Well, here we are. December 30, 2016. In a mere 48 hours, we will all be staring a brand new year in the face. I’m sharing my word of the year today so I can begin putting it into practice as soon as possible. My birthday is New Year’s Eve (tomorrow!), so facing January 1st is truly facing a brand new year for me. I intend to make 28 (Wow, I’m old) my best year and I’ll do that through balance.
My word for 2017 is B A L A N C E. I am constantly striving for balance in all areas of my life, and in 2016 I didn’t do a very good job. Between May and October, my husband started a new job and commuted two hours each way three times a week, we put our house up for sale and started looking for a new home in a new city, we didn’t find a house so we moved into an apartment (this at least ended my husband’s awful commute!), I started a new job in a new grade and a new district, we battled a mice infestation in aforementioned apartment, we purchased a new home and moved again, and I let work obligations get the best of me in the worst way.
So what will balance look like for 2017? More than anything, I will be working to relieve myself of unnecessary and self-induced stress. I can be kind of a control freak and when things don’t go my way or unexpected circumstances arise, I tend to let the stress consume me.
In Fitness:
I will try to balance my training each week as much as possible. I’m doing the Tone It Up #LookforLove challenge (which I’m so excited about!) and they always promote balanced training. I’m looking forward to working my whole body through HIIT, strength training, yoga, and steady state cardio. I really want to get my running endurance back up.
In Work:
I will control the things I can control and let go of the things I cannot. I will work to be a better teacher to my students by better time management and effective lesson planning. I have a habit of skipping over “the basics” with my kiddos and jumping straight into the higher rigor activities. I will practice balance in the classroom by laying the foundation for the skills my students need, but haven’t mastered in years past. I will also set a time limit on working at home. When my husband walks in the door, I will not work on school responsibilities!
In Life:
I will continue to be creative through blogging and other means. However, I will also focus on being present for my husband. I hope to continue to keep a clean home and cook for our family regularly. I need to focus more on self-care as well, whether taking a bath, getting a haircut, or just by not glorifying busyness. I may even read a book or two for pleasure!
Have you determined a 2017 word of the year? How do you practice balance in your life? Come back Monday for my 2017 goals!
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