderly tyranny, and a new king would have been put in my place.

I actually thought about posting pictures of it, but showing one's private room to the wide world web seems like a really unwise idea.

Plus, I'm embarrassed to show it to you.

Books and clothes (most of it) have a place to live. I still have too much crap. I'm currently in the long process of getting rid of some of my stuff.

This is a great exercise, getting rid of one's stuff, for it forces one to question one's attachment to personal belongings. What do I really need? Do I really need that much clothes? Wait, I actually like that shirt.

But my room being small, and my belongings many, and my commitment to Simplicity already made in InnerCHANGE, well my belongings kinda lose in this equation.

And so, I want to make a new commitment this week. The aptly named commitment will be "Operation Room Clean Up". Pretty clear huh?

I make the commitment to clean my room and be done with the unpacking by next week. I think is time *sighs*.

I don't promise to show you pictures of it. I will try to be as honest as I can with the progress though.

Do you struggle with this same problem of keeping your room clean? If so, what advice can you offer in keeping it clean?

See you next week!

Photo Credit: Siena College.