Time to do a review of how well balanced September was for me and what I intend to do to strive for balance in October.
As I've explained before, 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.
Balanced Life Goals:
September Spiritual (10)(10): The goal is to live a spiritually meaningful life.
- Continue with daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, positive, and joyful
- Continue to attend Temple prayer/blessing services online
- Participate in the September prayer gathering if possible/if there is one
- Continue to cultivate non-attachment by being generous and giving to the extent I am able
I was able to attend online blessing services at the Temple as the monks continue to post it on a daily basis. There was no monthly rosary prayer gathering in September and, I think, it has come to an end for the time being. Whether they start it, again, post-Covid remains to be seen, but, I have removed it from my monthly goals for October. I continued with my own daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, and I have tried to be positive and joyful. I am keeping the rating at 10.
October Spiritual (10)
- Continue with daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, positive, and joyful
- Continue to attend Temple prayer/blessing services online
- Continue to cultivate non-attachment by being generous and giving to the extent I am able
September House (9)(9): The goal is a home that is pleasant, comfortable, and welcoming.
- Clean - Clean as needed
- 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 - Continue to declutter (goal = 30 items)
I have been cleaning, organizing, and keeping the house tidy and maintained, for the most part. I still struggle with things piling up, from time to time, but, I am happy with what I have been able to accomplish. Two of my big cleaning projects this month were organizing the bathroom shelf unit and the cabinet under the kitchen sink. I decluttered my 30 items, including an extracted tooth and the crown that used to be on the tooth before it broke! Other items decluttered include brochures and financial reports, a few CDs, extra jars, and food containers. I am keeping the rating at 9.
October House (9):
- Clean - Clean as needed
- 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 - Continue to declutter (goal = 31 items)
- Continue with landscaping the side yard
The garden is being maintained. This is not the best month for the garden due to the heat, but, so far, this year, I haven't lost any plants. I put down more flattened cardboard boxes in the side yard in an attempt to form a weed barrier and have been able to cover the entire length of it with at least one layer of flattened boxes. I am not sure if one layer would be enough, though. I will try to get more boxes to form a second layer. I am still planning to get several bags of pebbles to put down as a path with some stepping stones in between and plant some drought tolerant plants there. I am keeping the rating at 9.
October Garden (9):
- Maintain(water frequently as needed, weed, fertilize)
- Continue with landscaping the side yard
- Attend all of this month's medical appointments (3 scheduled - dentist, mammogram/bone density scan, podiatrist)
I attended all my medical appointments, this month, and received my flu vaccination, as well. I didn't lose any weight, but, I didn't gain anything, either! I'm keeping the rating at 8!
October Health & Well Being (8):
- Attend all of this month's medical appointments (4 scheduled - dentist, ophthalmologist, blood test, oncologist)
October Time Management (8):
- Continue to focus on making my schedule work for me
- Procrastinate less
- Spend time purposefully, mindfully
September 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
- Continue to attend Temple prayer/blessing services online
- Participate in the September prayer gathering if possible/if there is one
- Continue to cultivate non-attachment by being generous and giving to the extent I am able
I was able to attend online blessing services at the Temple as the monks continue to post it on a daily basis. There was no monthly rosary prayer gathering in September and, I think, it has come to an end for the time being. Whether they start it, again, post-Covid remains to be seen, but, I have removed it from my monthly goals for October. I continued with my own daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, and I have tried to be positive and joyful. I am keeping the rating at 10.
October Spiritual (10)
- Continue with daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, positive, and joyful
- Continue to attend Temple prayer/blessing services online
- Continue to cultivate non-attachment by being generous and giving to the extent I am able
September House (9)(9): The goal is a home that is pleasant, comfortable, and welcoming.
- Clean - Clean as needed
- 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 - Continue to declutter (goal = 30 items)
I have been cleaning, organizing, and keeping the house tidy and maintained, for the most part. I still struggle with things piling up, from time to time, but, I am happy with what I have been able to accomplish. Two of my big cleaning projects this month were organizing the bathroom shelf unit and the cabinet under the kitchen sink. I decluttered my 30 items, including an extracted tooth and the crown that used to be on the tooth before it broke! Other items decluttered include brochures and financial reports, a few CDs, extra jars, and food containers. I am keeping the rating at 9.
