Get Your January MoJo Back: Discipline and Motivation!
The secret of discipline is motivation. When a man is sufficiently motivated, discipline will take care of itself. – Alexander Patterson
I was really challenged by Melissa’s “Jump Start Your Day with a Simple 5-Minute Routine,” post (The Inspired Room), especially since I’ve been a slacker in making my bed this month. Seriously, in my almost 20 years of marriage, I’ve always made my bed.
But this month? I’m not sure what got into me, or where my discipline went.
So I had a pep talk with myself after reading Melissa’s post, and I got my bed-making mojo back. I am happy to say I am now making my bed as soon as I get up in the morning.
January for me is a time for eating healthier after all the holiday parties, exercising more, challenging myself to get back in to running, organizing and cleaning out cupboards and files, and dealing with paperwork and tax stuff, which I hate.
My husband and I also sat down and wrote down the names of a few couples that we want to have over for dinner. We made a plan, but it takes discipline and effort to follow through and really make it happen. In our case we’ve asked ourselves, do we want to be lonely and isolated (as we age) or do we want to nurture long-time relationships and be open to fresh, new ones? We can get in a rut of seeing the same people over and over, and not sharing our lives with possibly new, younger friends. Not to give up the old, but to add in some new. Just a thought.
Discipline helps us do what we know we should do, but probably will not do without concerted effort or help.
Are you more disciplined and motivated in the month of January? Have you thought about relationships that you want to pursue in 2011?
And (Lord help us all) do you have a secret for making your bed every morning?
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
It really does take discipline to plan dinners with friends! We’re going to eat lunch after church with a family that we’ve had on the calendar for months.
The bed gets made the fastest when my husband and I jump out at the same time. :-) Two (sets of) hands make fast work!
I make my bed while my moisturizer is drying/being absorbed on my face.
My Grandmother, whom we lived with, nagged me every day to make my bed. Sometimes successfully and sometimes not :o) Once I got married I started making my bed every day but I never nagged at my kids to make theirs. They either did or did not and if company was coming, well, that’s what the doors on their bedrooms were for, right? I knew when they had places of their own they would make their beds and they would have a long life ahead of them to make beds.
That having been said, I don’t make my bed when my husband travels. I don’t love it when he goes so I shake up the whole routine :o)
Thanks for the mention Sandy! Glad you enjoyed the post. It usually takes me most of January to get myself in gear, especially with Blissdom and some church obligations that are this month, it is just a busy time right after Christmas! I’m hoping to get myself fully back in the swing of my life by February :-) . xo
I have a morning routine too, as soon as I get up (7:30) I make the bed, I open all the blinds and windows, put the kettle on for some morning warm water (immense help for your body, try it, just a glass of warm water before breakfast) take a look at my flower pots in the balcony and tidy up the living room. This whole thing takes no more than 10 minutes.
What I would like to change is, I want to tidy up before going to bed at night…but somehow I never can : )
I guess the secret is to think to yourself how much you’ll be irritated when you see your bed unmade when it’s already afternoon…horrible sight, thanks to the chip our mothers placed in our heads : ))
Hmmmm…I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m more motivated or disciplined once January rolls around, I guess it really all depends, usually on my mood and the weather (C:. So far this month I’ve thought of oodles of things that I need to do, and want to do, but haven’t really done them. I’ve thought about writing down some goals but haven’t actually done it (well, I did write down a few tonight).
I try to make the bed at some point before bedtime (C: Usually in the morning, but there are days that once I’m downstairs I don’t go back upstairs unless I’m doing laundry. Sometimes I’m out of bed before my hubby so really can’t make it when I get up (C: He’ll make it sometimes too.
Socially, there are a few gals and couples that I’d/we’d like to get to know better. We’re getting ready to enter into another busy soccer season so that gets a bit tricky.
Great post Sandy!!!
I just started making the bed again too! Yesterday was my first day back on the wagon. :) I keep in mind: 1, I read somewhere that making the bed is a top-priority thing professional organizers recommend, and 2, Your mind is much more at ease when you walk into your room and your bed is made. Sets the stage for future tidiness, etc… Good luck!
I was just telling Chad that I feel so motivated to get things done around our home. It could be because it’s the month of January, or that I’m already starting the ‘nesting’ phase of my pregnancy… or maybe it’s because we’ve put our house on the market…
Oh boy!
I think I need to read Melissa’s post for more inspiration! ;o)
For years, I gave every excuse in the book for not making it. But I’ve been making it now for about a year (give or take a few lazy-days) and I’ve decided for sure that I love having a made bed to climb into at night, and to gaze at during the day!
