More or Less - Setting your Resolutions for 2021

It is almost the official time of year when we work on setting resolutions.

Here is an easy way to get started on your resolutions for 2021. What can you do more of in 2021? What can you do less of?  

The More

Smile More
Laugh More
Walk More
Drink More Water
Appreciate More
Read More
Write More
Listen More

The Less 

Eat Less
Swear Less
Worry Less
Frown Less
Complain Less
Procrastinate Less
Talk Less

Do you want to make more progress in 2021? It may be a perfect time to start working with a transition coach to help you get more from your life in 2021.

What's Most Important to You?

Do you take time out to think about what is most important to you? Do you take life as it comes or do you make life what you want it to be? There may be no right or wrong answers to these two questions, however those who fail to plan, often find their life results less than they desire.

I have found taking “formal planned  time” to focus on what is most important to you is key to creating the life you want.Taking time out from your day-to-day activities can be tricky and complicated, especially if you lead a busy life. However, if you are a busy person, then taking time out is as easy as making an appointment or two with yourself. A few hours will likely be enough for you to create a clearer understanding of where you want to go.

Individuals who are focused can pre-plan their “future vision session” .  They can do this by creating a list of questions to consider during the session.  This will allow a more focused and directed time. However, if you are a person who has trouble focusing, working with a life coach for a few sessions might be the key to creating the life you want. The life coach can help you by asking great questions, and then you can find your own answers.

Terry now provides life coaching services. Check out her website for more details.

The Year In Review

Now is a great time to review the 2017 calendar and see the postive progress you have made in life's transitions, challenges and changes.

What have you accomplished?

What is on track in your life?

What is new and a positive addition to your life that you did not see or imagine last year?

Take some time to do this exercise so you can be aware of your accomplishments. You may want to consider creating an accomplishment journal. This is a great tool to see your life's transitions and changes.

Choose Your Challenge

The new year is fast approaching and this is the perfect time to choose a challenge for 2018. Every year, for the last 5 years, I have chosen to read a certain number of books. Last year I decided 60 was the number of books to read in 2017. Yesterday I reached my reading goal. I based my decision on what I had planned for the year and selected the appropriate number. For my 2018 "reading" challenge, I will be selecting 65 books.

Now is the time for you to make some choices about a 2018 challenge. Why not choose something to challenge you? Think fitness or exercise related. How about education or new knowledge related?  How about family related or travel bucket list related? Choose your challenge(s) and change your life.

A challenge can help you grow and change your life. Let me know what you are planning to do in 2018.

When Other Things Get In The Way

Where has the time gone? Time goes quickly if you do not pay attention or get distracted with other things.

I am back after a long blogging hiatus. Ready, refreshed and renewed.

My life has had many major transitions since my last blog post.

Caretaking of Parent
Passing of parent
Injury/Illness
Carekaking of ill and aged dog
Passing of Dog
Househunting
Planned Remodeling
Moving
Unexpected Remodeling  (roof repair and replacement)
Big Events
Unexpected Travel

I finished out my Executor position with my Father's Estate in the Spring of 2014.  My father had passed in March of 2013 after many years of health issues of which I was primary caretaker upon his many hospitializaions. In early May 2014,  I went on a short trip and "tripped" and broke my shoulder. Summer of 2014 was spent doing physical therapy. In the summer of 2014 we began house hunting again and our beloved pet Bucky was beginning his decline in health. In September our beloved Bucky, Norwich Terrier, passed at the age of 15.

In October 2014 we purchased our new home and I began an intensive remodeling project, serving as general contractor for the project which included wallpaper removal,  wood flooring installation, sanding and refinishing.  In addition to having the whole interior house painted, some drywall installation in the garage, a whole house painting of the interior, electrical work and some tile repair work.  We moved into the house 2 days before Thanksgiving. About two weeks later we had a major roof leak and were expecting five houseguests for the holidays. Two days before the guest arrived we had a second leak.

January and February 2015 was spent supervising contracted repairs in the Study as the ceiling had to be replaced as well as exterior house repainting and deck repair.  In late January we had a new roof installed. March was vacation time and my husband and I took off for a much need break on a cruise. April and May saw me working on a kitchen stovetop changeout and new kitchen fan installation project.

