Month of No Excess

Woah, nelly-- I have no idea what has happened to this year, but I've had some small successes and some huge failures when it comes to health.  I have more, more work to do.  But for today, I am tackling one solid month of no excess in my spending.  Have you heard of "No Spend Month," yet?  It's an old concept, I'm sure; but a new one to me.  The idea is to restrict your spending for an entire month, so that you can train your brain to think about spending in a new light, and help yourself recognize the difference between a need and a want.

This is an area I need tremendous help with; even when I recognize that I want something, and do not actually need it, I have a hard time talking myself out of it.  As such, I'm committing to live for an entire month on $125.  October 6 -- November 5, 2012 I am going to spend no more than this amount on all food, clothes, gas, household needs and all other expenses.  I am not counting rent, bills, health expenses, or my gym membership.  But for all the rest, a cash budget it is.

Today, I spent exactly $5.17-- I purchased two packages of yeast, so that I can bake homemade bread, and a bag of spinach for the meal I delivered to friends with a new born.  I also have a nearly full tank of gas in my car.  I travel quite a bit for work, but I'm aiming to drive to work as little as possible, and I plan to consolidate errands and such as much as possible.  There are few errands that cannot be accomplished by walking or riding my bike this month.

Total so far: $5.17 of $125.00 total 

Resolved

I have always had a love-hate relationship with New Year's Resolutions. As a student of life, it's my goal to be constantly learning, growing, challenging myself and accepting new habits into the fullness of my life. It seems ridiculous that on some arbitrary day I should be more likely to set intentions and reflect that on any other day. That's the hate part, in case you couldn't tell.

On the other hand, my friend Nic offers another perspective: "The beginning of the New Year offers each of us an opportunity to recommit to our convictions and make hopeful resolutions for individual growth." This part, I love. I'm grateful for a built-in opportunity to breathe deeply, to reflect, and to set intentions. I do this naturally in early September, too-- probably because I've been in school for most of my life, and the beginning of the school year was a natural time for looking back and envisioning the ways I'd like to future to be.

In some ways, this January is a perfect marriage of the two, for me. I've just earned my MBA, and in many ways am beginning to determine the ways I'd like my life to be, now that I've graduated from school and into Real Adult Life-- whatever that means. So rather than fighting the trite New Year's process, I'm choosing to embrace the opportunity and be intentional in deciding the aspirations for my Real Adult Life, as it begins in 2012. :)

I've dubbed 2012 the Year of Health. I am determined to cultivate habits of health and wellness, in both the physical and emotional senses. My top-of-mind goals for the year support these aims.

1) I will transition to a primarily vegan diet and make intentional choices regarding food. I plan to eat my meals sitting at a table, without electronic distractions, and on a regular schedule. I will make the majority of my meals at home, from whole foods.

2) I will develop strong exercise habits as a base for incorporating wellness into my life. I will spend at least 30 minutes each day for six days of each week intentionally exercising. Right now, this involves going to the gym and walking on the treadmill six days each week, but I recognize that my activities and exercise needs may change as my body and life changes. The long-term goal is to build exercise as a habit that will be part of my life in the immediate and future time-frames.

3) I will cultivate a meditation practice. I don't know what this looks like yet, but I will take this year to explore various types of meditation, and will choose a practice that feels comfortable to me.

And you, friends? What intentions have you set for the next year?