101 in 1001 update 4
Uhoh, guess who forgot to post an update on time again! Life is getting away with me and I feel less organised than ever. I’m going to use the rest of this month to work out some new routines and set myself up for a more organised few weeks.
We’ve entered 2025 now which has been a bit of a rollercoaster! Bertie has ongoing health issues requiring frequent blood tests, and I’ve had 2 infected teeth which need taking out under general anaesthetic! Fun, fun, fun!
We had our first Christmas in our new house which was lovely, though it never really felt like we got finished with our decorations. Things have settled down following the move, and I feel like we’re finally getting a grip on finances now that the bigger expenses have been taken care of.
So, let’s see how those goals are getting on…
Completed Goals
53. Get a massage and/or spa treatment
I treat myself and a friend to a Thai massage that she has regularly for her birthday. I was so nervous, but I really enjoyed it. The way the lady cracked my back for me was pure heaven! I’ll certainly be trying to make an effort to go again. Maybe for my birthday in the summer.
Progress With Goals
11. Buy fresh flowers for myself 5 times.
I couldn’t resist the lure of a £1 bunch of daffodils at the supermarket checkout. There’s something so lovely about this time of year and seeing the flowers start to bloom. I think daffodils are up there with sunflowers as my favourite flowers.
56. Read 5 new books per year
Although I count some of the books I read with Bertie in my StoryGraph challenge, I’m not counting them for this as I want to focus on new books. Usually I make sure I’ve read the books we read with Bertie before we read them with him, just so I can check they align with our values, or I can be prepared to discuss any tricky things with him. Anyway, I treated myself to a signed copy of local author Philippa Leathley’s debut novel – Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo. It’s aimed at a younger audience really, but I loved it. I’m trying to be more open to reading different books, and letting myself to be free to read what I want free of judgment.
73. Create and maintain a new blog and instagram to share knowledge and ideas
Okay, so this isn’t going to plan exactly! I have way less time than I hoped and I’ve let school work get on top of me. However, I’ve begun writing some blog content so I can launch with a few articles, and I’m making a conscious effort to post on the Instagram (although half term put a stop to that almost as soon as it started!).
Aims for Next Update
You may have noticed things aren’t quite going to plan. Like I talked about at the beginning of this post, I’ve not been organised and I can really feel the effect that’s had on me, the house, my work, the kids… everything! So I’m making a conscious effort to start again. To make plans, to stick to plans, and to use my time more effectively. Starting with choosing some goals to focus on for the next check in which will be in May.
2. Make a realistic cleaning schedule
Now things are more settled in the new house, we need to make a plan to keep it tidy! I think I’ll follow an adapted organised mum method to make it work for us.
6. Donate/sell 101 things
The selling pile continues to grow. I’ve been following someone on Instagram who started with £20 on January 1st and is using buying and selling to grow this to £1,000. As of 8th Feb she had made £356! I’m not saying I’ll earn that much for our old junk, but it’s better to earn a few pennies than let it sit in a box unloved. Whatever we make can go towards summer fun, or doing up the house and garden. We don’t have a whole load of spare cash and this could really help us out.
9. Put ring doorbell up
There’s no excuse why we haven’t done this. It just needs to get done.
16. Stay within weekly calories for a month
My weight is at a point where I cry when I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror. I’ve cancelled activities with friends because I’m so embarrassed about how I look. I don’t want to live like this. Calorie counting will help me to take some control.
27. Give up fizzy drinks for lent
Another way to help me stay more in control. I’ll be giving up fizzy drinks and chocolate this lent to help kickstart a healthier lifestyle.
52. Go to the theatre 5 times
We’ve had tickets booked for The Book of Mormon since they were released in summer last year! We’ve seen it before in Manchester, but now it’s coming to Hull we just had to see it again. We’re going to a matinee and my mum’s going to watch the kids. We might even sneak in a little dinner date beforehand!
65. Take lunch for a month
This should also help with my move towards being healthy and save me a load of cash! When we have leftovers, I’m great at taking those into work! But when we don’t, I’ve not been organised enough to make a sandwich or some pasta or rice. So I end up popping into cooplands, where I have no will power and end up buying a brownie or muffin with my sandwich!
Conclusion
While this update might not be overflowing with completed goals, it highlights the importance of adapting and refocusing. The 101 in 1001 challenge is a journey, not a race, and progress isn’t always linear. There will be bumps along the road, like Bertie’s health issues and my dental woes, but it’s how we navigate those bumps that truly matters. I’m embracing the opportunity to learn and grow, and I’m determined to make the most of the remaining time. I’m also choosing to learn from these challenges and use them as motivation to create more sustainable routines. The next few months will be about prioritising my health, both physical and mental, and making conscious efforts to achieve the goals I’ve set for myself. Thank you for joining me on this adventure!
