Thursday, October 3, 2024

Balanced Life Monthly Goals - September Review and October Goals

October has already started, so it's high time to review my monthly goals for September and post my goals for October.

Health, Self-Care & Well Being (6.75)(6.75):  The goal is good health.

September Health Goals Review:
My September health goals included taking my prescribed medications, more regular exercise, and a better diet; there was, in addition, a bone density scan.    To that end, 
- I have been taking my medications and the supplements my doctor recommended that I take.
- I have been walking more or less regularly (but, not as often or for as long as I should). 
- I have been trying to improve my diet by keeping track of the variety of plant based foods I eat and servings of fruits and vegetables per day (although I sort of stopped doing that towards the end of the month). 
- I had my bone density scan; the results would have been sent to my doctor and I will find out when I see her next.
- I have maintained the weight loss of 5 lbs. I accomplished in July, although there have been some weekly fluctuations of a couple of pounds gained or lost!  

I'm keeping my satisfaction rating the same because I feel that I didn't do enough to raise it.  

October Health Goals: continue to work on the above goals.  More specifically,
- consistently walk for 20 minutes daily
- increase the daily servings of vegetables to 3 and maintain that consistently
- decrease the consumption of added sugar
- reduce my weight by an additional 5 lbs. by the end of the month 
- Do another blood test at the end of the month

Apart from all that, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I am a survivor of 9 years as I had my lumpectomy on October 2, 2015.  Such a blessing!

Time Management (8.25)(8.00): The goal is to spend my time in a mindful manner.
Spend time purposefully, mindfully
- Procrastinate less

September Goals Review:
I had a hard time with my procrastination tendencies, in September! My favorite excuse to put off doing things was that it was too hot!  Too hot to walk, too hot to do housework, too hot to cook, "too hot to trot"!  LOL.  However, the important things, such as medical appointments and bill paying, were still accomplished in a timely manner.  Even so, I made a small reduction in the satisfaction level because I did procrastinate.

October Time Management Goals: To continue to spend my time in a mindful manner and to procrastinate less.  

House (8.75)(8.75):  The goal is a home that is pleasant, comfortable, and welcoming.

September House Goals Review:
My biggest accomplishment in this area was the amount of decluttering I did!  I have posted regular weekly decluttering posts, so I am not going to  write much more about it.  However, I have made a dent in The Dump, which is what I've been calling the spare bedroom! 

I have been cleaning in a minimal fashion, dusting and wiping things down as I decluttered; it really has been too hot to do any real deep cleaning!  That's my excuse and I am sticking to it!  LOL.  However, I was able to get a couple areas set up the way I wanted, including this corner in the hallway where I used to keep the home telephone and answering machine:

The Old Telephone Table

I'm keeping the same rating, despite the amount of decluttering I did.  Partly because quite a bit of the decluttered items had been stored in drawers and cabinets, in closed storage.  Only the books and VHS tapes had been stored on shelves and visible.  There is still quite a bit of what I consider as visual clutter.  

October House Goals: Continue to keep a pleasant, well maintained house, keep the horizontal surfaces cleared, and continue to declutter.  I've a goal of decluttering 10 items a day for a total of 310 items for the month.

Spiritual (10)(10):   The goal is to live a spiritually meaningful life.

September Spiritual Goals Review:
I continued doing the things I consider as important to live a spiritually meaningful life with daily prayers, meditation, being kind and helpful to others, and cultivating gratitude.  I'm keeping the same rating.    

October Spiritual Goals: Continue to pray daily, meditate, cultivate gratitude, etc.

Daughter (10)(10) The goal is to continue to have a close relationship with her.
 
September Goals Review:  
My goal was to continue to maintain a close relationship with my daughter and I did that. There is no change in the satisfaction rating.   

October Goals: Continue to have a close relationship with my daughter.

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

September Goals Review:
My September goals included engaging in more fun, relaxing activities including crocheting, reading and gardening and I did all of those.  Once again, I read the maximum number of e-books I was allowed to borrow from the online library, gardened, listened to music, watched videos, and crocheted.   I am keeping the rating the same.   

October Goals include more of the same. 

Garden (10)(10):  The goal is a garden that is productive, yet drought tolerant.

September Goals Review:
My September garden goals were to continue to nurture the fruit trees and vegetable plants and to maintain the garden.  The September heatwave we had was brutal, but, with M's help, I've been able to keep the garden productive.  I am keeping the rating the same.

October Garden Goals:  Continue to nurture the fruit trees (give them their last application of fertilizer, prune as needed), continue to clean up and maintain the garden.  Start thinking about planting cool weather plants.  

