Life Circle-Life Circle

Kate has asked us to look a little forward first to five years ahead and then one year ahead. I have done this previously but this is about starting a fresh for me so that is what I am going to do.

In five years time I will be 27 so still nice and young, go me! My daughter will be 9 so she will be at the end of primary school with my son at the beginning of his primary education. Unless we have another child in 5 years time I would like to think we would still be living where we are because we are happy here overall with decent schools in the vicinity and family close by which is always a bonus.
I will be a qualified massage therapist and working part time therefore prior to that I would have built up my confidence enough to go out and work. I will have the life balance I need, regular working out, spending time with my children, my husband (we will be married very soon!) the essentials (house work) any studies and hobbies and doing more instead of being a home bunny.

So in one years time I will be newly married and happy in my relationship. I will still be a stay-at-home mum because my son will only be one but my daughter will be in full time school from September this year which will give me much more time to myself in terms of getting things done. I enjoy baking but find I often don't get the chance in the day.
I will be going to regular parent toddler groups with my son which will boost my confidence and social skills. I will have got a balanced, healthy diet and be happy with my size and weight as I am working on setting a routine that works for me. I won't ever be a social butterfly as that is not my thing, but I will certainly make an effort to see friends, have my sister over and spend quality time with those who matter.
I will be doing more for me in the way of exercise and hobbies because this really matters to me.

If i have missed anything out I apologise! My confidence is a real thing for me. There is one thing holding me back and that is simple: fear. I don't feel silly having this fear because I know why I have it. I blush A LOT and so far (since I was 9) I have not been able to find a way to deal with this. Because of this I am really holding myself back. I won't volunteer which is ideal for my CV not to mention my confidence. I find it difficult to attend toddler groups which means my children miss out. This is no good and needs looking at. The fact is, and I know this, that i cannot stop excessive blushing (I recommend a Google here)
I won't go on anymore, it's a sensitive subject and one that a lot of people think is daft (because seeing me in this situation is 'Oh so funny')
Finding a life balance is also important to me. It would seem there are so many things to do (or that I want to do) and yet I don't want to prioritise them. Working out over blogging? Housework over sitting on my arse watching TV? I have a repetitive day to day routine which needs to change, this is where toddler groups come in!

Pleas link up your post over at The Five Fs blog. Hannah x

Life Circle 2012 Taking Action

I didn't participate in last weeks Life Circle because I simply didn't feel the need to. I can see where my life needs improving and I'm pretty sure they're not that different from 2011. In this weeks Life Circle, Kate at The Five Fs blog wants us to start taking ACTION! to improve the areas of our lives that we have considered to be the lowest out of ten (this is based on a Life Circle Wheel).

My lowest 2 would have to be Fun & Recreation and Health. For me Personal Development is also an issue but I would like to tie that under fun and recreation as I would like to start going back to baby groups and getting involved more outside the home. This is what i call fun but also it is heavily based on my confidence which again has become an issue for me.

So out of 10 I would score myself 5 for fun and recreation. I need to do more for me and enjoy myself again but equally make time with both of my children to become the fun Mum I used to be. I used do colouring, painting and baking with my daughter and this has gone out of the window. I want me back! I have also joined the Pinaddicts challenge (see badge in side bar) to try and get my crafty juices flowing!

I would give myself 6 out of 10 health. My health isn't bad but there are some personal issues I need to see to and this involves changing my outlook on diet and fitness. I have already given my meals an over hall and I feel slightly better. I need to measure myself up and also start exercising. I think I'm also keen to get me and Little Man out in his buggy and do a few laps around the park (trying not to care what anyone else thinks..it's a small-ish park!)

Right so that is my Action post of Life Circle. To see everybody else's please head on over to The Five Fs blog and link up/view!

Hannah

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The Life Circle 2012

Yep, The Life Circle has begun again for 2012 and this time I feel a lot more positive and able to complete the tasks ahead. For the first task Kate from The Five F's blog has set us to simply introduce ourselves and asks us what we aim to get out of joining and taking part in Life Circle.

So, my name is Hannah, 20 something stay-at-home-mum to a nearly 4 year old Little Miss and nearly 1 year old Little Man. I have a partner of nearly 5 years and we are getting married this August something which I am looking forward to.
I have always struggled with confidence and self esteem but these are things that have improved and incredible amount, although like everyone else I still have my lower days where I just don't want to talk to anyone and be alone, sometimes not even get out of bed! I hope to feel less like this in 2012.
My partner works nights in a factory so we share the childcare and house duties during the day. I am very lucky that I don't HAVE to work right now but the time will come. That scares the crap out of me to be honest. I'm still fairly shy and tend to hang back in the background of large groups which can effect making new friends.

