Do you have any New Years resolutions ready to go?

Now that we've made it through the time change (I haven't adjusted and am waking up at 3:30 a.m.), is it time to think about New Years Resolutions? The only resolutions I ever kept for any length of time (forever) were 1) to stop biting my fingernails, and 2) always put my keys in the same place in my purse. Those two tiny changes made a huge difference in my appearance, and my frustration level--and I did it about 48 years ago. I've done some of the top ten too but could never keep it going.

1. Lose weight.
2. Make a budget and stick to it.
3. Get out of debt (we never had any except mortgage or a car payment so we never did this one).
4. Find a soul mate. Hate that phrase. I got married at 20, so don't recall ever making this one.
5. Spend more quality time with family and friends.
6. Quit smoking. Nope. Never smoked. Think of the thousands of dollars I saved. Wished I knew where it was.
7. Find a better job. I'm retired, and I don't remember if I ever thought of this at the end of the year. I took my last position in Sept. 1986 and retired in Sept. 2000, and generally loved it.
8. Learn something new. No problem. Today I learned that a lifetime smoker spends $1.1 million. Just looked it up.
9. Volunteer to help others.
10. Get organized. I wish I had a dollar for every time I made that one. This year I tried it as a Lenten "fast." One thing each week. Only 6, how hard could it be? Very.

Those are the top ten according to Gary Ryan Blair who has a website on goals, or used to.

Get ready for the New Year’s goal weight

Are you getting ready for your New Year's Resolution on weight? Take a look at this NIH tracker/planner. Has some nice features and it isn't preachy.  Since Phil has been ill I’ve put on about 10 lbs from stress eating. So I looked at the nice little tracker and chose 180 days and about 12 pounds. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/bwp  By the end of February I should be at 145.7 lbs.  Maybe my slacks will fit better by then.

This article suggests eating most of your calories over a 10 hour period instead of 14 to maintain weight. https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2019/12/10/why-when-you-eat-might-be-as-important-as-what-you-eat/

January resolutions

 

1)  While watching the evening news, I resolve to do one page of 6th grade math a day.  So far, I’ve done 2 pages and have an A+ average. I need to review what is a numerator and denominator—must have covered that in an earlier grade.*

2)  And on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Lifetime Fitness I’ll do 2 sets of 15 instead of 2 sets of 10. So far, since yesterday was Wednesday I up to date on this one.

3)  A third resolution was to clean out one drawer a day, but when I started, the first 2 things I removed was my mother’s address book which required great study and a blog, and the second was a letter from my brother in September 2016, and after I came out of my faint, I was too weak to continue.  I may have to change that one a month.

4) The fourth resolution for January has already been scratched—play my trombone daily.  What was I thinking?

*

Ten resolutions from the American Medical Association

AMA's 10 resolutions for the New Year. I'll need another list. Already have done all of these.

1. Know your risk for type 2 diabetes--
2. Be more physically active—
3. Know your blood pressure numbers—
4. Reduce your intake of processed foods, especially those with added sodium and sugar—
5. Take antibiotics only as prescribed--
6. Alcohol only in moderation, up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men--
7. Quit tobacco and nicotine, declare your home and car smoke-free --
8. Properly dispose of any leftover medication and never share--
9. Stay up-to-date on vaccines—
10. Manage stress—

https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-offers-10-health-recommendations-new-years-resolutions

Planning New Year’s Resolutions?

 

What are you planning for New Year's resolutions? I went back through my blog and for 2018 it was clean the coffee pot with vinegar and water, so I went back to January 2009 and I had thrown them all out except #5, which was to buy a new floor lamp. About 40 years ago I resolved to stop biting my finger nails, and I succeeded.

On Jan. 1, 2008 I wrote about diets. "It's not rocket science. Reading and following even well-intentioned, healthy recipes can add pounds. A roasted pear, walnut and feta cheese salad has 400 calories. A side dish of fresh, tender crisp asparagus has 88. And if you're like me, the cheese will make you hungry." and also this, "About a year ago [2007], JAMA reported that in a study of the four major diet plans, the only successful people were the publisher and the author/researchers who got the grant. None of the diets worked well, or consistently, and none of the groups (ladies) were really following them." http://huggingchalking.blogspot.com/2008/01/noted-along-way-in-2007.html

January resolutions--that's about as far as I can go!

