I want to simplify my life, and this blog is about my journey towards simple living. I started sharing my goals in January in the hopes that it would help me stick to them.
A goal like “simplify” is incredibly vague. I’m still working on what a simpler life looks like for me. But I hope these monthly goals will take me, little by little, closer to that idyll.
I believe in goal-setting, but those goals must be achievable to be helpful. If I set too many goals, I just feel deflated when I can’t reach them all, and then I’m not motivated to achieve the next month’s goals. So if you take any inspiration from these posts, please don’t make your goals into burdens!
How Did I Do With Last Month’s Goals?
First, I have to admit that I didn’t set any goals for May. I got side-tracked by some stuff happening in April and I needed some time to get back on track.
1. Walk every other day for 30 minutes without headphones.
Failure. I completely failed at this, though I did got on a couple of hikes without headphones. I got sick in early April, which delayed me. My real failure, though, was picking up the challenge halfway through the month.
2. Volunteer for Earth Month.
Success! I volunteered picking up trash at a local park to celebrate Earth Day. The event was hosted by our county parks association. Every year on the weekend nearest Earth Day, there are clean-up events all over the country. Picking up trash is a family-friendly volunteer activity and there were plenty of families and dogs joining us in our efforts to keep the our waterways free of trash!
3. Review and Organize Paperwork.
Partial success. I went through random papers that were in various places (where they didn’t belong). However, I didn’t tackle the main project of going through my filing box.
My Goals for June
1. Try a 1-week challenge to not use my phone at home.
The goal will be to set aside my phone when I get home. I spend far too much time checking social media, streaming YouTube, and even checking emails. I can do all these things on my computer if they’re really important (they are usually not). I tend to use my phone as a crutch whenever I’m bored or anxious. It’s a brilliant tool of distraction, and I need to build some new habits.
2. Listen to my CDs and decide if I want to keep each one.
In my efforts to declutter earlier this year, I skipped over some CDs because I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to donate them or not. I won’t be able to make a decision until I listen to them again. I only have about ten left, so this should be doable.
3. Attend a local event on my own.
It’s summer, which means there are lots of evening and weekend events in my county. Many are even free! I rarely go to these, so one of my goals for this month will be to attend an event.
So there we go! Those are my 3 goals for June. I’ll report back on how these went and whether I think they contributed to simplifying my life.
Do you set monthly goals? Are any of them related to simplifying, starting new habits, or disengaging from your devices? Please share your tips!
