Up for a challenge (or 12)? Resolutions by the month

I’ve made New Year resolutions almost every year. My success rate? Pretty pathetic. Yes, of course I have running goals each year, but those are different. I’m hoping that month long mini-resolutions throughout the year will be more effective, and more importantly, more FUN than a traditional resolution. Who wants a whole year focused on deprivation like ‘no chocolate’, anyway? Would that even be possible? So, instead, some of them are ‘adding’ rather than subtracting. 

January: #plankaday [front, side, side]

I’ve never done planks religiously like so many folks and my core is in dire need of a tune-up post holiday cookie gorge-fest. 

February: Vegan --Strength Training

Although I’m a vegetarian, I eat a LOT of dairy. I think my stomach handles it pretty well but I’ve never actually stopped eating it to find out. Hardest part of this challenge? Goat cheese. I love goat cheese.

 --Read about my vegan fail here.

March: Photo-a-day

Take one photo each day.  Maybe I’ll end up with a couple interesting photos by the end!

--See photos here

April: Sayonara to sweets!

No dessert. This one will be SOOO hard for me! I’ve tried doing it for a week and usually can’t make it. What doesn’t count as dessert? Rice with milk and cinnamon? low sugar/fat granola?…but what about crystallized ginger? Final boundaries to be set closer to the time.

--Sophia and I decided to scrap that crazy plan. Here's what really happened in April.

May: Meditation May

Learn how to meditate and do it every day.

--Tried but wasn't totally successful!

June: #Runstreak!

Every. Day. [minimum of 4 miles] Nope! Hard a hard time convincing myself that running through twinges this month would be worth it.

July: Do a pull-up (hopefully 5!)

Oh pull-ups. I’ve never been able to do a ‘real’ one. This year is the year. 

August: Critter identification month

Folks, I live in the South now, and there is an abundance of critters frolicking around these parts in the hot, humid month of August. I own an insect identification book, and I can acquire a bird one, and I will learn me some critters!

September: Gluten-free month

I don’t think this will actually be too hard. Although I’m a self proclaimed bread-lover, I also love brown rice, oats (which can be gf), quinoa, and kasha. I also love Picky Bars…

October: Race volunteer month

Time to give back to the sport and hand out some gels and water. I'm hoping to volunteer for at least one marathon and small races too.

November: New recipe month

Try at least one new recipe each week. This might sound easy to ya’ll, but as someone who eats the same thing almost every day…this will be challenging. Did I mention that I’m a terrible cook? 

December: Donation December

Donate clothes, household items, food, and toiletries to goodwill, shelters, food banks, etc….

Please join me any month you're inspired to do so! It will be fun!