Family/Friends/Community (10)(10):  The goal is to have a close connection with family and friends and be involved with my community.
- Regular phone calls and emails, etc., to keep in touch with family and friends
- The occasional in person visits as and when I feel comfortable with doing so
- Participate in the blogging community and the online organizing community

September Goals Review:
In September, I kept in touch with family and friends through phone calls, texts, and emails.  There weren't many in person visits, but, I did have a curbside visit with friend R when I dropped off some packages.  I participated in the blogging community, as well, and interacted with neighbor S and her daughters.  I am keeping the rating at 10.

October Goals will continue to be the same as above.  

Finances (10.0)(10.0):  The goal is financial security.
- Continue budgeting and spending mindfully, with purpose

September Goals Review:
My September goal was to continue to budget and spend mindfully, with purpose, and I believe that I have met my goals.

October Financial Goals: Continue to budget and spend mindfully, with purpose.


September was another good month.  Only one area (Time Management) had the satisfaction rating lowered by a little bit.  The other areas remained the same, although there's room for improvement, especially in the Health area. I hope that October will to be another good month.

How was your September?  Did you feel that there was balance in the different areas of your life?

20 comments:

  1. Well done on your 9 year anniversary, four years for me and we are survivors! I'm sure you can achieve your weight loss goal in October. Don't worry about procrastinating when the weather is so hot for you it's fully understandable. I'm sure you will continue with your decluttering and you do so well in all areas of your life.

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. Yes, we are survivors and we are blessed to be survivors! I am really going to try to lose that weight because it would help with so many of my ongoing health issues. As for procrastinating, I won't have the excuse of it being too hot for much longer! And this winter, I am determined to not say it is too cold to do anything! LOL. The decluttering is coming along. I have set myself a goal and a timeline, as well. This time, I am really motivated!

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  2. I hadn't realized that it was already 9 years since your lumpectomy! It is something to celebrate, isn't it?

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    1. It certainly is, Bushlady, and you have been there for me from the very beginning of it. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement through it all.

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  3. All very commendable achievements I make goals too and while I don't over load my list and keep it simple, those things I do write down I keep to. I didn't do much walking but I did and still do keep to a weight reducing diet and I do read my Bible every day..

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    1. Thank you, Chris. Keeping it simple makes it easier to attain the goals, doesn't it?

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  4. Nine years and counting! CONGRATULATIONS!
    Ella

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    1. Thank you, Ella. :) I am truly grateful for the time with which I've been blessed.

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  5. 9 year survivor - what great news!
    Sounds like a really fulfilling month. Well done. I am impressed with your decluttering. It has made me want to do some of my own!

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    1. Thank you, Sharon. :)
      Yes, it was a good month and I'm pleased for the most part with what I accomplished. I've been reading about your decluttering and you are doing great! We will keep each other motivated!

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  6. You've done great with your goals. Congratulations on 9 years!

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  7. Congratulations on your 9 year anniversary. We are all glad that you are here to share that milestone with us.

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    1. Thank you, June. I'm glad to be here, myself. :)

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  8. La lista dei tuoi obbiettivi mensili è veramente molto lunga. Spero che tu riesca a fare tutto quello che ti sei prefissata.

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    1. Yes, my monthly goals list tends to be long and I don't always accomplish everything on my list, but, as long as I keep trying, I'm happy. :)

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  9. And another successful month for you is in the books.
    Your little hall table looks very nice. It's very pretty.

    You mentioned that a lot of your decluttering is in areas typically unseen and there is still visual clutter you find unpleasing,
    I think you should still give the unseen item decluttering the weighting deserves. And also your efforts for doing so the pat on the back they deserve.
    I was once involved in an art project and I found myself spending a crazy amount of time on an area that no one would probably see. I was bemoaning that fact to a friend of mine and she said, "Don't be dirty in the dark with your work". We had a long conversation about that and I've always remembered it.
    I think that motto fits many things in life.
    Congratulations to you on your 9 year survivor anniversary. My wish for you is to have many many many more of those anniversaries.

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    1. Thank you, Debra, for your good wishes and for the pats on the back. :)
      That little table was picked up by the side of the road back in 1978 or 79; it was varnished a dark brown and I stripped it and re-stained it a lighter color, then, several years later, painted it white. I love that little table.
      Yes, decluttering the invisible areas is also important, isn't it? It all adds up and makes a difference, doesn't it? I have freed up one desk drawer! Now, I can store something in there and clear a surface. :)

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