Let’s get real…there are a lot of things I need to do better, and as a big believer in self-improvement, I’m going to share 5 of them with you today. It’s easy to make excuses as to why “things are the way they are,” but it’s better to make an effort to change them than to let them get stale and become a negative part of your life. I’m always reading that you are much more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down, so here we gooooo! 

1. Cleaning + Laundry

OKAY, people. I hope I’m not the only one with this on my list. This is definitely my number one because it’s what I struggle with the most on a daily basis. I always think I have more time in the day than I do (aka I put off cleaning/laundry until the last minute), and somehow I can’t seem to keep up with everything. Having two kids in the house definitely doesn’t help…when I’m cleaning, I feel like my 2-year-old is following me around just making a mess right behind me ;)…can anyone relate? This video is my life. My hubs and I don’t have many disagreements, but this is one thing I can say drives him cray-zay (however, he is not exactly a huge help cleaning up after himself LOL)! Now, there is a difference between “dirty” and “messy.” I’m definitely NOT dirty – I never leave dirty dishes in the sink/on the counter, always have clean towels, and never leave food (or anything that you would consider dirty) out. My problems consist more of letting the laundry basket overflow, leaving clothes on the floor from the night before, and letting my clutter take over (mail, magazines, baby items, etc). Also, my closet is a disaster. Every day, I DO make my bed, and have everything neat & tidy by the time my husband gets home from work…but it’s a struggle, and I could definitely do better than I do (aka the 30-minute tornado clean up). I’m SO envious of neat and tidy people! I recently saw this list from Cupcakes and Cashmere, and number 8 is genius – this is definitely my #1 goal at the moment! 

2. Unplug

I’m so guilty of being addicted to technology. Especially as a blogger, there are so many different social outlets to keep up with (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter…) that it’s hard to put. the. phone. down. But this is definitely something I want to focus on, especially while my girls are young – I want to spend time doing things I enjoy, and actually enjoy them more rather than feel pressured to “get the perfect shot” to share with everyone. This one will be hard for me, because I love photography, and love to document my daily life, but I’m going to start small, and spend 2 hours a day away from anything tech – no phone, no computer, no TV. This may not sound like much, but I probably don’t go more than 45 minutes to an hour without looking at my phone. 

3. Plan More Kid-Friendly Activities

I’m with my girls on a daily basis, but it’s easy to fall into a routine that doesn’t necessarily challenge them (really, Sophia since Avery is only 4 months), and Sophia doesn’t start school until September. I want to be realistic about this, so I’m going to start by planning ONE extra kid-friendly activity per week. We always jam-pack the weekends with activities, but I think it’s important to do more during the week as well. There are moms who are always on the go, attending class after class with their kids, but honestly that’s just not me, and probably never will be (right now we do one ballet/gymnastics class). But, I can definitely commit to planning one additional activity/outing each week. Any ideas for me?! I’m going to create a bucket list for the rest of summer, and my goal is to check each item off before preschool starts! 

4. Live a Healthy Lifestyle
We have a big health-related post coming up, but this is definitely something I struggle with. I know how to eat clean, I know how to work out, and I enjoy both…sometimes. My problem, like many, is that I fall off the wagon when anything shifts my schedule in the slightest. I’m trying to keep my eating 80% healthy, but weekends are definitely a struggle for me. I downloaded the MyFitnessPal app, and it definitely helps, but I really need to  get it together, and make time for health/fitness daily. It’s not that hard, it’s just about creating a plan. Stay tuned for an update…

5. Rest
My days are typically 6:00am – 10:15pm – Avery eats around 9:30-10pm and is just starting to sleep through the night (sadly, not every night lol), so by the time 10:15 rolls around, I feel like I have some “me” time. I take that time to browse blogs, Instagram, read the news, catch up on DVR’d shows, etc, but I really need to be resting. I wake up every morning feeling “SO TIRED,” but it’s my own fault. I want to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day instead of feeling like I need a gallon of coffee just to get out of my pajamas. I’m going to strive for a nightly routine that goes something like this…put Avery to bed, put pajamas on, wash face + brush teeth, read for 20-30 minutes (reading books should also be on this list!), and go to bed. I think this will help me feel so much better – right now I’m falling asleep between 12:00 – 12:30am with the occasional 3-4am wake-up call from Avery, and that’s just not enough sleep. More sleep = happier & healthier!

Anyone with me on any of these?!