May involved traveling to a family graduation, then June started party preparations for a friends's big birthday and our first Fourth of July Party Blowout. August involved a cross country road trip and family and friends reunion.

September and October 2015 brought some health issues and November another cruise. December was spent getting ready for the holidays and subsequent houseguests.
So that brings us to now - January 2016.

All this confirms my thoughts that big transitions take time and that some things just take time to get through.

Comments Welcome.

Make Time For Fun

Let's talk about having fun. Fun is something we all need to take seriously. After all, all work and no play is what makes a day dull and us boring.

How can you have fun Today? How can you make fun everyday a priority? Having fun is different for each of us. For some it may be reading a book, watching a favorite TV show or movie, using Pinterest or Facebook, playing solitaire, going for a walk or spending time talking on the phone to a friend or family member. 

It is especially important to set some time for fun when we are overloaded with a long "to do list" or complex project. Fun needs to be incorporated into our day when we are in the middle of a life transition or living through a stress filled period in our life such as when serving as a primary caregiver for an acutely ill person or child.  It may seem like a misuse of our time but the "fun break" or "Fun out" will make us more productive and effective in the long run.

When we schedule in fun, we maintain a good balance in our life. 

So what fun are you planning today?

This is a revised post from 2009

A Short Desk Vacation

Here are some escapes for you to try. Think of these as a desk vacation.  This first video is a nice colorful escape. Look for the action to begin at about the 38 second mark.

Extreme Sticky Note Experiments


For some of the previous escapes I've featured - here are some fun links:

Type City

A Tour Worth Taking

Music and Clips Worth Watching


This is a best of post from 2007.

Roadblocks

What do you do when you reach a roadblock? You can stay put and not go anywhere for a while. You can mumble and complain. Eventually you can choose to take the detour. Detours are usually complicated and confusing. Sometimes detours can even make you want to delay your journey and go back home. Detours do take more time, but eventually you get to where you intended to go, if you persevere.

Every day life is abound with roadblocks. While they can be frustrating, especially if they are unexpected, they can offer a chance to try a new route, see different thinks and have a unique experience.

How have you experienced detours in your life?

What's it all about?

If you are a new viewer here at Transition Your Life, you may be wondering what this blog is all about.

This blog is about change and making transition. It is here to serve as a mental prompt or idea generator for you, when you are experiencing a life transition.  This means you could also be starting on a change, in the middle of a change,  or even just pondering change. 

Change is what we all do. The only thing constant is change. Change is seldom easy.

When I started my blog in August of 2007, I wrote:

This Site is for testing ideas and thoughts before setting out on your next journey, whether it be a career change, new family, or even post retirement.

The goal of my site is to keep it simple, keep it short -- occasional postings under 300 words. 
 
So I think I have been keeping up with the concept. Keep reading.

Making Today Fun

Let's talk about having fun. Fun is something we all need to take seriously. After all, all work and no play is what makes a day dull and us boring.

How can you have fun Today? How can you make fun everyday a priority? Having fun is different for each of us. For some it may be reading a book, watching a favorite TV show, going for a walk or spending time talking on the phone to a friend or family member.

It is important to set some time for fun when we are overloaded with a long "to do list" or complex project. It may seem like a misuse of our time but the "fun break" or "Fun out" will make us more productive in the long run.

When we schedule in fun, we maintain a good balance in our life.


So what fun are you planning today?

This is a best of post from 2009 because Terry is currently out having fun.

Another Desk Vacation

Last year, I featured some visual odyssey websites that allow you to take a mini vacation without leaving your desk. I've located some new locations for you to go visit and have listed some of last year's favorites.

First,  get ready to go on your mini vacation and empty your email in box, clear out your voice mails. Tidy the area around your desk and shred any needing to be shredded documents.  These tasks makes you productive although it may take you a while. After you have done these tasks you will certainly be ready to go.

Here are this year's desk vacation locations:

Note - All these are personal essays with wonderful photography that may make you feel you are in the specific location. 


Northern California - Write On Time - Traveling Tuesdays  - trip option to:
Salmon Lake California,
Point Reyes, California 
San Francisco, California

Maine - Maine cottage  from Sesame and Lilies

Virginia - James River, Surrey County  from Haven on Hanover 


Italy - Tuscany Beach Trip  from Villa Pacis

Canada - A trip to Vancouver from Windlost


On the list, last year - but well worth a return trip:


Greece - Santorini from Oia Santorini


Happy Traveling.

