2 months into 2024 and I’m feeling fine
We’re two months into 2024, and for the most part, my brain seems to have caught up. I only occasionally still refer to 2023 in the date.
And the really good news is I am on track to complete all of my February goals. While we still have a week left in this month, I have decided to report my goal progress on the Thursday before the final Friday of each month, so I can participate in the monthly What’s Been on your Calendar link-up. [Oops! I just looked at the WBOYC schedule and realized that for February, the linkup is delayed to next week. Since I’ve already published and shared on social media, I’m going to proceed, though I won’t be able to link up until next week.]
As a reminder, instead of New Year’s Resolutions or a Word of the Year, this year I plan to set monthly goals that support my core values: health and fitness, joy, learning and growth, and relationships.
Health and fitness
February progress
1. Continue with the Orangetheory Fitness Transformation Challenge, by completing at least three Orangetheory Fitness sessions per week and tracking my food intake with a focus on eating real food, not too much, mostly plants.
I am on track with this goal. So far, I have attended three classes a week, as planned. The 8-week challenge is now more than halfway complete. The challenge requirement is to attend three classes for at least six of the eight weeks. At this point, I don’t foresee a problem meeting that goal. In addition to the Orangetheory sessions, I have been doing yoga, taking outdoor walks, and riding my stationary bike.
I have also been tracking my food intake regularly, and while I have not denied myself treats or opportunities to eat out, I have been focusing on making nutritious selections for the majority of my food and drink, including this slow cooker stew.
And this peanut butter toast.
The combination of physical activity and nutritious eating is paying off. I’m feeling great!
2. Get my colonoscopy. Don’t worry, I’m not going to share any photos…but I am on track to accomplish this goal as well. My appointment is scheduled for February 23. I have completed my registration and purchased the prep materials and cannot foresee anything keeping me from completing the task.
March goal
- Complete the Orangetheory Fitness Transformation Challenge, including my final InBody scan. I look forward to seeing the results of my efforts. Fingers crossed!
- Schedule my annual skin check with the dermatologist. This will complete my recommended preventive exams for the year.
Joy
February progress
This month, my focus was on experiencing the joy of everyday events by being more present in the moment. This was an exercise in awareness of my tendency to get caught up in my head and bringing myself back to the present experience when I found myself doing that.
Admittedly this goal is a little hard to measure objectively. I do feel confident in saying that I have been more mindful of life’s small joys this month. I have savored my food, basked in the warmth of the sun, sung along with my music, and set aside my electronics more often than I normally would. I will continue this mindfulness for the rest of the month and am calling this mission accomplished.
March goal
Enjoy at least one meal outdoors…more if circumstances allow. As the weather warms, I want to be intentional about taking advantage of our lovely patio and the joy it brings.
Learning and growth
February progress
Brush up on my French by completing two lessons on Piece of French. Mission accomplished. I watched two videos and completed the accompanying exercises. I couldn’t really figure a way to share an applicable photo…but take my word for it, I did complete the lessons!
March goal
I’m waffling a little on this one. I’ve been considering whether I want to pull out my novel and do another edit…whether there would be any benefit to that, or should I consider joining a writers workshopping group or something else to take this project to the next level? Or perhaps I want to try something else altogether. So, I have decided to make my goal to do something that scares and excites me. After all, that’s where growth takes place, right…outside of our comfort zone?
Relationships
February progress
Donate blood.
Mission accomplished. And even though I experienced my first hematoma as a result, I don’t regret donating a bit. I decided you’d rather see the donation center’s fun whiteboard and donor stickers than my colorful…but a little creepy…hematoma.
March goal
Finalize plans for our Las Vegas/Grand Canyon roadtrip with friends. This goal could just as easily fall under the Joy category, as travel is one of life’s true pleasures…or Learning and Growth, since seeing the Grand Canyon will be a new experience…but I have chosen to put it in the Relationship category, as we are taking this roadtrip with good friends, and it is my experience that the people we share these occasions with are the most wonderful aspect of the trips.
Your turn
So that’s what I’ve been up to and some of the plans I have for March. What about you?
- How was your February?
- Do you have anything fun on the calendar?
- Are there any accomplishments you want to brag about?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all, I just love to hear from you.
Ahhhh the “joys” of a haematoma – they punctuate my life (and my arm) almost every time someone sticks a needle in me. I hope yours disappeared fairly quickly. Nice to see you ticking off your monthly goals and feeling settled into 2024.
