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 May update…
May was a good month. I made headway on grocery expenses and spent more quality time with my husband and kids.
I even managed to slow down a little and enjoy my weekends and mornings more.
But I did also make an impulse buy of clothes I didn’t need, which was a complete no-no.
I’m less upset about the $12 I spent on shorts, and more disappointed that I let my desire for instant gratification pull my focus away from my goals.
But as I’ve said, I have to give myself grace when I misstep, so I will put this behind me and wear those shorts often. I plan to make this expense count!
In other news…
Here is my May update on the goals I succeeded at or struggled with this month.
UPDATE: My Year of Simple – May
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No Spend Year
My May update on spending includes birthday gift spending and finally a victory in the grocery budget department!
- Birthday money- During a sale, I was able to purchase yarn that I’ll crochet into blankets for my kids with money I received for my birthday. We don’t really need these, especially right now (ack, summer!), but the kids get a lot of joy from the gift and making them is so relaxing for me.
- Keeping my grocery budget to $600 – So I was a little off, but I spent hundreds less than last month. We’ve been trying extra hard to cook out of our freezer and pantry this month.
- Meal planning – This has been a huge help in May and I plan to work on planning out snacks in June. My kids are snackers (ok, me too) and having prepared options would make it easier and healthier.
Simplifying the Clutter
After much cleaning and decluttering, we’ve sort of stagnated this month. But the change in seasons usually heralds changes in our home. Here’s my May update on what we’ve accomplished and what we still need to do:
- We decluttered 1,480 items so far – Not a lot has been decluttered this month. I’ve decided to hold off on my classroom until we break at the end of June (we’re on a year-round schedule this year). But I was able to clean up some of my bedroom. The kids also took care of Bertha the Big Blue Van (yes, she really is called Bertha).
- Decluttering my schedule – I liked working in the mornings after my runs, but I’ve decided that I need more unscheduled time. I’ve moved things around to see if Saturday can be a commitment-less day saved for just fun.
- My TBR pile is STILL too big – May is when the MMD Summer Reading Guide comes out. So I have resigned myself to a ridiculous pile of books (not to mention e-books) for the rest of the season.
Less Micromanaging
Still hard for me, but I’ve begun to think about what micromanaging does to my kids’ self-confidence. I’m also, quite literally, learning to bite my tongue and wait a beat before speaking.
- Having a consistent schedule – Knowing the times when certain things have to be done has helped. We are easily distracted, so instead of yelling and rushing, my kids know that the screen time at the end of the day is where the extra time for cleanup, baths, etc. is being taken from when they dally.
- Not being in the kitchen during meal prep – My kids are very messy when they cook. So we’ve agreed that I will not enter the kitchen at this time, lest the top of my head blow off. What I don’t see, I can’t yell about.
- Working on time management – I am working on teaching my kids to imagine how long tasks take and what time they should start. This isn’t always easy, even for adults. But even a little awareness can help them keep on schedule without me nagging them.
Living a Life of Less Hurry
This May update includes some things I’m doing to slow down and savor my days more. Here’s how:
- Set work times – I’m primarily working in the mornings and sometimes at the library when I need to really focus. This is helping me feel less guilt over times when I need to rest.
- I’m still trying to leave earlier – I’m getting a little better at this, but my children are still trying. How they lose the shoes they were wearing a minute before we leave is a mystery.
- I’m physically slowing down – Accepting that today may be just a “walk day” has been hard, but I’m getting better at not guilting myself into pushing harder than I should. Also, I am trying to rest more rather than caffeinate myself through fatigue.
- Read slower – My reading speed has gotten faster in recent years (yay practice!) and it’s tempting to read a book a day just because I can. But by forcing myself to take breaks, I can spend more time thinking about what I’ve read.. Which is half the enjoyment really…
That’s about it for this May update. It really was a good month for advancing in my goals. And a chance to keep practicing grace and care when circumstances make that hard.
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 to Meal Plan Out of Your Own Pantry
How to Savor the Moments Amidst the Busyness of Family
Tips for Parenting with Patience and Love
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