Skip to main content

January Goals and Monthly Experiment

     I've been really enjoying the monthly review and overview pages in the Wonderland 222. Many thanks to Sarah's recommendation on her podcast Best Laid Plans because I don't think I would have picked it out myself, but I've been really loving it. 

    I enjoyed filling out the review pages with monthly highlights, habit reviews, and favorites! December was bittersweet for me--lots of holiday festivity and fun memories, but also a bit lonely being away from my extended family and all the traditions. Looking back at the highlights made me realize how many positive moments we had together as a family this month even if there were hard moment where we hit the wall too. 



    This month, I want to focus on one of my 21 for 21 list items that I think may be the hardest and most challenging: experiment with shutdown rituals and less distracted parenting. Going back to work with all students back to in-person learning (and the various safety protocols that accompany this transition) will be a big change and consume a lot of my attention. I want to be intentional about shutting down at the end of the day, so when I'm home I can enjoy deeper connection with Avi and not be mentally running through my to do list. 

    My January experiment is in support of this goal. I'm experimenting with more intentional phone use. This month I am trying out leaving my phone in a basket by the door any time it is not in use. I'm hoping that having it away will inspire me to use it less and be more intentional about when I'm using it rather than scrolling mindlessly. I'm also going to write down the number of minutes on my screen time app in my planner each day and mark each day when this number is below 30 minutes on my habit tracker. 

    Lastly, our family is experimenting with Shabbat (which is from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown). We want to embed this ritual as part of our family life and a way for Avi to develop her Jewish identity. In the Orthodox community there are many restrictions on technology and labor on Shabbat, but we are trying out being screen free on Friday nights. 

    I'm hoping all these tweaks help me to be a more connected parent this year, and I'm excited for this month. 




Labels:

Comments

  1. CocoJanuary 6, 2021 at 12:24 AM

    putting the phone down is really game changer, it frees up so much time! Good luck with your plan for January :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Trees Like Cathedrals

         This fall, I'm finding immense joy in the trees in our neighborhood.  I've enjoyed fall ever since I lived in Massachusetts just after graduating college, since California fall doesn't have that quintessential fall feeling you hear about. But this year, perhaps because of how hot and ashy September was here, each sign of the season's changing feels hopeful and optimistic.      When Avi and I walk in the mornings and evenings, I've spent a lot of time looking up through the leaves in the tree. One of the things I love most about my neighborhood is that it is well-shaded by enormous trees. Even though I live in a residential area near a main road, when I look up I feel as if I've traveled farther into nature away from my house .     Lately, I've been thinking of trees almost as cathedrals. I look up and see the light filtering through as though it's streaming in through stained glass windows. Starting my days looking for the ...
1 comment
Read more

Two November Experiments

  Avi as a strawberry for Halloween.     Since I'm feeling a bit more in a routine work and schedule wise, I've decided to try two experiments this month. I've been thinking about both of them for a while, and I think I have the bandwidth to try them out this month. Experiment #1: The Seven Minute Workout     I struggle to get into exercise routines. It's not my highest priority, but I always do feel more energetic on the days I exercise. I've decided to do the seven minute HIIT workout everyday in November to see how it feels. It definitely gets my heart rate up without feeling too hard, and it's easy to fit in right before I shower in the morning. Although I've done this workout intermittently,  I'm curious to see what it feels like to make this a daily habit.  Experiment #2: Time Block Planning at Work Attempt #1     I read Deep Work  by Cal Newport earlier this year, and I've also been listening to his podcast  recently. In both...
6 comments
Read more

What I Want to Remember (Avi at One Year)

     It's hard to keep up with our forever changing, on the move girl! Her first birthday was on Monday. I want to take a moment to capture what it's like to have a one-year-old, and what Avi is like at this age. In the midst of all that is uncertain in this moment, I want to hold on to some of these memories, especially because she changes so quickly!     I want to remember:    Avi's first word yesterday--Mama. ❤  how she loves to drum on everything and is constantly moving.  her love of all berries and the way she looks intently into your eyes when she signs "more."   the way she loves to take things out of containers (like drawers, boxes, cabinets etc.).  her love of the outdoors and fascination with pine cones, grass, and flowers.   her laugh and smile when she is on the swing.  the way she looks up to find airplanes and birds in the sky.   how much she loves to read, turn pages, and point to things...
4 comments
Read more