Ciao!
Guess where I am?
Nope, not Minneapolis, I just stopped there on my way to Kansas City! I’m home for a few days and looking forward to it. Feels like I only just left! Oh wait…
Anyhoo, for those of you who’ve been reading for a while you know that every month I do a goals post for that month. I didn’t do one specifically for January since I did 2013 goals, so we don’t really have anything to recap, but I figured I should start back up the tradition and share with you my goals for this month.
I considered not doing it at all, but after the survey you all took I thought I’d do the post since it let’s you in a little more on my personal life.
1. Follow May Cause Miracles every day. I’m not very good at keeping up with daily things, so this will take some discipline for me. After hearing about the book so much on Heather’s blog, I decided to buy it and follow her book club. I’m a week or so behind her book club since I couldn’t get my hands on it right away, so I’m saving the e-mails and posts until I get to that particular day.
As I’ve mentioned… rarely on the blog, I deal with a lot of anxiety. For a while I thought maybe it was just the stress of being in school, but I deal with it all the time, even on breaks. I realized “just getting over it” wasn’t going to help. After a lot of trial and error with other things, I felt this book would be a great way for me to face the cause of my anxieties head-on, dealing with the crux of the problem and hopefully relieving the symptoms along the way. I’ll be sure to do one or two updates with the book, and then a final review when I’ve finished the 40 days.
2. Get back into strength training. I have let strength training fall to the wayside in a major way. I was following Jillian Michael’s videos for a while but after my workout hiatus while in Denver and San Francisco, I didn’t really get back on board. I have so many ideas about what I want to do – yoga, JM videos, old boot camp workouts, etc. that my mind is just jumbled and I’ve done… nothing. I need a plan. As of now, I’ve tried out a strength training class at my gym, which I hope to do every Sunday. Along with that I just need to motivate myself to do some weights 2 other days a week.
3. Look into freelance writing. I’ve realized from this blog that I really love to write, share information, and correspond with other people. After reading Julie’s post on how to get into freelance writing for reference, I’ve kind of started researching, but I need to start writing down story ideas, writing, and applying for jobs and sending people my work. It makes me pretty nervous because it’s a very foreign concept to me, but what is life without a few failures, right?
So there are my goals for February!
What is something new you’ve tried recently?
What’s something you’re working on to improve right now?
for me – strength training is easiest and the most fun doing it in a group. i enjoy Body Pump at my gym twice a week!
I so wish my gym had body pump!!!
Shoulda stayed in Minneapolis. If you are coming back through MSP, you HAVE to find the CIBO Express! I think it is on Concourse G near gate 4? It is so neat! Froyo bar, salad bar. Um hi.
I’ll look if I have time. I only had a 30 minute layover last time so I didn’t get to look around at all, they were already boarding!
I also deal with anxiety. I was actually diagnosed with an anxiety disorder when I was in high school, and while it’s gotten better I definitely still struggle with it at times. Specifically, I get very anxious about my plans (e.g., getting a workout or run in, what food I planned to eat, etc) getting “messed up”, and other things that are out of my control make me anxious (bad weather, traveling)…and I definitely agree that it is a hard thing to just “get over.” I look forward to hearing more about how your do with that! I’ve never really talked about my anxiety issues with anyone else, so I’m so glad you mentioned it!! 🙂
You might want to check out May Cause Miracles. I know it won’t totally fix things, but it really helps you to sit down and identify what you’re anxious about (your “fears”) and then realize that they are all in your head. Becoming more aware of them helps you to realize they aren’t true. At least, that’s what I’ve learned so far!
I would love to get into freelance writing as well. It’s probably going to have to wait a while (coursework + thesis + blogging = no extra work is feasible right now) but I hope it goes well for you!
I think I need to work on stretching more in February. I know I don’t do it often enough.
Stretching is a great one, I need to do that too! And thesis? Whew! Haha not a lot of free time with those!
Awesome goals girl! I really like that freelance writing idea 🙂 It’s something I’ve thought about, as well, since I love to write, but I’m not sure if my style is quite what anyone is looking for…something to think about! And something new I’ve tried recently is attending classes at a yoga studio rather than just following videos! Love it 🙂
I looooved going to a yoga studio! Just too expensive for me right now but hopefully when I get a job next year!
Good luck on your freelance adventure. Strength training is really hard for me. I have a hard time pushing myself like I need to. My current goals include handling stress better and being more outgoing!
Those are great goals! Haha I’m always working on being more outgoing!
Those are awesome goals! There are some great flexible training plans on bodybuilding.com or that I found via google.
Something new is following a strength plan. Something I’m working on are coupons!
I NEVER use coupons but I really should! Good goal!
freelance writing is something just recently I have been starting to be interested in. I totally get the anxiety thing and I think the fact that you are addressing it is awesome!
Thanks, Alex!
Those are great goals! We should use one of our Groupon yoga strength classes this month and make a girls night out of it :).
Yesssssssssssssss!
I really want to get into freelance writing too, I’ve just found that it’s a lot harder to get into than it sounds! Do you mind sharing some of the tips you were given?
She wrote a whole post about it, I think you can find it on her “blogging” tab
I deal with anxiety to. It’s become worse recently and leaves me feeling overwhelmed and out of control. Can’t wait to hear about what you find in the book 🙂
My number one February goal is to get a summer internship! I need one to graduate from my theatre program so that’s crazy stressing me out!
I think you’d really like the book! And good luck on internship hunting!
I love my strength training, I don’t think I could live without it. I used to be a running queen, but I have done a complete 180
I used to be really into it, 3-4 times a week, but I think once you stop for a while it’s hard to get back into it!
That’s interesting that you struggle with anxiety–so do I! And there is no “just getting over it”–there’s learning how to cope, and what strategies to use to make yourself able to function, and to recognize anxiety for what it is. I hope you find what you’re looking for in the book. I may have to check it out myself!
Definitely check out the book, I already love it!
Great goals! Freelancing sounds like it would be perfect for you. I’m working on being more mindful and present and not trying to stress out too much about things that are out of my control.
That’s a great goal! I’ve definitely become better about realizing something just isn’t in my control.
Those are great goals! I can’t wait to hear about the book. I’ve been wanting to read it!
Definitely pick it up, I love it already!
As much as I dislike running, I know it is fantastic exercise, and I would feel SO accomplished if I was able to say I became a “runner” and completed a 5k. So in addition to my normal exercise that I do for enjoyment, this month I’m working on improving my running endurance with a modified couch to 5k.
If you dislike running, there are tons of other exercises you can find that are just as good! I took my heart rate monitor to zumba, and if you have an upbeat instructor, you can burn the same amount of calories!
[…] I mentioned in yesterday’s goal post, I want to get back into strength training. I’ve found that not having a race training plan to […]
Do you have the link to Julie’s post about freelance writing? I’d love to read that and see if it’s something I may be a good fit for!
I’ll send it to you!
I can completely relate to your thoughts regarding weight lifting. I have a ton of ideas but haven’t gotten on them yet! 🙂 I’m hoping to take a weight lifting class at my gym but I’m also hoping to do two more days a week (besides that.) Good luck with your goals! I’m sure you’ll do fine! 🙂
Thanks, Diane! I hope you find a good weight lifting class!