My February has been fine (really hot here) and I’m doing a 3 month catch up next week. The whole family is here this weekend and that will be a lovely way to finish up the month. Oh and I’m off for a massage today – the first one in years and I’m going to make that a monthly habit for the rest of the year – a little bit of “me” indulgence. 🙂
That’s wonderful that you are spending time with your family, Leanne. I hope all goes well. And I’m all in on a monthly massage as the perfect indulgence. Enjoy!
February has been an enjoyable and interesting month of working with my coach. I have a new focus and aims which I am now enjoying working on. While I really enjoyed what I was doing before, this has been a long-held dream which I had buried as I didn’t believe it was possible. It may turn out not to be, but I’d have been left with so much regret if I didn’t give it my best shot.
On the look forward list is some time with the grandchildren this weekend to celebrate my grandson’s third birthday. Tiring but always lots of fun 🙂
That’s great that you are pursuing your dream, Debs. I believe it’s true that you most regret the things you didn’t do. You’ll never know unless you try, and however it turns out, your efforts won’t be wasted. Good luck! And enjoy your time with your grandchildren!
How was your February? My February has flown by unlike January that was the longest month of my life. I’ve done things but nothing that is interesting, just taken care of practical stuff.
Do you have anything fun on the calendar? Well, March is on the calendar and I like March, consider the whole month to be fun, so in answer to your question, yes.
Are there any accomplishments you want to brag about? I made some darned tasty chili using ground bison instead of beef. Will do that again and again.
I’m happy to hear that things are looking up for you since January, Ally. March is a wonderful month…that time when spring starts to take hold. And congratulations on your darned tasty chili. It sounds delicious.
Hi Christie, congratulations on achieving your goals for February. You have reminded me that I’ve been putting off my skin check and also blood donation. As a TYPE AB+ my plasma apparently is in high demand. I really should put those two items on my March goals so thanks for the reminder. Have a lovely March and I look forward to reading about it in next month’s #WBOYC? Thanks for linking up with us. x
I’m happy to be a good example, rather than a cautionary tale, this time Sue! 🙂 Since my sister had melanoma that spread to her lymph nodes, I have been consistent in getting my yearly skin checks. Luckily, my sister is doing well a decade later. Thanks again for hosting the #WBOYC? linkup. Happy March!
Hi, Christie – You did an awesome job with your February goals and it looks like you already have a wonderful head-start on your plans for March.
Thank you for sharing with us at #WBOYC! <3
Thanks for the encouragement, Donna, and happy March to you!
I loved reading about your Orange Theory goals Christie. I’ve read many of your posts about it, over the years and it seems to be a sensible program. I love your goal of eating a meal outside. We have started doing that each week. My partner works all day on Saturday until 11pm so come Sunday, he feels the need to get outside. We have started a new thing, that we have a simple breakfast, often just coffee and fruit at the lake. It’s on of the highlights of the week for us both. I’m envious about your Las Vegas/Grand Canyon trip. We have been thinking about our last trip there lately, as it was seven years ago this week.
Coffee and fruit at the lake sounds heavenly, Jennifer. I don’t live near a lake, but the beautiful desert is a close second. It’s been ages since I’ve been to Las Vegas, and I’ve never seen the Grand Canyon, so I am really excited about our trip. I hope you have a lovely March.
Hi Christie, you are powering along with your goals, go you! It’s great to be organised and know what tests are required then get them ticked off and you are making it fun in the process. I had a body scan recently but was too chicken to see the results so after my 6 week challenge is done we get another one then I’ll look at the results to compare them and hopefully see how far I’ve come in that time. Like you I’m being more mindful of what I’m doing exercise wise and what goes in my mouth and it’s slowly starting to pay off! My February was busier than I thought and full of action which I wrote about in my WBOYC post, it’s funny when you start writing the updates and think you’ve not done much then you can’t stop writing down all the things you’ve actually done 🙂 Thanks for joining us for #WBOYC and sorry about the confusion with dates, but you made it, that’s the main thing!
Hopefully, we’ll both be pleased with our progress, Debbie. At least we’ll know we made the effort. It really is interesting how much we accomplish without realizing it throughout a month.
As for my getting confused about the schedule, the detail was there, I just failed to read it close enough. That said, better early than late…at least I got to participate! Thanks for hosting #WBOYC.
I look forward to hearing about what you decide to do with your novel. Sometimes you can do the analysis paralysis thing and need to know when to stop editing so a writer’s group could help. Thanks for linking up with us and here’s to March.
Thank you for the experienced input, Joanne. And, yes, here’s to a marvelous March!