What do I want to get out of the Life Circle?
Well, I'd like to first off concentrate on my weight loss. I weighed in today at the doctors and I am now back to what I weighed before i had my son. I am by no fat or even overweight but I do need to loose a bit. In order to feel more confident again like I did after I gave birth I also really need to focus on toning up so my jeans are not so tight. I want this to be a healthier year for me and for my family,
Then I would like to start joining groups such as toddler groups with my son, maybe start going to church again and joining there with anything they may have for my children and I to participate in. However, that is something floating around there although you get the idea of what I'd like to achieve.

To join in and look to at the other bloggers participating and introducing themselves why not head on over to Kate's blog by clicking the badge below. It could be just what you need to start the New Year (and You) off to a good start.

Hannah

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Life Circle Week 4: SMART

So here's to week 4 of The Life Circle. This week it's all about making sure the goals we have set ourselves are SMART (Specific.Measurable.Achievable.Realistic.Timed) 

These are my goals (roughly):

1. I want to read up on the Open Uni course and sort out massage course

2. I want to have paid the church wedding fees off by spring next year

3. I want to join a baby and toddler group with my son for some one and one time 

4. I want to be getting together with my family monthly for dinners during the next 6 months (as much as we can)

5. I will be on a lower dose of my medication in the New Year

6. Finally to get some exercise in preferably by the New Year at least 3 times a week.I want to be toned and a perfect size 12

I feel all my goals are already Achievable and Realistic. So just to fine tune the rest! 

1. I want to give myself 2 months to study my Anatomy and Physiology course I have just paid for (this is recommended time as a short course) while saving for the practical but keep the OU course in mind. It depends where I am taken summer next year now. 

2. I still want to have paid the wedding fees off by spring next year. I have £290 to go and it will happen!

3.I want to join a baby and toddler group before Christmas. I need to try out a few and pick my favourite without feeling bad when I dislike one. I would like to stick to the group for a fair while too.

4. I would like to sit down with my mum and plan through the calender days when we are free to host roast dinners once every month when possible. That's a more achievable and realistic plan. I also think we should start in the New Year making it a bit like a resolution, see more of everyone!!

5. My current dose of anxiety tablets are up for review in the New Year when I can discuss lowering the dose. I feel ready for this but am not naive as I have been there before when it has not worked. I still feel this is a good SMART goal.

6. I want to do some exercise at least 3 times a week and start this before Christmas. If I start in the New Year it may feel like a resolution to break. I want to get rid of that word 'perfect' for that is not achievable nor realistic, but i can be more of a comfortable size 12.

So there, may not be entirely correct I'm not sure, but that's Week 4 complete and I feel quite good that I have some clearer direction and also that I have already started on a goal I thought was a lot further in the future!

Life Circle Week 3: Goals

This weeks Life Circle post is about Goal Setting. Effectively this is something that we did in Week 2 but that was a lot more detailed and was also on different time lines. Week 3 Goal setting is more about now setting realistic achievable goals say, from now to a year.

1. I want to read up on the Open Uni course I found a few weeks ago and be registered before the summer 2012

2. I want to have paid the church wedding fees off by spring next year

3. I want to join a baby and toddler group with my son for some one and one time before Christmas

4. I want to be getting together with my family monthly for dinners during the next 6 months (as much as we can)

5. I want to be having regular physiotherapy after December

6. I will be on a lower dose of my medication in the New Year

7. Finally to get some exercise in preferably by the New Year at least 3 times a week.I want to be toned and a size 12

Pretty achievable

No.1 just needs me to click about a bit online and then breathe. 

No.2 just requires saving and instead of saving and feeling crap about putting it else where (how does that work?!) feeling good about the money going to us (although £400 is steep!)

No.3 That's also easy just need motivation 

No.5 is also easy if I don't cancel any more appointments because I'm too scared to go. I have an appt next Thursday and I AM going! 

No.6 I'm feeling pretty good about lowering my dose but I will see the current dose to the end before contacting my GP who is really supportive. 

Finally No.7 will be the hardest because I have sod all motivation when it comes to exercise and I will have to shuffle my whole routine (get my arse out of bed earlier in other words) to make me feel like doing it!