In 52 Healthy Changes, Everyday Life, Newsletter, Parenting
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t’s about the six week mark for any change that we can take a look at our progress and know if the change has been embraced (and subsequently become the new normal) or not! If not, it usually means the change has proven to be too much, our dedication wasn’t there, we just weren’t ready for it, it wasn’t worth it…fill in the blank!

Statistics show, if you have accountability with your resolutions you’re more likely to stick with them. Statistics also show that having a plan of action increases your chances of succeeding even more! We’re six weeks into our 52 week challenge and I hope this newsletter finds you embracing the changes made. We hope Full of Days has become your community, filled with friends making healthy changes together. This community comes with accountability, encouragement, help and advice (I can certainly say I have received all of these things from you, so thank you!) I really mean it when I say, “We’re in this together!”

Without further ado, healthy change #7. It’s all about creating time…or, better said, finding time. This is along the same lines with what Jason wrote in his post on redeeming the time.

Think about everything you do in a day…starting with all your responsibilities. Make a list if you need to (you know how we love our lists!). Take a look at your responsibilities and ask yourself the following questions:

  • Are there areas of your life that could be streamlined?
  • Could you multitask and work on two or more tasks simultaneously? (Think kneading bread dough in the mixer and starting a load of laundry.)
  • Can you delegate anything on your list? (If you have small children, you’d be amazed at the chores they’re able to accomplish with a little structure and guidance…and patience!)
  • Are all these responsibilities necessary? (Mopped floors are so overrated!)

Next, make a list of all the leisurely activities you do in a typical day. Have you paid close attention to your social media time? Or how about TV shows…my favorite is to catch up on a TV show while busting a move on the elliptical! Can’t argue with a little Downton Abbey whilst burning a calorie or two!

Now for the hard part…and a good dose of reality. Number your items starting with one as the most important and work down to your very last line item. Give your list a good look over and see what you can eliminate from your day.

Now, before you get in a tizzy, remember your priorities…you numbered this list from most important to least important. So before you go telling me you can’t eliminate anything, let me finish my thought out completely.

The goal is to find time. The reason we’re finding time is to implement some traditional practices into your daily (or weekly) schedules. So, the real question becomes…are these traditional practices a priority for you?

As we’ve shared before, our ultimate focus is to live a life “Full of Days” and it has been our experience that the time spent implementing these healthy traditional methods is part of our Full Days! We get our kids involved, teaching them how and why we prepare our food the way we do. Working all Summer in the garden to harvest our bounty in the Fall is hard work, yet so fulfilling! We are spent and tired and FULL at the end of each day, with the added bonus of a great night’s sleep from gardening barefoot! #negativeions

My MIL said to me one time, “You can spend time, or you can spend money!” and I’ve found this more than true throughout the years. You can spend time in the kitchen/garden and save hundreds of dollars each year, or you can spend money buying pre-packaged food yet save time in the kitchen. The choice is completely up to you!

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    Tammy
    Reply

    Well said! I am so enjoying the reminders of my childhood. So much of what you are teaching us, well my sweet Momma taught me growing up. Like making yogurt, raw milk, being prepared, multi-tasking, and leading a full life. I am reminded of the reward of being fulfilled when you put hard work into your day. I love the quote, ” spend time or spend money” and have actually said that to myself as I prepared a meal, or mucked out the chicken coop, or mixed up my own dishwasher detergent. A life full of time spent alongside each other learning the values of family, the traditions of family, a life full of time spent sharing with our neighbors, a life full of love. Time spent = love…. Thank you for your time spent reminding me and teaching me! Now off to make my list and check it twice!

    • Kelsey Steffen
      Kelsey Steffen
      Reply

      Thank you for sharing those memories Tammy! I wish I knew your Momma! And I hope my kids have the same fond memories when they are older, implementing what we’ve taught them and maybe even teaching their own kiddos some day! It’s so fun seeing them want to jump in and help more and more often…it reminds me to slow down and not be in a rush to check all the boxes off the list, but to enjoy the “doing” as the Full Day!!

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