Keeping It Real Challenge- Week 28: Inconsistency
Let’s talk character flaws. Mine, not yours (although I’d love for you to list some of yours in the comments so I don’t feel like such a loser).
Actually, I just want to talk about one of my character flaws today:
I’m good at making plans. I like to come up with ideas. I dream big dreams. Sometimes I even form a plan of attack on how I’ll accomplish those plans, ideas, and dreams. But when it comes to implementing that plan of attack, I don’t last very long. I lack stick-to-it-iveness and it bugs the crap out of me.
It’s not just in one area of my life; it’s in a bunch. Here are a few examples:
Chore charts for the kids. I made the charts, but enforcing their use lasted about 3 days.
Craft/DIY/Miscellaneous projects. Oh my, I have a list a mile long: I’ve made one curtain, but not it’s mate. I need to make last year’s photo book and Annelise’s First Year photo book. I have several knitting projects I want to do. I have the materials for a few projects in Annelise’s bedroom, but haven’t started the projects. And on and on and on.
The Great Purge. It’s been a year since I decided to do that. I started out with a bang and did the entire downstairs. Then I stalled out. I’ve cleaned out our master bedroom closet, but it needs to be done again, and I’ve done the linen closet (which I can actually say has stayed looking pretty nice), but it’s been months and I still haven’t added a blog update about it.
I hate that I’m like this. I feel like I’m constantly letting myself down, my kids down, my husband down, and in some cases, other people down. It doesn’t set a good example for my kids and it’ll probably lead to trust issues for them since what I say is going to happen doesn’t always (or even often) end up happening.
I want to be a person of my word. I want my kids to know that when I say something, it will happen. I want to complete all these projects and meet all these goals.
Yet here I am, stuck in limbo, not knowing how to proceed. In order to ‘improve’ I need to follow through on what I say and complete what I begin. But I already know that I’m good at making lists of what needs to be done, but I’m not good at actually completing those tasks. So if I just write down everything I intend to do, I’ll soon fall back into my old patterns.
SO… who out there is a good finisher? Who can give me some practical steps to see things through to completion? And who wants to tell me some of your annoying flaws? I know I’m not the only imperfect one 😉
People like to complain about living here, but I totally agree with Maine’s motto. This is ‘The Way Life Should Be’.
Exploring at low tide is fun. And also messy.
You’re not a loser. And if someone calls you one, show them how well your kids have turned out, and then show them your blog and how successful it is! 🙂
Aww thanks! You’re right; my kids are pretty awesome 😉 I don’t really consider myself a loser, but I do want to improve this area of myself. Any ideas?
So….do you have a calendar? Write it down…make a list and hold yourself accountable. I bought a plain old paper calendar at Target that has a column for each family member…it works! Oh, and get up way before your kids to get things done! Good luck!
Girl I need to start getting up way before my little guy…my work always waits until the end of the day and it drives me nuts!
I keep hearing the ‘get up early’ thing… my kids have been sleeping a little later than they normally do, so that’s definitely a possibility.
Here is one of my flaws: the house is a mess and I want it clean, but it overwhelms me and I just stare at it…I always wind up picking it up, but I waste about two hours fighting with myself over it! I think the first thing you should do, is make sure you aren’t too hard on yourself – give yourself a break and then just tackle one small thing until you know it works for you and then add another one. Once you see some success with your challenges it will be easier to keep at it.
Yup. Yup. And yup. I do the same thing. I see all the things that need to get done and I’m overwhelmed before I even begin. And I think you’re right; if I start noticing the things I do get done, maybe I wouldn’t feel so bad about all the things I don’t get done. I probably accomplish more than I think.