For those of you who are new, I decided that I wasn’t setting goals for 2017. Rather, I decided to focus on habit changes, month by month. In January I did a spending freeze, in February I did a library diet, and in March, I decided to pare my makeup and nail polish down to just a few choices. To practice the minimalist life. Honestly, it was a stupid, easy, copout challenge that I picked because my brain froze with any other ideas and also, I knew I’d pass because I spend most of my time at home, not wearing makeup (hell, I barely wear real pants anymore), or at the gym, also not wearing makeup. As for the nail polish, I don’t know why I added that in. Well, I kind of do. I like the idea of having a signature color or look because picking a color more overwhelming than it ever needs to be.
So how’d I do? Surprisingly, WAY WORSE than I thought I would. First, my nails went to shit and the one week they weren’t splitting, peeling, or breaking (they do this almost seasonally, like a snake shedding its skin) and I could apply nail polish, I did not feel like using the colors I picked. So I didn’t. Because I do what I want, habit changes be damned.
The makeup part went slightly better. I picked a palette so I had more than one option and I was exclusively using it but then a palette I’ve been wanting for awhile (Too Faced Cat Eyes) went on sale for 50% off. I promptly bought it and starting using it instead. Because again, I do what I want.
Clearly.
I don’t want to say this month was a fail (even though it was in the most conservative sense) since there were still habit takeaways. For instance, I learned that I can’t limit myself in terms of makeup and nail polish since my moods vary and I like wearing what matches my moods. I like knowing that I can change things on a whim and also, no one except me really cares how much or little I have or if I wear or don’t wear the same thing all the time (this goes for clothes, too). While minimalism is good in theory, when it comes to me and makeup, I just have to accept that it’s not a habit I’m going to pick up. At least not now.
Moving on to April.
One thing I am completely terrible at is finishing projects. Not like big home improvement projects but little ones like organizing my bookshelf or actually taking things to Goodwill after a purge or redoing my recipe binder or sorting pictures. Simple stuff that I can finish in less than a day or even an hour. It’s a terrible, annoying habit to have half-finished projects all over the house (ask my daughter about the one I started for her 2 summers ago) and I’d like to fix it. So, in April, that’s what I’m doing. I’m working through all the projects I’ve started and never finished. I know it’ll help with my mental health (which has taken a dive lately) and as a side effect, clean up and organize my house.
I don’t have a specific list of projects I’m tackling but I do know the ones I mentioned above are high priority. I’m sure that as I finish them, more will appear. I’m glad I have that to look forward to.
What are you working on this month?
I love the goal of finishing projects. I’m really bad about that, too. I get excited for something new, buy all the stuff to do it, and then nothing happens. It will be interesting to see what you’ve been putting off.
And I feel you on the no makeup or real pants… it’s hard for me to justify buying anything besides lip gloss these days!
Every time I tell myself I am going to eat right and exercise and really care for myself, I don’t. So as of right now I am taking it one day at a time.
Goddess speed to all of us to do good and be good and kind people. Sending love and light into the universe!
It’s one way to help. What you send out is what you get
Back. Love , Steph’ s Momma
That’s a good one. I have a TONNNNN of unfinished projects sitting in my house… & always starting something new. That’s a great goal for the month – or for me, would take all summer long.
I am working on more activity overall. And shore chores.
Love the goal of finishing projects.
I pared my nail polish down a lot a few years ago. I could stand to lose another 10 or so bottles…but I probably won’t ever get under owning 30 some bottles and buying more because frankly I don’t want to wear the same five colors over and over. I like the IDEA of that much more than the execution of it.
I sometimes fail at following through on projects too. I annoy myself and stress out about not getting them done too. Especially if I bought things for it. I also know that like you, my moods change and I need options. Colors, scents, jewelry, everything.
I am in the midst of a spring cleaning purge and next up is the bathroom. I am not looking forward to tackling my make-up! It’s hard to pare down make-up, unless you are willing to commit to one look. And like you, my make-up varies on my mood and that’s okay. I just know that I have lots of old make-up that needs to get tossed. And I need to stop buying the same shade of lipstick – I have l0 tubes of the same brick red. LOL!
I am also bad about starting projects and getting bored. I should feel bad about this but I mostly don’t. Perhaps I’ll be motivated by hearing about your success next month!
Tanya @ A Mindful Migration recently posted…I Interrupt My Regularly Scheduled Program
Hey, if the March challenge taught you something about yourself then that’s a win in my book. I wish you the best of luck on all your little projects in April. I have a few that I just need to start.
-Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Currently: April 2017
Oh if I made a list of all the things I was *supposed* to do…wow.
But this is a fabulous goal. I’m looking forward to seeing what you accomplish!
I’m trying to finish the sequel to “Your Playbook For Tough Times.” Various interruptions, both medical and familial, have popped up but I’m sooo close…
Donna Freedman recently posted…Autism: 9 things I learned. Plus: A great giveaway.
We have so many half-started (finished?) projects? I REALLY want to clean out the pockets of mess in our house and finish the landscaping in the backyard. Hopefully this season I get my rear in gear.
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Ah, I have so many projects I need to finish! I’ve let too many things pile up.
I am definitely not good at finishing things either. I actually started thinking about writing a blog post about it just the other day, and i seriously wrote half a draft and then… well, I’m sure you can guess. I have things like that too—donations to go out, photos to be organized, little things to be done—and i would love to get them done and not hanging over me this month. Going to try taking a page out of your book. Good luck!