New Year's Resolutions

I know....get through Christmas first, right? :P Well, I was thinking about this the last few days and figured if I really want to have a chance on accomplishing my resolutions, I need to start now! I am a procrastinator so this might be a good thing for me. I am also a planner but not so much a follow through-er so we will see how this goes. I figured I'd start by writing out what I want to work on and then start making my plan on how I will do it. Sad to say they are mostly resolutions I've had for many a New Year but you can't say I haven't tried...

So anyway, here's what I've been thinking about. This is not a comprehensive list but these will be good for now. Not quite sure how it will all be accomplished but that's why I am starting early, right?!

1) Meal Planning- This is my most challenging area as a homemaker! I just can't seem to get organized in this area. I have actually enjoyed cooking these past few years since I've been trying some new recipes and things. I have alot of ideas but it's the planning that keeps getting in the way (okay, and maybe the sticking with it). I need to stop the 5pm "what's for dinner" question and turn it into a "what's for dinner for next Thursday" question. I want to make a list at least a week in advance of what I would like to have for each meal, including breakfast, lunch and snacks for the kids. Lunch is just as much of a problem as dinner for me. I end up just making the old standbys because I don't have items or ingredients I need.

2) Homeschooling- I need to start putting more effort into lessons for the kids. I have to stop waiting until 15 mins before school starts to look at the lesson for that day. I do prepare the workboxes the night before but it's usually at 10pm and I end up just throwing things together. I'd like to make time to do things right and actually make it more beneficial for the kids. Again, it is just more planning time that I need.

3) Daily Schedule- This should actually be #1 because if I do this, then all the other things will fall into place. I really want to make a schedule for each day of the things we do and when we do them. We have a random (I prefer the word flexible) schedule right now but pretty much all that is the same time everyday is nap time and school time. I want to carve out slots where I have time to plan for school, plan for meals and plan for activities for the coming week. If I know when I can do what I need to do and have a plan for getting everything done, then I will do it and not try to do ten things at once (which is how I get sidetracked). Right now I find myself just doing random tasks at inappropriate times and then end up neglecting duties I should be doing instead. The things I do are not purely selfish (yes, I spend quite a bit of time on the computer but alot of it is research/planning for school). I just shouldn't be doing it when I should be cleaning the house or playing with the kids. Oh well, that's what this is all about, right, breaking bad habits and creating good ones. And it's never too early to start! Check my daily routine out here and let me know what you think!