March has been quite an adventure, and not always in the best way. But, I don't set these goals with the assumption I will always hit all of them, and having goals motivates me. Even when the results aren't so great.
Here's how the month went (or, didn't go, might be more likely).
Financial:
- Continue to pay for Sam's college expenses - yes, although Sam is rethinking how he wants the rest of college to go & if he wants to transfer, stay where he's at, or switch majors.
- Get a new job - I've continued to interview & have 3 jobs in the hopper, but one may not get funded do to the economy. That's the one I was most excited about, so I'm pretty disappointed. I've invested a lot of time in it so far, but fingers crossed maybe it will still happen.
- Prep for part-time job - I've prepped my content for week 1, and have set a goal to be 2 weeks ahead at all times, so I'll finish week 2 soon.
- Earn $300 in side hustle - I only made $80 in March, all through Prolific user studies.
- Pantry/freezer challenge:
- 1 bag of frozen fruit - yes, done
- 1 bottle of dressing - nope
- 1 package of holiday cheese - nope
Family:
- Help Nick with final college decision, including two tours - we did two tours, and Nick finalized his decision to go to Boulder! He's very excited.
- Enjoy spring break with Sam. Help him finalize his summer plans - Sam & I spent a lot of time together over spring break, and as noted above, he's trying to sort out how he wants to handle the rest of college. It's a big change for young adults.
- Optimize points, perks & miles. Track value. - I've saved $3,864 by using points through the following: 3 nights in Sedona on my girls trip, 3 nights at the Marriott in Corvallis, 2 nights in Boulder for an upcoming orientation for Nick, & a free night during skiing.
- Finalize Spain trip details. - Spain was cancelled, so this definitely didn't happen.
- Enjoy Nick's senior year. Attend soccer banquet & at least 3 tennis matches. -I attended the soccer banquet, but his matches have been rescheduled a lot due to weather & I haven't been.
Fitness:
- Lose 2 lbs - I lost 1.3 lbs
- Strength train 15 days - 11/15
- No S diet 15 days - 6/15
- Average 13,000 steps/day - definitely not! I was at 11,600/day, which dropped my average for the year.
- Meditate 10 times - 7/10 times & found an app to use (free with my credit card). Having access to the app is making this goal much easier.
- Try a new workout - I tried out a new workout class format & really liked it. It's a much longer running class, so I'll be adding more of these into my workouts.
Personal:
- Language lessons 15 times - I totally fell apart on this, particularly once I realized we weren't going to Spain. While I didn't track this, I'm also not sure I did any language lessons in March.
- Declutter 50 items from the house - No progress this month!
- Get together with friends 2x - Yes! I went for three hikes, a girls hiking trip & met another friend for yoga & lunch.
- Play pickleball x1 - nope
- Help students (volunteer role) make college decisions - Yes, I've continued to meet with my mentees.
- Do something towards my goals of "Try something new & uncomfortable" and "Say yes to more adventures" - went on another girls trip (hiking to Sedona), which was a wonderful adventure.
- Reduce screen time - I've made progress on this, and also spent time skiing & hiking, which is definitely good for reducing electronics time.
All in all, it was a very "okay" month by objective measure, but I kept on & am more than ready for April! What about you? How did you do with your goals for the month?
That's awesome that Nick has made his decision! It won't be long before he graduates! Senior year goes by so fast. I also think it's totally normal for all college kids to rethink some things as Sam is doing. I remember being there so many times before I finally decided on my path. Hoping funding goes through so you can get that great job you are looking forward to!
ReplyDeleteI agree, the more I talk to people who have or (have had) college aged kids, many of them say similar things. It's such a hard transition and age to figure out. (HP)
DeleteTrue story, I kind of flunked out of college so became a RN. Due to financial concerns I was forced to go to a local community college (very unhappy so hardly went and dropped several classes). (I wanted to be a lawyer and had received a fairly large scholarship at a private college but it wasn’t enough). At this time, 1973 one job they trained you for and paid fairly well was a CNA so I did that and started in a main hospital and loved it!! Anything medical was never on my mind. The next year I was excepted into two states colleges, one about 4 hours away and I loved it. I’ve recently retired from nursing for the state of Mn after 48 years!! And still do part time homecare nursing. Sometimes things are meant to follow a different path. I’ve no regrets!!
DeleteMy daughter actually took two years off before even leaving for college. It was too much for her to face at the time. I also think that her dual enrollment program, while she excelled in, wore her out academically. She was actually on the college campus (until they were forced to online due to the pandemic.) She just wasn’t ready to go away and step into a full course load of 300 level and above classes. She also realized that her intended major was not the path for her, which meant the colleges she had chosen to apply to/been accepted really weren’t the best choice. In the interim, she managed a local retail shop. Frankly, that time away from all things scholarly was therapeutic. They’re so young. He will find his niche!
ReplyDelete-Meg B.
You know this idea that an 18 year old knows what they want in life and then to go ahead gang busters, is just too much. College is so expensive so we want our kids to get in and get out and they should be allowed to explore and change their minds and just learn to learn. I think as a parent I wanted my girls to decide and not waste time and money, but they needed time to figure out what they wanted. They needed the opportunity to change their minds. I don't think we give them that any more because of cost. This is just my opinion as I saw it with my kids. At 18 I had no idea what I was going to do. In fact I may not even now... :)
ReplyDeleteAs far as I am concerned you did darn well. My goals are kind of not getting completed as much as I would like.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Congratulations to Nick! Boulder will be fantastic! Also, it is ok for Sam to change majors and/or schools if needed. I changed majors, and I also got one undergraduate degree at a University across the country and then got another one from a University in my state. Life is not linear. We change and do what we think is best for us. Sam will do fine either way. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteI've been in a hard place despite the Pollyanna's of the world basically saying to shut up. I can feel for all your challenges as I witness this in my family. As someone that had a non traditional college path ( left temporarily due to stress and finances, then finished when on maternity leave, returning again 11 years later) and ended up in a decent career, your support of Sam is everything. Who knows anything at 18! Best wishes on the job front.
ReplyDeleteI’m adding as the almost flunked out so a RN. I have 14 grandkids. Three graduated, 1. Finishing her senior year private college as a teacher, 2. Loved theater singing and acting, has played lead parts in surrounding area and currently working nights stocking a hospital and pursuing his acting, 3. Went to USF ( south Florida and is in her 2nd year there for nursing and loves it (cullure shock for Midwest farmer types. Sorority!!! Etc, 4. Girl is a senior now but has had anxiety issues so is doing PCfo ( going to community college for combined graduation from high school and AA degree in college, she loves being a barista working almost full time. (Turned 18 and moved in with her boyfriend (not easy) but she’s doing well, 5. Graduates this year and has been accepted into a law enforcement program tech school an hour away, 5. Grandson possiblyuu teaching but for now farming with his dad and is hoping to start his own excavation business. For everyone different and unique!!!!! Not all decisions easy for parents and grandmas!! My youngest daughter lasted on semester at a private amazing college about an hour away. She changed on her own moving to Minneapolis and started college there. I was devastated! Such planning had gotten to her first choice it just didn’t go well. She did amazing there, got a business degree married with two kids wigg th h s career she loves. There’s usually not a straight line!
ReplyDeleteCan’t believe I almost forgot actual #3 granddaughter chose to stay living at home, going to our community college and will soon be finishing her first year of nursing there. There is no “right” path. But as parents and even a grandparent we worry so, just want them happy and safe. At 70 plus, years ago I used to think about prestige, career paths, money…. Now it’s just about being happy.
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