OK.  Here's how the month is shaking out.

• First orthopedist appointment, January 8, 8:30 a.m., Jason Dapore
• First acupuncture treatment, January 11, 10 a.m., Christina Wallace.
• Eye exam,  January 14, 11:15 a.m., Dr. Fillmore
• Dental check up, February 4, 7:30 a.m., Dr. Walton
• Mammogram, February 19, 9:00 a.m., James Cancer Center

Let's hope all the body parts stick together after this.

•  Art show in Springfield with Zimmers, January 8, 1 p.m.
•  SALT, January 23, 7:30 Zimmers
• Hair, January 26, 10 a.m., Melissa

My New Year’s Resolutions

But I'll tell you anyway. I've achieved my New Year's Resolutions. The trick is to set targets, not goals; make them achievable and measurable and for short time periods.

1) Learn the names of the books of the Old Testament; 2) clean my office book shelves; 3) use my Power Spin 210 U at least 5 minutes a day. By January 31, 2014.

I'm trying to think of something for February.

Update: For February, 4 hugs a day (suggested by my husband), 10 minutes a day on the Power Spin 210 U, and read the books of the Old Testament that begin with H. Achievable and measurable.

Now that the 2 weeks vacation is over. . .

January 4 update on New Year’s Resolutions

           

My resolutions are several, but one is to learn the books of the Old Testament, and one to clean several shelves a day, another to ride the exercycle 5 minutes a day.  These follow the specific, targeted, achievable, and timed plan I mentioned earlier. My resolutions will run through Jan. 31. I’ll rethink it for February. 31 days is a whole lot easier than 356.

I’ve done 3.5 book shelves (I always stop to read things which really slows me down), and by limiting the exercise to 5 minutes, I always go over the goal target.

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon . . . This is how far I’ve gotten.

Not so set, are some thoughts to see more movies,  use our Museum of Art membership more, and possibly join the Columbus Conservatory—but see how vague those are.  That’s how resolutions get away from you.

Here’s a list of the top ten “spiritually literate movies” of 2013. That doesn’t necessarily mean Christian, but movies that address spiritual values—forgiveness, love, transformation, repentance.  That beats car chases, naked sex, and bad language any day.

So here’s a January resolution.  See one movie (I always feel so culturally illiterate when people talk about movies). I think Philomena will be my first choice, but the price of first run tickets is breath taking!

Update on the update: I have now finished all the shelves in my office. Dusted and rearranged. Books hate to be out of subject order, and when shelves are stationery, some have to lie down.

Harvard Medical School on health goals/resolutions

1. “Set a very specific goal. For example: I will add one fruit serving — that’s half a cup, chopped — to my current daily diet.
2. Find a way to measure progress. For example, I will log my efforts each day on my calendar.
3. Make sure it’s achievable. For example, don’t set a goal of a daily 5 mile run if you’re out of shape. If you can’t safely or reasonably accomplish your goal, set a smaller, achievable one.
4. Make sure it’s realistic. It may seem counterintuitive, but choosing the change you most need to make — let’s say, quitting smoking or losing weight — isn’t as successful as choosing the change you’re most confident you’ll be able to make. Focus on sure bets: if you picture a 10-point scale of confidence in achieving your goal, where 1 equals no confidence and 10 equals 100% certainty, you should land in the 7-to-10 zone. An additional fruit serving a day is a small, manageable step toward better health.
5. Set time commitments. Pick a date and time to start. For example, Wednesday at breakfast, I’ll add frozen blueberries to cereal. Pick regular check-in dates: I’ll check my log every week and decide if I should make any changes in my routines to succeed. Find an outside deadline that will help keep you motivated. For example, signing up for a charity run or sprint triathlon on a certain date prods you to get a training program under way.”

This is exactly what I’ve been saying: making them specific and measurable.  I’ve set my New Year’s resolutions for Jan. 31. They are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic.

For instance, I’ve set a target (I don’t do goals) of 5 min. a day on my Power Spin 210, and 2 shelves a day (cleaning reorganizing) in my office.  I’ve achieved, or over achieved today. Also I’m learning the Old Testament books, and I’m up to Ezra/Nehemiah, Esther.