October House (9):
- Clean - Clean as needed
- 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 - Continue to declutter (goal = 31 items)
September Garden (9)(9): The goal is a garden that is productive, yet drought tolerant.
- Maintain (water frequently as needed, weed, fertilize)- Continue with landscaping the side yard
The garden is being maintained. This is not the best month for the garden due to the heat, but, so far, this year, I haven't lost any plants. I put down more flattened cardboard boxes in the side yard in an attempt to form a weed barrier and have been able to cover the entire length of it with at least one layer of flattened boxes. I am not sure if one layer would be enough, though. I will try to get more boxes to form a second layer. I am still planning to get several bags of pebbles to put down as a path with some stepping stones in between and plant some drought tolerant plants there. I am keeping the rating at 9.
October Garden (9):
- Maintain(water frequently as needed, weed, fertilize)
- Continue with landscaping the side yard
- Discuss the possibility to planting additional fruit trees with M
September 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 continue to be there for her
Daughter and I continue to keep in contact daily. I am grateful for her help with various tasks such as ordering groceries, air purifiers, and face masks online. I am also very grateful that we get to see each other during our nightly online chats. I am keeping the rating at 10.
October 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
September Family & Friends (10)(10): The goal is to continue to have a close connection with family and friends.
- Be supportive of her and continue to be there for her
Daughter and I continue to keep in contact daily. I am grateful for her help with various tasks such as ordering groceries, air purifiers, and face masks online. I am also very grateful that we get to see each other during our nightly online chats. I am keeping the rating at 10.
October 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
September Family & Friends (10)(10): The goal is to continue to have a close connection with family and friends.
- Regular phone calls and emails to check on family and friends
On going. I have been interacting regularly with family and friends through phone calls, emails, texts, etc. I am keeping the rating at 10.
October Family and Friends (10):
- Regular phone calls and emails to check on family and friends
September Community (10)(10): The goals is to be involved in my community
- Continue to participate in the various community groups to the extent possible
On going. I have been interacting regularly with family and friends through phone calls, emails, texts, etc. I am keeping the rating at 10.
October Family and Friends (10):
- Regular phone calls and emails to check on family and friends
September Community (10)(10): The goals is to be involved in my community
- Continue to participate in the various community groups to the extent possible
I participated in the blogging community, continued to participate in the online organizing group, exchanged weekly phone calls with neighbor T, interacted with other neighbors, and participated in temple services online. I am keeping the rating at 10.
October Community (10):
- Continue to participate in the various community groups to the extent possible.
October Community (10):
- Continue to participate in the various community groups to the extent possible.
September Finances (10)(10): The goal is financial security
- Continue spending mindfully, with purpose
I continued to spend mindfully in September. My big expense, this month, was my car insurance renewal. I stayed within budget for groceries in September. I am keeping the rating at 10.
October Finances (10):
I continued to spend mindfully in September. My big expense, this month, was my car insurance renewal. I stayed within budget for groceries in September. I am keeping the rating at 10.
October Finances (10):
- Continue spending mindfully, with purpose
September Health & Well Being (8)(8): The goal is good health
September Health & Well Being (8)(8): The goal is good health
- Attend all of this month's medical appointments (3 scheduled - dentist, mammogram/bone density scan, podiatrist)
- Continue to work on the same life style changes as before to the extent possible
- Continue to strive to attain a healthier weight
- Continue to strive to attain a healthier weight
I attended all my medical appointments, this month, and received my flu vaccination, as well. I didn't lose any weight, but, I didn't gain anything, either! I'm keeping the rating at 8!
October Health & Well Being (8):
- Attend all of this month's medical appointments (4 scheduled - dentist, ophthalmologist, blood test, oncologist)
- Participate in the phone appointment regarding my application for Medicare
- Fill out the health coverage applications
- Continue to work on the same life style changes as before to the extent possible
- Continue to strive to attain a healthier weight
September Time Management (8)(8): The goal is to spend my time in a mindful manner.
- Focus on making my schedule work for me
- Procrastinate less
- Spend time purposefully, mindfully
On going. I am making my schedule work for me, trying not to procrastinate, too much, and trying to spend my time purposefully and mindfully. I am keeping my satisfaction rating to 8.
