Sunday, May 31, 2020

Balanced Life Monthly Goals - May Update and June Goals

Looking back on May and forward to June, here is the review of my May goals and the goals for June!

As mentioned before, I have chosen 10 areas of my life that I think are important to me, on which to focus.  My monthly balanced life goals are similar to the spokes of a wheel, with the length of each spoke representing my satisfaction in that area of my life, from 1 to 10, with 1 being most dissatisfied and 10 being most satisfied.  Ideally, all the spokes are of equal length and the wheel will roll along smoothly.  If the spokes are of unequal lengths, then, the resulting wheel will be lop-sided and wobbly.  My ratings for each segment are shown within the parentheses, with the beginning of the month ratings in black and the end of the month ratings in blue which then become the starting ratings for the next month.



Balanced Life Goals:May Spiritual (10)(10):
- Continue with daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, positive, and joyful
- Continue to attend Temple prayer/blessing services online
- Attend May's prayer gathering if possible
- Continue to cultivate non-attachment by being generous and giving to the extent I am able

Once again, thanks to all the technology that is available these days, I was able to attend blessing services, including a special retreat, at the Temple, online, and to attend the monthly prayer gathering as well!  I also continued with daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, and I have tried to be positive and joyful.  I haven't done a lot of decluttering or donating; however, I have received a lot from generous family and friends and have tried to reciprocate at least in a very limited way.

I am keeping the rating at 10.

June Spiritual (10):
- Continue with daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, positive, and joyful
- Continue to attend Temple prayer/blessing services online
- Participate in the June prayer gathering if possible
- Continue to cultivate non-attachment by being generous and giving to the extent I am able 


May House (9)(8):  The goal is a home that is pleasant, comfortable, and welcoming:
- Clean - Continue with spring (deep) cleaning
- Organize - Continue to find a place for everything and keep everything in its place
- Well maintained - Keep "erasing the evidence"; implement daily and weekly cleaning schedules
- Decluttered - Declutter 31 items in May

The upkeep of the house has been inconsistent to say the least!  I have been rather lax with implementing my weekly cleaning routines, letting things go longer between cleaning, etc.   Things have been maintained after a fashion, but, not to my expectations.  I need a new housekeeper!   

I didn't declutter 31 items, either.  I decluttered some, but, I took back a couple of items I had previously decluttered!  One is a book that I took back to re-read (it will go back to the donations pile, later) and one is an oversized T-shirt because I needed something a little cooler than the sweatshirt I was wearing as a pyjama top, earlier this week!  I think I will continue to keep that T-shirt! 

I am reducing the rating to 8.  

June House (8):
- Clean - Do more deep cleaning
- Organize - Continue to find a place for everything and keep everything in its place
- Well maintained - Keep "erasing the evidence"; implement daily and weekly cleaning schedules
- Decluttered - Declutter a minimum of 15 items in June



May Garden (8.5)(9):  The goal is a garden that is productive, yet drought tolerant:
- Maintain (water 1- 2 times per week; weed)
Clean out the garden shed
Care for the seedlings
- Plant a few more vegetable and flower seeds

The garden is coming along nicely!  There was some concern about the peach tree with leaf drop and spots on the leaves, and, just this morning, with it falling over in the night!   But, the peaches are growing nicely!  The tomato and cantaloupe seedlings are growing and flowering!  We planted the sweet potato vine and, although it took almost two weeks to get used be being in the ground, it has just begun to grow a couple of new leaves and I am hopeful it will continue to grow!  I was able to get two moringa plants which seem to be doing OK and will be repotted in larger pots in a week or two.   I've been watering almost daily, and that seems to be making quite a bit of a difference to the garden, although I dread seeing what my water bill will be!  I made one or two baby steps in landscaping the side yard, too, putting down a few of the cardboard boxes as I acquire them and transplanting a few gazania plants to see if they will take.  The garden shed got postponed, yet again, but, that's not a priority.


I am raising the rating to 9 (which is probably the highest it has been!).  

June Garden (9):
- Maintain(water frequently as needed, weed, fertilize)
Clean out the garden shed
- Continue with landscaping the side yard


May Daughter (10)(10):  The goal is to continue to have a close relationship with her:
- Daily texts, phone calls, and video chatting, etc., to keep in close touch with her
- Be supportive of her and be there for her

Daughter and I keep in contact daily.  She continues to work from home and seems to have adjusted well to the changes.  Our nightly online chats continue to be the highlight of my day.

I am keeping the rating at 10.

June Daughter (10):
- Daily texts, phone calls, and video chatting, etc., to keep in close touch with her
- Be supportive of her and continue to be there for her


May Family & Friends (10)(10):  The goal is to have a close connection with family members and friends:
- Regular phone calls and emails to check on family and friends

I have been interacting regularly with family and friends through phone calls, drop offs of masks and goodies, etc., and I was also able to "see" family and friends at the monthly prayer gathering as we did it online. 

I am keeping the rating at 10 because I feel that I have done my best to keep in touch under the circumstances.  

