Six Month Update

It's the beginning of July already!! Where is the year going?  I'm sure the years speed up as we get older ...

As it's halfway through the year, it's time to evaluate how I'm going with my 2019 goals and reading list.  As before, if the text is struck through, then I accomplished that goal or completed that book. 

- How well have I done?  

- What could I have done differently?  

- Have any of my goals changed?

- Have I decided to not read any of the books on my list?

- What do I need to do to get myself closer to where I'd aimed to be by this point? 

My 2019 Goals

Look at my health and wellness – get back to having a yoga practise.

My tennis elbow is much better now and I can do many more things, although I still haven't managed to get back into a yoga practice.  There have been other things going on in my life this year which have taken priority.  (More on this in another upcoming post.)

Look at my snacks and evening meals and how can I make them healthier? 

I'm doing okay at this I think. I've not stuck to my rotating menu plan but I am planning each following weeks evening meals on a Sunday when I'm working in my planner for the upcoming week.

Addressing my anxiety and reducing it.

There have been a few peaks and troughs this year which have made this a very tough six months, but having said that, I do think I am managing my anxiety really well so far.  (Again, more on this in another upcoming post.)

Read more (two books a month).

See below for my feedback on this goal.

Finish my de-cluttering and organising.

Due to my tennis elbow, I hadn't done any clearing or decluttering until June.  I managed to get rid of a stack of magazines to recycle, organise some of my personal paperwork and organise some of my art supplies into a Really Useful plastic box instead of a cardboard box which didn't even have a lid.

Look at my finances.

I have done a bit of this within the last few months.  I have looked at my monthly expenses, deduct that amount from my pay each month and then divide the remainder between the number of weeks in the upcoming month.  This is then my budget for the week.  It's only been the last few weeks where I have been under budget consistently because I have had unexpected expenses to pay for.  Like sorting my car's alloy wheels and tyres out ...

My main goal to start this year with, was the de-cluttering and organising one.  I was annoyed that I'd not been able to do any until last month, but getting my elbow healthy again was the main thing.  Three months into the year my health became my main priority with self-care, a weekly meal plan, a meditation practise and starting the tennis elbow exercises again the goals I was focusing on.

Now, I'm switching back to the original main goal of clearing and decluttering my belongings.  There's still six months of the year to go, so there's plenty of time for me make a bigger dent, if not complete this goal. Besides, I got rid of so much stuff last year that I've already made a huge difference to the outlook of what I own and why.  What do I actually use and need as the main criteria and what has sentimental meaning to me as a secondary one?

My 2019 reading list.

January

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

Belgravia by Julian Fellows 

Feel the Fear by Susan Jeffers

February

Breakout at Stalingrad by Heinrich Gerlach (begun in January as I'd forgotten I had The Little Paris Bookshop to finish) I haven't read any more of this yet, although I would like to finish it soon.

The Power of Now - by Eckhart Tolle

I got confused and started reading the wrong book after I'd finished Feel the Fear.

March

Dark Waters by Robin Blake I did start this one but not until June and I found it was really difficult to get into and so I put it onto the donate pile. 

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (bought for me a few years ago as a birthday or Christmas gift from a friend) I've not got anywhere near this one yet.

April

The Choice - Even in Hell Hell Hope can Flower by Edith Eger

I read this from April to May

A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled by Ruby Wax

May

All That She Can See by Carrie Hope Fletcher I read this in June

The Motivation Manifesto by Brendon Burchard

June

Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher I started this last month

Journal to the Self 22 Paths to Personal Growth by Kathleen Adams, M.A.

July

Shadows of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth

Writing Down the Bones - Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg

August

Always With Love by Giovanna Fletcher

Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies and Alison Leslie Gold

September

Untold Stories by Alan Bennett

Moving On by Sarah Ban Breathnach

October

The Co-op's Got Bananas! by Hunter Davis (This was a Christmas gift I bought for my mum a few years ago and she passed it onto me to read.  She was born at the end of World War 2 and has said in the past that she remembers when the shops got banana's back in, so I thought she might like to read this, and the title made me laugh :D )

Lifetonic by Jodie Shield

November

Into the Water by Paula Harris (Loved her first novel Girl on a Train which was made into a film)

The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz

December

One Day in December by Josie Silver

Winters Snow (a novella) by Carrie Hope Fletcher

Christmas with Billy and Me (a novella) by Giovanna Fletcher

Something More - Excavating Your Authentic Self by Sarah Ban Breathnach

I think I really need to have a look at how many books I have managed to read so and therefore how many I will more likely manage in the next six months.  I knew that I was being really ambitious with two books a month for most of the year, but I did think I would manage to get more books read than I have done.  

Comment down below how are you all doing so far with your goals for 2019.