What is Next? Beyond the Goal.

What happens when you reach your goal? While many Transition Your Life readers may not see the end or their destination at hand, I think discussing how one faces or handles this is of some importance.

When you reach your goal,  this is definitely when we need to first celebrate and savor in the moment of glory. This is something we should not miss.

Secondly, we need to appreciate what we or others did to help make the goal achievable. Very few journeys are journeys of one.  Sometimes upon reflection we realize others helped shape us and made contributions in ways we could not imagine. This might be the high school teacher, the motivational speaker, the neighbor down the road who always gave you a smile. 

Thirdly , once the momentum of arrival and completion has slowed, I believe we need to ask ourselves some questions relating to the accomplishment of the goal. Making an immediate evaluation of what we have done has some value, but when the goal or achievement is monumental, I think taking a few weeks to ponder this might be the best choice.

• Is your achievement as you expected?
• What lessons did you learn?
• What if anything would you do different?
• What in this specific achievement might be the lesson that is the first step on the next journey?
• Who else might you thank?
• Is there anyone who might be encouraged or educated, who is working towards similar goals?

Today the 1000 day sea project reaches it's destination. While the journey has been unique and offbeat, this might be a good a perfect timely example of how one needs to handle an achievement.

Do More than Expected

Sometimes doing more is a great way to get ahead. Sometimes life throws you a curve and you end up doing more. Sometimes more is just fun.

Why do more?

• Because you can
• Because it is a challenge to yourself. 
• It may be an opportunity to excel 
• It may make it better. 

Take some time to think about how you can do more.

One Thousand Days at Sea is now at eleven hundred days at sea - more has been done.

Stay tuned for a post on When Doing Less is Best.

1000 Days at Sea - An Adventure for All

I have been enjoying the adventures of the 1000 Days at Sea Team ever since July of 2007. That was about Day 80 or so days into the ocean going adventure that officially began Day one leaving New York Harbor in April 23,2007.

The premise of this extended ocean journey has been to circumnavigate the globe on a boat (A 70 foot schooner) without stopping, restocking or resupplying for a thousand days. It has been a life long ambition of sailor Reid Stowe.

While this journey like many,  hasn't quite turned out as expected,it has been an adventure non-the-less with lots of interesting twists and turns of events. The schooner is now expected to return to New York in June of 2010.

What I have liked is watching the path of the Schooner Anne on Google Earth, discovering weather overlays and exploring surrounding land areas I had no real knowledge of before. In the early days, photos of the adventure were posted by Soanya. It was amazing to see how many shades of blue there were. When Soanya left the journey (about day 300) the photos were still posted but not with her practiced eye. Reid, however soon filled in the space with his art and interesting stories and reflections.

Recently, the several times weekly posts have decreased due to computer problems. Regardless, it is always interesting to read the updates and check out the Schooner Anne's position on Google Earth.

By following and understanding the components of an adventure that is not our, it can suddenly seem to become partly our own life and experiences. It can be a great break in our day to follow an epic journey or a time period progression (see The Uniform Project). It can be a window into a world that we never knew existed. It can be the catalyst for our own future adventures.

 
Other post on the Transition Your Life Blog about 1000 Days at Seas Adventure

900 Days at Sea 
Take A Desk Vacation
Seek to Enjoy All Things
600 Days at Sea
300 Days at Sea
Remote Island...Very Remote 

Get Ready to Be Ready

The expression Ready, Set, Go is likely an adaptation of the prompt On Your Mark, Get Set, Go used by a variety of racing fields (swimming, running) to prepare their participants for action.


We can use the Ready, Set, Go to prepare our day or even our life for upcoming changes.

Being Ready

To be ready we can prepare our tools, equipment, and even our physical being for the upcoming action. We can improve our knowledge on the subject, increase our skills and education. We can prepare our body for the upcoming physical actions or anticipated requirements by eating nutritious and healthy foods.


