Make It Count Monday - Vol. 1
Written and published on September 24th, 2012. Archived to previous year.
Yeah, I'll explain a little more. I talked last week about needing to give ourselves more credit for the many little things we do each day. I loved reading about all the amazing things you guys were doing, and I loved getting to congratulate myself with a well-deserved pat on the back between diaper changes (yes I washed my hands first). It felt pretty good! But I realized while mundanely transferring the darks from the washer into the dryer that I should be doing that a lot more often (both the laundry and the pats on the back). I need more than a one-time deal; I need a rather swift kick in the pants to get going--and stay going.
Well three kicks, really: One for direction, one for motivation, and one for accountability.
Enter Make It Count Monday--a simple little idea born out of my laundry boredom and the desire to keep my motivation from last week's accomplishments going. Each Monday we can all surf on in to Positively (Im)Perfect, gather 'round the water cooler of the web, and brag about last week's achievements, then throw out a goal or two for the coming week and how we want to work towards it. There's nothing like a recurring commitment on the calendar to say "I mean business," and no better day of the week than Monday to give ourselves a boost, so we'll make that little water cooler appointment of ours right here every Monday.
Deal? Deal.
Here's how it works: I give you a super awesome quote for the week, then blab about all the cool stuff I did last week and all the great stuff I'm going to (try to) do or focus on this week. Then you reply with your own based on the following:
MOTIVATION: Tell us what you've done this past week--try to list at least five things! Doesn't matter if you work, don't "work", if you have a family or kids--I guarantee you've done a lot more in the past week that you realize (read this if you're skeptical). So broadcast it! Brag about it! Your accomplishments deserve to be shared and appreciated--if not for you, then to motivate the rest of us!
DIRECTION: List one goal (or more, but one is plenty for some of us!) that you'd like to focus on this week. (Or if you're like me, maybe it's a goal you'd like to string out for a couple weeks or more). It can be anything.
ACCOUNTABILITY: Tell us one quantitative step you're going to do today or sometime during the week to help move toward that goal. (Maybe it's the first of a series of things to get there--if so I'm right there with ya!)
So with that, let's get crackin' on our first MAKE IT COUNT MONDAY [Insert motivational '80s hair band music]!!! Any and all encouragement welcome!
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Make It Count Monday - Vol. 1
~MOTIVATION~
This past weekend was my son's third birthday. Exactly six days after my birthday (If you must ask, I'm still a spring chicken). I was partied out. But a kid's gotta have a good party, even if I don't really feel like throwing one, right? So I planned the party, decorated, got favors, made a cupcake cake, cleaned (most of) the house, and thanked God for my wonderful amazing husband who helped me do the rest. Go team!
~DIRECTION~
More quality time with the kids.My wonderful amazing husband also taught the big kids how to turn on the TV a few months ago and switch it to the kids' channel. It was like a miracle. At first. But now that I don't have anywhere to be each morning, it is just one of those things that is just waaaaaayyy to easy to take advantage of when the kids wake up at the crack of dawn and I want to sleep just a little longer. But in order to spend that quality time and just be a better mother in general I'm finally admitting that I should be less of a zombie and I shouldn't let them park themselves in front of the TV for half the morning.
~ACCOUNTABILITY~
So I'm setting my alarm and getting up before the kids this week, guys. I know. I'm SO not a morning person. But as one such Pinterest pin so eloquently put it, if I'm up first I'll actually be in control of the day for once. So pray for me, y'all. Specifically that I can't find that overly-enticing snooze button.Now it's your turn! What did you accomplish last week? What direction do you want to head towards this week? What steps are you taking to start getting there?
Post a comment OR fill out the form below to link to your site and host your own "Make It Count Monday!" You can even grab the code on the sidebar for the "Make It Count Monday!" badge. (Just make sure you link back to Positively (Im)Perfect!)
Well, Megan, I gotta say that if I can reach the snooze button, I will. In my sleep. Without so much as a fluttering eyelash.
ReplyDeleteMotivation: Met my goal of 3 blog posts. Cleaned my house before leaving for Quitter Conference. Attended Quitter conference.
Direction: Schedule my activities appropriately. I need to not get caught up on social media during prime writing/studying time. Studying is always the first to take the hit, and I need to decisively use social media (adding Pinterest, since that's apparently important) instead of being a malingerer.
Accountability - Set my alarm for 6 again - across the room. (only way it works). Study first, plan my blog better - selecting a theme or subject for the week/month. Social media from 4-5 p.m.
I'm adding you to my feed, since I won't remember this tomorrow morning pre-coffee. (Gingko Biloba Anyone?)
Good job on the posts--3 in one week is impressive! It is SO hard to get away from those distractions when you actually have something productive to do, isn't it?! I think I'll be following suit with the across-the-room tactic. I didn't hit snooze today but I didn't get right out of bed either...I doubt any other days I'll be lucky enough to keep my eyes open if that happens! Good luck, Amy!
DeleteSo glad to have found your blog. I always love meeting a new megan! Love this link up idea...I might have to join you in the future. Thanks for your sweet comments on my blog. They mean a lot!
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday!
Thanks for stopping by, Megan! I'd love to have your perspective around here in the future! Glad to see that your parents also spelled your name the right way ;) Have a fabulous week!
DeleteMotivation = I lost 4 lbs, I stayed off dairy, grain and sweets for a week, I jogged for a minute on the treadmill, I joined a bible study
ReplyDeleteDirection- I plan to get in exercise every day
Accountablity- By working my schedule around so I can make it to fitness classes and make time to exercise when i can
That's a whole lot of motivation (and discipline!) packed in to one week--good for you! What classes do you like to take? With three young kids I struggle with getting exercise in, too...so I'm having to get both really creative be really motivated until my fairy godmother decides to drop a triple jogging stroller at my door. Thanks for stopping by, Lorrie...can't wait to hear how it all goes!
DeleteHi! Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog :) I'm a day late with this, but I will be back next Monday for sure! I love your blog!
ReplyDeleteMotivation: worked three full shifts in a row for the first time since March, survived my husband's first business trip since the twins were born, and cooked dinner almost every night
Direction: try to exercise at least twice. Hook up the Wii to use Wii fit.
Accountability: I like this idea of getting up before the kids, but I might have to settle for getting up with them at 5 or so and staying up when they go back to sleep! There is an app I had for my old phone that made you solve a puzzle to turn the alarm off...I could try that I guess:)
It's so scary to be alone with the full responsibility of the kids, isn't it? Even if you know you can get through the day, there's just something super-intimidating about having to get through the night (or a few in a row) alone. So congrats on making it with TWINS!!!
DeleteI love the Wii idea! I have so many Wii fit games (is that what you call them?), I just always forget how to switch it back and forth from the TV. Or maybe I'm just too lazy to try to remember...
I seriously need that app. The alarm thing is waaayy harder than it should be knowing that there's no foot-tapping boss waiting for me. See ya next week!
Umm - I'm gonna have to make it count next week. :)
ReplyDeleteActually I need to just re-read your other post and try to think of what I've done this week when all I think is "it's half-way over and I have NOTHING to show for it!" Great idea. As always :)
Yes. I have been struggling to remind myself, too. BUT we're all still functioning, so we must have done something, right? ;) And I'm pretty sure actually have been doing a lot to make it count and many others would agree (re: your last post), amiright? :)
Delete