More New Year’s Resolutions possibilities

           

I was thinking maybe a good New Year’s resolution could be to clean one shelf a day, but I counted just my office and there were 32.  Some are behind cabinet doors, some on top of my desk, some are removable shelves on top of immovable shelves. Need to rethink this.  Perhaps my target was set too low. Three a day, perhaps. The last time there was a complete cleaning was when the office was repainted—maybe five years ago.  It had green and cream stripe wallpaper.  There was a partial cleaning in autumn 2012 when the carpeting was replaced and the desk and photo albums bookshelf had to be moved.

I think my 5 minutes a day on my Power Spin 210 will be about right. I’ve already completed and exceeded that resolution, at least for January 1.

                   

Joshua, Judges, Ruth

Honest. I didn't know this was the name of an album or a musical group. One of my New Year's Resolutions (which I've decided will only be good until Jan. 31) is to memorize the order of the books of the Old Testament. I probably didn't pay attention in Sunday School or Bible School when we were supposed to do this (I was too social). So all I knew were the first five. Today I added Joshua, Judges and Ruth, ". . . theological messages about the dynamic relationship between God's people and the powerful God who gives land and provides deliverers for the people."

My New Year’s Resolution 2013

I did this.  Only put 4 slips of paper in it.  But I looked at it today.  I had forgotten all 4, so it’s still a nice plan, if you can keep up with it. I guess this is what blogs are for: web logs, a log you keep on the world wide web.

A Resolution for 2013

New Year's Resolution for 2010

Looking through last year's resolutions, it appears I didn't post them (13) because they were so boring, but instead I blogged about them as they came to mind. I must be the only person in the world who made a resolution to buy a decent floor lamp--#5 on the list. You'll be thrilled to learn that I bought one on Dec. 30, 2009--I would have rejected it in January, but I finally concluded there are no decent floor lamps anymore. I put it in a corner of the living room where I hope no one will notice it, and when I turn it on it reflects on the ceiling and 2 walls, and improves visibility.

I also dusted off a resolution from 2006 to get back to my watercolor, #9 and join Mindy's class. I actually did a few--maybe 10 through the year, and about 70 drawings/sketches. At least I had enough to make it into an art show. I sort of did 11 and 12 which involved cleaning kitchen and bathroom cabinets. I may have been really crazy and did those twice! #13 was to read Dewey, and suggest it to the book group--did that.



And my new word a day--well, that didn't last too long, but I still keep an eye out for words or phrases new to me. Today it was "boom bag raft" (a method to move logs on lakes). The worst day was when I found vaticinated, decoction, phantageusia, ventoseness, noisome, hyposmia, anosmia, retronasal, orthonasal and habromania all in the same book review!

Another 2009 resolution was to read a chapter a day in a 10 volume set of Westminster Pulpit (compiled from sermons of G. Campbell Morgan preached about 100 years ago). I got about half finished then began reading other things and never got back to it.

I did successfully complete #6, which was to join the exercise class at UALC, Lytham Road, 9:15-10:15, M-W-F.

This year's is much simpler. Keep a gratitude journal. Not sure if it will be a blog.

Getting a jump on New Year's Resolutions

Eat less, move more, don't smoke. Works for everyone. It was settled long ago--even our mothers and grandmothers knew this. But it's still good for a research grant.

"Combined impact of lifestyle factors on mortality: prospective cohort study in US women." Rob M van Dam and others. (Harvard School of Public Health) BMJ 2008;337:a1440 Free access to entire article.

If it's too cold to walk outside, walk in the halls and stairwells or the mall. And don't you believe that old myth that it's too expensive to eat healthy. It costs far less to take some fresh fruit to work, or warm up a few veggies in the microwave than to eat a loaded ciabatta bread with chips.

Now, if I could just take my own advice. . .

New Year's Resolution Nine

Join Mindy's watercolor class on Tuesday afternoon. This is from a photo of Mindy's husband walking in Ennis Woods--it must have been on one of our few sunny days.

On to week two

The parties are over, thank goodness; yesterday was the last of the holiday open houses. It's wonderful to have a full dance card--I'd feel just awful if we were never invited out, but boy it is rough on the hips! As Richard Simmons says, "A smaller behind in two thousand and nine." I start the second week of exercise class today. I was pleasantly pleased with last week--I particularly liked Monday and Friday (led by women much younger than I) which included a lot of stretching and weights. At my age, bone health is probably more important than cardio, which my husband emphasizes on Wednesday when he teaches. I didn't have any more leg pain than usual when I do nothing or just walking. The trick will be to keep it going to week 10 or 11, right? I still have some of the same measurements as high school--just not in the same places.

