At the end of the month, I want to be honest with you in an update about how my goals to live more simply have been going. Success or fail, this is my April update…
April was an eye-opening month.
I told myself in the beginning that I was not trying to be legalistic about these goals, especially the spending. But I also struggle with giving myself an inch – in case I take a mile.
But when we all received our stimulus checks this last month, I had to decide if I could trust myself with spending some of it intentionally and not falling back into the temptation of 1-click shopping sprees.
As it turns out, I did spend more than I intended, but I also spent it in ways that made a difference in the mental and physical health of my family. So I really can’t regret a dollar of it.
Those weren’t the only pivots I had to make this month.
So here is my April update on the goals I succeeded at or struggled with. And some that I altogether had to reassess.
UPDATE: My Year of Simple – April
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No Spend Year
My April update on spending will definitely veer me away from a technical no-spend year in 2021.
- I went out to eat and ordered fast food – This was against the rules, but I decided that I will allow it to a point because sharing smoothies with my kids on a hot day or eating lunch with a close friend I hardly see (now that I’m vaccinated) is spending money to better my relationships. Which is more important than sticking to a strict no-spend rule.
- Keeping my grocery budget to $600 – Goodness, but I can’t seem to make this work. But I suppose hope springs eternal… And so I will give the online grocery shopping another shot to see if it helps.
- Meal planning – We’ve been meal planning pretty seriously this last week so I’m going to see if it makes a difference to our grocery budget in May.
Simplifying the Clutter
After much cleaning and decluttering last month and half of this one, we are doing pretty good in this department. But there is definitely still room for improvement. Here’s my April update on what we’ve accomplished and what we still need to do:
- We decluttered 1,450 items so far – We are still way ahead of where I thought we’d be on this goal, but I can see where we are still holding on to things. My classroom needs a more thorough cleaning out for starters…
- Our closets are a lot emptier – My kids all organized their clothes and pared the outfits down to a couple dozen total. Though admittedly, keeping even that little bit folded and put away seems to be a challenge. Baby steps.
- Decluttering my schedule – I’ve started writing in the mornings now to free up my afternoons for appointments. I’ve also written out a schedule. Now we can try to have earlier bedtimes (more quiet time for me) and avoid the mad rush at the end of the day.
- My TBR pile is taking up too much room – I hate to say it, but if I don’t start reading my books, they are going to take over my corner of the bedroom. Once read, I can say goodbye to them, so my first step was to write a list of ALL the titles. I do love a checklist…
Less Micromanaging
I think I will always struggle with this, but there were some high points this month with less yelling and micromanaging.
- Using a schedule instead of my voice – I am trying to have a written schedule do my talking for me. Instead of yelling about chores or school time, I let the kids manage their own time. Of course, when they choose not to, consequences come into play. So far, it’s been working pretty well.
- I have been more complimentary. Most of the time. – Offering positive feedback has helped my kids feel more appreciated and also work better. I do still come into a room ready to complain first (do breakfast dishes really need to still be out at dinner??), but I’m getting better at holding my tongue.
- Handing off the meal planning – I usually make the plan and let my chef-tastic kids handle the execution. But I recently let them create the entire meal plan, including prep and assembly. They did an amazing job. I just tried not to look at the mess (which was cleaned up in the end). Or add my two-cents. But they were ready for this so I am glad they took over.
Living a Life of Less Hurry
This April update includes a few ways I have slowed down to better enjoy my days. Here’s what’s been going on:
- I do my work in the morning – Now that I’m working less, I am doing the majority of my work in the mornings so the days are free and open. This mostly works, except when I forget how to have free time and spend the day flitting about without purpose. Let’s say it’s a work in progress.
- I’m trying to leave earlier – I’m tired of the mad rush out the door to our appointments, so this month I am going to try to leave 15 minutes earlier than I normally would.
- I’m physically slowing down – With just some light walking and physical therapy to work on my hip issues, I have more time that I used to since I’m not running. A slower start to my day and a longer bedtime ritual is helping me slow my day down some.
- Being present – In his book, Walking: One Step at a Time, Erling Kagge talked about walking slower on purpose and focusing on each step. I’ve been trying this. Walking and moving slower when I can in order to pay attention to what’s happening around me. Focusing on the moment is both more relaxing and more interesting than rushing from one thing to another, all while thinking of three others.
That’s all I’ve got to report for this April update, but I hope to have more successes to share next month. Struggles, too, because challenges are what lead us to growth.
How are your 2021 goals going? Have they become harder or easier as the year goes on? Let me know your thoughts in the comments or on social media! #thejourneyathome
Interested in more posts on goals and simple living? Check out some of these:
How Living Intentionally Can Bring Peace to Your Day
Inspirational Monday: Allowing a Cycle of Rest
Why I Read So Much & How You Can Read More, Too
How to Savor the Moments Amidst the Busyness of Family
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