Getting Set

While getting set means getting on the "mark" in the physical racing world, we can get our brain on the mark, by being in the right mindset. This includes being truly focused on what is before us. By avoiding distracting veins of thought we can be instead set on our upcoming event. We can also actively work to prevent beginning conversations in our minds that get our emotional being unsettled. 


Going On

The Go part of is the first step on your new path. Take a deep breath and begin. Since you have already done the Ready and the Set it is likely that the Go part will be the easiest.   



Getting ready and set are by far the most important parts of making a transition.  Be prepared to spend some time and do some work to fulfill the preparation of "Ready" and "Set".  


Have you used Ready, Set, Go in your life transitions? 
 

A New Decade Begins - Questions to Ponder

Its 2010, the start of a new decade. Now is a perfect time to make changes and move forward. Before we jump forward into something new, it usually helps to look back.

Here are some positive focused questions to think about. Think of each of the questions in terms of the last ten years and your experiences.


Decade Reflection Questions

What worked over the last ten years?

What are you most happy about having achieved, managed or maintained?

What were some of the best conversations you had?

What were some of the best books you read?

What were some of the best movies, plays or museum or art exhibits you experienced?

What new things or skills did you learn?

Who did you enjoy meeting, being with and spending time with?

Where were you most environmentally comfortable?

Bonus Questions - How did your senses experience the last decade?



Evaluating the Answers

When we look back we can sometimes glean patterns, or glimmers of thing that excite us. When we know what makes us want to get up and fully enjoy the day we can start shaping our lives to have more of this excitement. By reviewing your Decade Questions you may be able to move forward with a clearer sense of what will work for you and help you thrive in the next decade.

900 Days at Sea

Do you ever feel you are adrift in the ocean of your life? Sometimes when we get lulled in the complacency of everyday waves of life we lose sight of where we are headed. We are usually most often adrift when we are out of touch with who we are and where we are going.

Going out drifting can be unwise if we do not have a map or a chart. Sure, we can enjoy a few days of "just being" but if we venture into waters unknown we can be pushed upon the rocks and shoals of life.

To get redirected and back on course, we need to stop and take careful inventory. The four questions we need to begin asking is:

Who are we?

What have we to give?

Where shall we spend our days upon this planet?

Who would be good and interesting passengers on our boat of life?

For the last 900 days, a sailor has been on an ocean voyage without resupplying or stopping.The original destination day 1000 - However the planned return to New York harbor in April of 2010 may be extended a few more weeks or months due to winter weather. It has been fun being a visitor to the 1000 day at sea blog and tracking this unique and interesting journey.

If you like to read and want to take another sea journey you can read the classic book Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum.

Visual Vacations

Today I ran across a fun video. This video is a nice colorful escape. Look for the action to begin at about the 38 second mark.

Extreme Sticky Note Experiments


For some of the previous escapes I've featured - here are some fun links:

Type City

A Tour Worth Taking

Music and Clips Worth Watching

Take A Desk Vacation

No time for a real vacation this month? If you want to go on Desk Vacation without leaving your desk - Here is a next to perfect strategy.

First, clear your desk, and empty your email box. Let your phone go to voice mail. Turn off the cell phone. - get ready to go.

Now the reward:

Each of these blogs provide great photos and reader story experiences. The way they are written makes you feel part of their environment.


Scotland - Claire's Garden
Alaska - Living in Tok, Alaska
Greece - Santorini
At Sea - 1000 days at sea

Do you have any other recommendations?

Transition Your Life - Middle Age

This is the third in the series of posts on transition times. Let's visit the transition periods that often occur in adulthood (age 40 - 60).

Transitioning to a moving to a new home or neighborhood
Transitioning to a smaller or larger home
Transitioning to grandchildren
Transitioning to loss of a loved one
Transitioning to approaching retirement
Transitioning to career change
Transitioning to job loss
Transitioning to evolving spiritual or religious beliefs
Transitioning to a new or chronic health condition
Transitioning to caretaker for parent(s)or grandchildren
Transitioning to empty nesters
Transitioning to having teenagers
Transitioning to having college age children
Transitioning to having married children and in-law relationships
Transitioning to changing relationships with your parents (adult to elderly parent)
Transitioning to financial gain/financial loss
Transitioning to changing relationships with your children (adult to adult)

See also
Transition Your Life - Adulthood
Transition Your Life - Early Adulthood