Floor lamp update

New Year's Resolution number 5 was to buy a floor lamp. I've now visited four stores, so yesterday I stopped at a large builders supply chain, which will remain nameless, because I like the store. I stopped there after my mail run to the church's suburban location, telling the return campus receptionist I'd be about 15 minutes late. After browsing the shelves, I settled on one not-as-ugly-as-the-others, which had two lights--a 100 watt that reflected on the ceiling and a movable arm with a squirrely, low energy bulb that was supposed to be "full spectrum" to help with reading. The box in 3 languages was explicit about that low energy bulb--13 watts. All I could find on the shelf was a 15, so I lugged the box, now getting a bit heavy, to the service desk. Two handsome young people looked quite blank when I told them the problem, and the young woman got on her cell phone and called someone. Many older people think sales staff are being rude or ageist, but I suspect they just know nothing or aren't trained. Then the woman-child said, "He first has to cut some wire for another customer than he can help you." I stood in the light bulb aisle about 10 minutes, then returned the box to the shelf. No one came.

Usually, the only people in these warehouse supply places who know anything are the gray haired part-timers who have retired from something else, got tired of golf and want to get away from their wives' honey-do list. Also, I suspect there has been a serious staff cut back, because I've never had a problem at this store getting help.

All was not lost, however. I stopped at the Discovery Shop (cancer donations) because occasionally entire rooms of furniture are donated (a truck was there). No floor lamps, and the clerk said they go fast. She knew exactly what I was looking for. But I did find a beautiful pair of navy blue velvet jeans which look unworn for $5. Not a lamp, but they are a reminder that I need to stay with my exercise program (was a size 8 last year, these are size 10), New Year's Resolution 6.

Today's new word is IRENIC

Number one on my list of New Year's Resolutions for 2009 was to learn a new word a day--or maybe a week. I expanded the borders a bit on this one--deciding a new word could just be one I'd skip over in reading, but probably not be confident to ever use. I keep a small spiral bound note pad next to the lamp in the living room, which is next to my parents Merriam-Webster 2nd Unabridged New International (1948) in the dining room. I find it much more satisfying to use rather than an on-line source, although it bothers my back just a stitch to lean over (sits on my mother's sewing cabinet).

I write on approximately 20 topics if you count all my blogs, everything from childhood memories of Camp Emmaus, to first issues of journals, to political campaigns to misuse of credit. However, the difficulty level of my blog (when I type in the URL to one of those widgets) is always middle school or high school. I think in order to rate higher, you need to use a lot of non-English words or quote famous people, neither of which I do.

So today's new word is IRENIC. Here's the context, the reason I wrote it down

"While not declaring the Roman Catholic Church apostate, Norman Geisler and Joshua Betancourt address the doctrines that evangelicals find problematic in Catholicism. The work is irenic in tone, meticulous in examination, and extensive in sourcing and footnoting."

Change that e to an o and you get IRONIC, which is what my mind tends to do when I'm not sure. However, IRENIC means peaceful or conciliatory. If your name or your mother's name is IRENE, it's from the Greek, "goddess of peace."

Other new or rarely used words for January

1. effete--excessive self indulgence, feeble, impotent, no longer fertile
   
2. immanence--nearness of God, God with us, Emmanuel
   
3. eremacausis--slow burning fire; gradual oxidation, decay
   
4. solecism--speaking incorrectly; minor blunder in speech; breach of etiquette
   
5. immutable--not capable or susceptible of change; unchangeable
   
6. insensate--without sensation; without sense or intelligence; unfeeling or foolish
   
7. Euroclydon--tempestuous northeast wind of the Mediterreanean
   
8. gibbet--gallows; to execute by hanging; a projecting arm of a crane; to expose to infamy

What's really fun is to see how other bloggers use these words. For instance, would you ever say or write, "effete Arugula"? That's stretching it a bit, don't you think? I avoid arugula in spring mix--think it is bitter. And would you feel safe living in the Euroclydon Nursing Home?