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 August update…
With a month off in July, I was worried that this month would be like playing catch-up after some ill-advised spending while on vacation.
But luckily, I seem to have internalized at least some of the things I have been trying to learn this year. Not just on spending, but on relating to my kids, decluttering, and living a little slower and more intentionally.
We’ve been cleaning out some more clutter, buying a few things we needed, and making opportunities for alone time. Also, I learned that I can never go into Hobby Lobby without a chaperone.
So….
Here is my August update on the goals I succeeded at or struggled with this month.
UPDATE: My Year of Simple – August
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No Spend Year
My August update on spending includes Hobby Lobby getting the best of me, decorative pillows, and how shopping with a friend is not budget-friendly.
- Hobby Lobby Christmas in July- Hmm… crafts and Christmas, how could this ever go wrong for my budget? I spent almost $100 on things that weren’t needed, but really made me happy to get. This wasn’t a good idea and I will need to be careful in the future. It is so easy to get swept away.
- Keeping my grocery budget to $600 – We went over in July, but did better in August. I truly think this is doable but find myself drawn to extras, like chocolate and fresh mozzarella. I’m working on less frills in my meals this month. (And less snacking!)
- Shopping with a friend – I’ve been shopping with my neighbor for a few weeks and it’s really nice to have someone to chat with while we get our groceries. But. We are a bad influence on each other, encouraging one other to try this or have you tasted that flavor, etc. It’s still food and a consumable, but I will try to be more careful. (Brings back memories of me and my best friend getting into trouble at the mall together.)
Simplifying the Clutter
I’m happy to finally have my chest freezer organized and reduced in inventory, and my classroom cleaned. Now on to the backyard. Here’s my August update on what’s been going on:
- We decluttered 1,550 items so far – I must have donated or recycled hundreds of papers and other like things, but I don’t want to count them individually (seems a little like cheating that way, you know?) Only a few more months to go to my 2021-item goal!
- The backyard junkyard – Somehow, all manner of discarded toy has made its home in our backyard. But with my husband and son working on the grass this month, we’ve been working on organizing and getting rid of what is broken or unused.
- Reading more of my TBR – I had hoped to have cleared out more of my TBR pile, but I keep getting sidetracked by new books (thanks, MMD Summer Reading Guide). I’ve read almost 50 since June, but still, I would love to shrink the towering pile by my bed.
Less Micromanaging
I have been making an effort to be more present with my kids, and not to value them only in the present moment, but also to more clearly see the people they are becoming. Here’s my August update on how that’s changed things…
- I show an interest in their interests – I am not always interested in the what my kids are, but I’ve heard it a million times that kids (and all people) need to be heard. So even if it means conversations past bedtime, I’m trying to listen and show them that I value their thoughts and feelings.
- I gave them watches – Bedtime has become an issue as the kids dawdle with chores and their nightly routines. I hear all the time that they didn’t notice the time. So I used a gift card to get them some inexpensive watches in their favorite colors. Let’s see if this helps. With a set school schedule, together we might make progress here.
- Seeing my kids for themselves – My kids are getting older and they no longer blindly follow me. They also are showing me more and more who they are becoming as individuals. This is hard for me, especially as a control freak, but if I don’t acknowledge and learn now, it will be much harder later. And I want to create a bond with them as people, not just as my children.
Living a Life of Less Hurry
This August update includes how I’ve made time for family excursions and found a place where I can do focused work. But how I spend an unfortunate amount of time going to appointments.
- Too much taxiing – I spend most of my week driving to appointments for my kids, which is not the most relaxing thing. It may not be forever, but it adds a layer of stress I have to work hard to mitigate. This month, I need to work on keeping us on time and prepared with what we need when we’re out.
- Doing more family excursions – We went to a chocolate factory to see how it’s made, the park, and a few other stops that got us out of the house as a group so we could play together. Doing these things, being open to them instead of a slave to my schedule, is where I want to be.
- Finding a place to work – I’ve started going to Starbucks when they open a couple of times a week to huddle in a corner with caffeine and my laptop. Uninterrupted and without distraction, I get more done faster. This helps me feel more relaxed when I get home.
And that is the August update. These 2021 Year of Simple goals have certainly evolved over the months. But as much as I l like the idea of succeeding at straightforward goals, I think that to instead pivot and tweak them as I myself change is the way to really succeed. What do you think?
How are your 2021 goals going? Have you tweaked and changed them as you change? How has this evolution affected your life this year? 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 to Clean Out Your Junk Drawer Once and For All
7 Ways to Make Time for Your Goals
How to Survive as an Introvert in a Large (and loud) Family
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