September Time Management (8)(8): The goal is to spend my time in a mindful manner.
- Focus on making my schedule work for me
- Procrastinate less
- Spend time purposefully, mindfully
On going. I am making my schedule work for me, trying not to procrastinate, too much, and trying to spend my time purposefully and mindfully. I am keeping my satisfaction rating to 8.
October Time Management (8):
- Continue to focus on making my schedule work for me
- Procrastinate less
- Spend time purposefully, mindfully
September 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
- Pick one unfinished crafts project (quilt in progress) and finish it!
I have been engaging in daily joyful activities and have been practicing the piano. The quilt has remained untouched (I am still maintaining that it is too hot to work on a quilt; today's temperature was 104F, but, I didn't want to turn on the room air conditioner). I started knitting a scarf, instead! I am keeping the rating at 10.
October Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies/Me-Time (10):
- Pick one unfinished crafts project (quilt in progress) and finish it!
I have been engaging in daily joyful activities and have been practicing the piano. The quilt has remained untouched (I am still maintaining that it is too hot to work on a quilt; today's temperature was 104F, but, I didn't want to turn on the room air conditioner). I started knitting a scarf, instead! I am keeping the rating at 10.
October Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies/Me-Time (10):
- Engage in daily joyful activities
- Daily piano practicing
- Do a crafts project (I have a specific project in mind; just need to get started on it!)
- Do a crafts project (I have a specific project in mind; just need to get started on it!)
All in all, September was a good month with all the areas being maintained and the ratings staying the same.
How was your September in terms of maintaining balance among the different areas of your life? How do you plan to achieve or maintain balance in your life in October? What are your monthly goals for October?
You've had another good month from the sounds of it. You've maintained every rating which is an achievement in itself in these difficult times, so give yourself a pat of the back. Wishing you a happy and healthy October.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen; there were days when I felt that I was not meeting my goals, but, when I look at the month as a whole, I'm happy with how I managed things. I always feel that I could have done better, but, under the circumstances, I did well enough.
DeleteWish you the same.
That's amazing that you haven't lost any plants this year with the extreme heat you've had. You must have found what kind of plants do well in you area, not to mention, that you are taking good care of them.
ReplyDeleteMost of the plants left in my garden are survivors of past summers. Some got scorched, but, they are all still alive. I think, the secret is, this year, we didn't have a drought and we didn't have mandatory water restrictions. We are still urged to conserve water, but, I could water more often and for a longer time. :)
DeleteYou have been doing really well - Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha. :)
DeleteYou are so organised, Bless! I'm sure you deriv great satisfaction from ticking off what you've achieved; I certainly do at work. I'm pretty organised at home, but less than at work. I need to plan my writing better....and I'm currently formulating a plan to plan it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eloise. I enjoy reviewing my day, or month, and seeing what I was able to achieve. I don't have to be "doing" all the time; often, just "being" is enough. But, I do like to feel that I am living my life instead of just existing.
DeleteYou had me laughing at planning to plan! Sometimes you just have to do it! :D
A positive month. Bless. I admire your focus. X
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules. On one hand, it is easier to focus when one is not busy with the demands of work, taking care of family, etc. But, on the other hand, when one is retired, living alone, and staying close to home due to a pandemic, it is easy to lose focus and just drift along, too.
DeleteThat's an excellent report for the sixth month of the lockdown! You are keeping things going well.
ReplyDeleteI notice you are using cardboard boxes as a weed barrier and only the other day the local radio expert gardener was advising someone to do the same thing. You can also use layers of 10 sheets of newspaper, he said, and put mulch on top, but your pebbles will be good.
Yesterday we heard important barking from our front yard, all a scam of course, to get us to look out, and then the neighbours' dog came running up to the door for his treats!
Thank you, Bushlady. Yes, I am using the cardboard boxes in the side yard. I am not sure about using newspapers because I don't know if the garden cats will use that as a litter box! Right now, they are leaving the cardboard alone! That's the problem with using mulch, too. I am hoping the pebbles will not be quite as appealing!
DeleteOh, that neighbor's dog is too clever by half! LOL!