New Year, New Focus

Well, the beginning of a new year always brings out the urge to create resolutions. This year mine are going to be extremely specific. I find that the more specific they are the more likely I am to achieve them. Here is a short list of my 2010 resolutions:

1. Eat the most nutritiously-dense foods that I can at each meal.

2. Exercise each day for at least 30 minutes.

3. Participate in at least three 5k races.

4. Concentrate on my schoolwork and finishing my final project to remove the "incomplete" from last semester's grades.

5. Reconnect with two specific friends who I've lost touch with over the past couple of years.

6. Go to at least 2 musical productions/plays.

7. Go to at least 4 dance performances (professional or otherwise).

8. Go see/hear an opera.

9. Go to at least one rock concert.

10. Go skydiving.

11. Get my passport renewed so I can take my kids to a fabulous vacation outside of the U.S. I think they want to go someplace tropical.

12. Get a massage.

13. Make at least five new friends.

The focus of these resolutions is improving my mind, body, and soul. I know, sounds really esoteric and "far out" but I believe that the only person we can change is ourselves. I want to be the best person that I can be and I know that what I do can encourage those around me to do the same.

Sometimes technology sucks

Well, I did my presentation in class last night on ooVoo. Had some problems: the "Share my Desktop" didn't work and there was a terrible lag between the conference participants (me and my two kids). Don't think I sold anyone on ooVoo, but that wasn't my purpose anyway. As prepared as I was, there's no telling how technology will work when you need it, I guess. Thinking about doing my second presentation on privacy issues relating to Web 2.0 and/or new privacy software. Have one in mind, but its so new that there's very little information available about it.

Benefits of Exercise -- Worth the Time

Well, I've decided that I need to get back to exercising everyday like I used to do before I started grad school. The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Last night I helped my son with his homework ,after coming home from a full day of work and evening class, said "good night" to him and hopped on the treadmill for a four mile jog at 11:00pm. Afterwards, I felt happy, relaxed, and ready for bed (late-night exercise doesn't keep me from falling asleep). This morning, I woke up about 1/2 hour earlier than normal and jogged for three miles. Again I felt happy, relaxed, and ready for the day at work. This is why exercise is so important for me:
(1) improves my health
(2) helps me maintain a healthy weight
(3) helps strengthen my muscles (I do floor exercises too)
(4) increases endorphins and makes me feel much happier and relaxed
(5) no more aches and pains in my knees and hips
(6) increases my self-esteem due to the first five items on my list
(7) helps my mind stay focused
(8) decreases my appetite
My goal is to exercise everyday from now on. If I don't have time for a full workout, I will get in as much as I can and not worry about it.

Crazy for Grad School

Why Can't the Day be Longer?

Juggling career, household, children, grad school, relationships and social life as a single mom is a tough job. There are rarely enough hours in the day to get everything done, let alone to get enough sleep. At times it's quite overwhelming, but I've used a couple of different organizational strategies to keep me where I need to be and when. Not that I haven't made alot of mistakes along the way (like the time I completely forgot about picture day and sent my son to school in the wrong clothes and without his order form). I've learned to prioritize my issues and not stress over things that are unimportant in the overall scheme of life. I will share some of organization and time-saving techniques in future posts.