June Family and Friends (10):
- Regular phone calls and emails to check on family and friends


May Community (10)(10):  The goal is to be involved in my community:
- Continue to participate in the blogging community 
Weekly phone calls with neighbor T
- Continue to participate in the online group
Continue to participate in Temple online services 

I participated in the blogging community and the online group, exchanged weekly phone calls with neighbor T, spoke with neighbor S a couple of times (and exchanged gifts of food a few times), and  was able to participate in temple services online, including recent funeral services for two members of the congregation who passed away. 

I believe I did what I could under the circumstances and will keep the rating at 10.

June Community (10):
- Continue to participate in the blogging community
- Weekly phone calls with neighbor T
Continue to participate in the online group
- Continue to participate in Temple online services

May Finances (10)(10):  The goal is financial security:
- Continue spending mindfully, with purpose

I spent mindfully and with purpose in May, although I went over my grocery budget of $75 as I decided to stock up on several pantry items.  I felt that the additional expenses I incurred were worth my peace of mind.  


I am keeping the rating at 10.

June Finances (10): 

- Continue spending mindfully, with purpose 

May Health & Well Being (7.5)(7.5):  The goal is good health:

- Call and reschedule this month's medical appointments and lab tests 
Continue to work on the same life style changes as before to the extent possible 
- Continue to strive to attain a healthier weight 

I rescheduled my medical appointments due to the corona virus and advice to stay at home.  My appointments weren't urgent.  I didn't lose any noticeable weight this month, but, I haven't gained any, either.  So, I'll take that as a success and leave the rating at 7.5!

June Health & Well Being (7.5):
- See if I can reschedule any or all of this month's medical appointments, too 
- Continue to work on the same life style changes as before to the extent possible
- Continue to strive to attain a healthier weight

May Time Management (8)(7): The goal is to spend my time in a mindful manner:

- Keep to a more regular schedule
- Procrastinate less

I keep feeling that I should be more efficient with my time and be more productive, that I am not getting as much done as I think I should.  I know I have slowed down quite a bit, but, surely I should have more to show for all this time I am spending at home?    

I have decreased the rating to 7, again.  

June Time Management (7):
- Keep to a more regular schedule
- Procrastinate less
- Spend time purposefully, mindfully

May Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies/Me-Time (10)(10):  The goal is to relax doing something I enjoy doing for the pleasure of it.

- Engage in daily joyful activities
- Daily piano practicing
- Do a crafts project (finish knitting the socks; finish making one of the quilts in progress)

I finished knitting the socks and knitted two more pairs and several hats to donate!  I didn't sew the quilt, but I sewed several fabric masks.  I have been engaging in daily joyful activities, too, and Iarticipated in a mini photo challenge on the theme, "Curves"".  The daily piano practicing has faltered a bit, but, I am determined to get back to it.  


I am keeping the rating at 10.  

June Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies/Me-Time (10):
- Engage in daily joyful activities
- Daily piano practicing
- Do a crafts project (Knit a few more hats, sew a few more masks, finish making one of the quilts in progress so it can be gifted in July)

That is the review of my goals for a more balanced life in May and the goals for June.  May has been another pivotal month of changes and upheaval for many.  Virus-related restrictions were eased only to the replaced by protests-related curfew!  Who knows how things will turn out in June?  But, all we can do is take each day as it comes.  


Did you make any goals for a more balanced life in May?  If so, were you able to achieve those goals?  Will you be making any goals for June?




6 comments:

  1. You are too hard on yourself when it comes to time management. Apparently it is a common feeling of people right now to feel they should be accomplishing more while being quarantined. But it is enough to get through this unprecedented time in our history. By sewing masks and staying in touch with people and baking goodies to give and knitting hats for the Cancer Centre, these are all the sprinkles on top. They are extra. They are more than enough. People need to know they are not alone, and you are providing that message. So stop beating yourself up.

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    1. Thank you, Susan. You are very kind. I don't feel very energetic to do things. Part of it is due to the medications I take, as fatigue is a side effect of some of them. But, a good part of it is due to laziness, I fear! I'd rather knit than vacuum, I'd rather blog than dust, I'd rather do anything else other than mop, scrub toilets, and do the dishes! LOL.

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  2. You've changed three of your ratings, two down and one up, but considering that we are living through a worldwide pandemic I think you have done well. I don't know about you but my life has slowed down so much that it's much more of an effort to stay motivated and productive. Sending wishes for a good June xx

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. The two that went down, House and Time Management, are related! The house is suffering due to my lack of time management! I seem to spend a lot of time dawdling! But, I hope to change things in June! Thank you for the good wishes! I need them! :)

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  3. I think I need a new housekeeper, too. The current one (me) goes in fits and starts and could use a bit of prodding some days!
    As for decluttering - it would be encouraging if it was possible to take stuff somewhere for donation!

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    1. Yes, I think we both need new housekeepers! :D I wonder if my housekeeper will work better if I pay her!

      My decluttering seems to have ground to a halt! But, I hope to do better, this month. Yes, it would be nice to be able to get the stuff out of the house, wouldn't it? I have about 20 bags of things to go, stacked in the garage!

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