cultivate what matters: june goals

My inaugural PowerSheets month is coming to a close, so today I'm giving you a brief look into my thoughts on my first attempt, as well as a sneak peek into my June goals.

changing my mindset
The most interesting thing I learned from my May PowerSheets is that I am a little addicted to instant gratification. The minute I accomplished a goal - whether daily, weekly, or monthly - I ran into our office to check it off on my PowerSheets.
 
I like seeing those check marks. I like getting things done, feeling accomplished. And that's a good thing - that's the motivation to keep going. But every time I checked off a goal, I saw all the blank space, all the work that needed to be done (especially my daily goals!) and I was like, "Um, can't I just be finished yet? Am I done yet?"
 
Friends, PowerSheets are all about cultivating lasting change, not quick fixes. Just like we've seen steady but SLOW progress with our diet change over the past six months, this, too, is a slow process. I want to start and continue good and healthy habits that last me throughout life, not just something I do once. It really is a mindset shift. And that's what struck me most about my first month as a PowerSheets user.

be concrete
I also learned that for me, goals need to be concrete. I threw "Be confident" onto my May daily goals on a whim because my confidence is always shaky, but it was too abstract for me. I rarely checked the box off, because I had no idea if I was confident that day or not. What how do you measure confidence, anyway? Are there levels? An amount of time, perhaps? Going forward, I'm going to make ALL my goals physical, actionable, and easily quantifiable.

does it really matter?
I also think I threw too many habits and goals on my PowerSheets for the sake of filling it up, and I often made myself accomplish a goal, whether or not I needed to, just for the sake of the almighty checkmark. Take our weekly visit to the farmers market, for example.
 
It's a good goal. Brian and I do want to make a concerted effort to source our food locally as often as possible, both for the sake of our nutrition and to help bolster local farmers. Plus, it's just fun. But some days/weeks are just. too. busy. One Thursday it was cold and raining. Yet we still went to not one but two farmers markets, not even buying anything, just so I could say we went. And that's not what good goal-setting is about.

For my June goals, especially daily and weekly habits, I was a little more cautious about what I put on here. I was a little overambitious on my first try, and gave myself too many to-dos for the sake of filling up those blank lines. And even though they were all good goals, it was too much. I need to do less.

Thankfully, this month will be a little slower than last. We have fewer out-of-town events, which always sap every bit of energy I possess and make getting ahead for the week downright impossible. 
 
With that said, here are a few of my June goals...

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Write the Word daily // I started this practice in May and this is one of the daily habits that I really enjoy and believe in strongly. The Write the Word journal has a place for you to copy a specified Bible verse each day (although it isn't dated - you can do it as frequently or infrequently as you want), along with spots for a word of the day, gratitude of the day, and a place to write down what's on your heart. If you're struggling to read the Bible, this is a great starting point.

daily meditative practice // This was sort of a helpful "suggestion" from my nutritionist, who says I'm eating just fine but can't seem to calm down no matter what I do. It doesn't necessarily mean meditation - it can mean yoga, getting lost in a good book, a slow walk, or even coloring. Just something relaxing to quiet my mind and calm my nervous system (which more than lives up to its name).

Clean out the dining room // In late April we purchased a dining room set (finally!), but we've mostly been using our dining room as overflow storage. In June, since it's a quiet month, I want to take the time to clean it out and make it look nice. When your space is organized and put-together, YOU feel more organized and put-together. So this is a big one for me.

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Basically, my overarching goals for June are to relax and enjoy. Summer shouldn't be stressful. I want more down time, more quiet time, more meditative activities, and less busyness. The goals that are on here? They really, really should be. A little discernment goes a long way. So let's do this, June!

xoxo,
E