I don’t think I’m more disciplined in January, but I do feel a sense of newness or fresh start that definitely gives me a winter lift and anticipation for the coming months.
It’s interesting that so many are thinking about pursuing new friendships (or renewing old ones) in the new year. We were talking in December about making a concerted effort to broaden our socializing this year. I ask myself why the word “effort” needs to be in that conversation. It seems sad somehow.
I love @Jennifer’s Dinner Club concept, especially the comfort food!
Oh, the bed! It needs new linens. I try not to look at it when I leave it. That is the best I can do.
I do not make the bed right away – in fact, I rarely do it. My husband sweats a lot at night (yeah, it’s gross) and I read that not allowing the bedding to breathe sufficiently creates more bacteria growth. So I change the sheets a lot, and make the bed after changing them, but that’s the only time it gets done. Sigh.
What motivation to entertain! You never know where your children will land. Joni
My secret to making my bed every morning is… my husband does it. No lie. I’m a lucky woman, because I do love the look of a made bed, but just can’t bring myself to do it first thing. He does it the second we’re both out of the bed! Yay for me. :)
Having a hard time getting my mojo on this year, due to illness, snow storm, etc. But this verse keeps popping up before me: Isiah 43:19 “Do something new.” Point taken.
Hmmm..This is a great post — one I had to mull over before coming back and commenting. ; )
We are in an interesting place in our lives right now: 6 months ago, we moved away from our hometown + everyone we know and loved. We are now 3 1/2 hours away from them. BTW, it was a good thing — we had always dreamed of moving to this (current) town.
Anyway, we’re so in limbo: We’re living in a rental while we work on the house we just bought. We have made a few friends where we currently are, but I haven’t invested a lot of time or effort in to these new relationships because we’re about to move again. (Well, in a few months time, but soon enough.)
Once we’re finally in our new (old) house that’s it. We’re staying put. And then, I think we (as a family) need to grow some roots and make some friends. I need some mom-friends, my kids need new BFFs, and my husband needs a surfing buddy. I think your plan of actually planning it out is brilliant!
You have inspired me to MAKE A PLAN for once we’re in our new (old) house. Because good friends don’t * just happen.*
I do the same thing!
My “secret” for making the bed is, while I’m still in it I pull all the sheets and blankets perfectly straight and then slip out the side. It’s almost made at that point. I just have to smooth the comforter and place the myriad of pillows (my obsession) and I’m done!
I’ve actually had the same problem, Sandy! I think it’s because I’ve started a daily cleaning routine, which means I don’t go back in the bedroom much throughout the day. The rest of the house is now clean, but the bed is not made–I can’t win! :) Maybe I’ll just have to write it in to my other plan. Thanks for the encouragement :)
No secrets to share just wanted to thank you for saying what I’ve been feeling and for giving me the push to get back in gear!
Blessings
Roxanne
I’m more motivated after I’ve had a break and feel recharged- so it can be January or the beginning of a school year…and then the weariness can set in! Nothing earth shattering about making our bed (it’s always me)- but nice bedding I like to look at helps! :)
I’m really hoping that by February I can think straight. This whole moving and stuff has been distracting. I really do need to sit down and focus on certain things. I think I might go and read that post now! It sounds like I need it. Though I do make my bed every day but Sunday. LOL!
One of our goals this year is to find another couple we can hang out with. Strangely, this seems more difficult than losing weight!
Lynn if only you lived closer! LOL!
My husband and I have a deal, whoever gets out of bed last makes the bed. It works for me since I am always up very early! On occasions he forgets or is in a hurry for an early morning meeting and I make it. I also don’t make a big deal if he forgets but…. if it becomes a pattern I gently remind him of our deal.
Yes, I make the bed every morning. In fact my bedmaking is a family joke. My daughters say that if I woke up in the middle of the night with the house on fire I would HAVE to make my bed before I ran out of the house, LOL!
Trust me, I’m not that disciplined about much else.
Darla
January…such a month of contradiction. I’m either feeling totally motivated to get things in order…get on track…plan to the hilt….or I’m cuddled under a blanket not wanting to do a darn thing! Ugh.
One of my goals this year…and every year…is to keep our social life a bit more active. Most of our life just involves the kids and their activities. So..on one of those motivated days, I started a Dinner Club! 5 couples…once a month. We are hosting this Sat. our inaugural dinner….Comfort Food….and I am so looking forward to it. this will give us a monthly social activity…some great food and company. Yay!
PS. I should start making my bed every day. :)