Whilst this week marks the time when perhaps most New Zealanders are back at work, there are still many on their summer holiday, waiting to return until next week – giving them a full month break – or the week after, which is around the time that the school terms begin. So I often excuse myself when I don’t get back into a normal routine until February! This year though, I want to start getting into a routine this week.
The first thing in setting a new routine is a To-do List. It’s different from resolutions, which I always think are doomed to fail. Here is my 2019 To-Do List:
- Declutter 2019 things from my house in 2019.
- Finish the projects that were optional in my photography course last year, and join a local photography group.
- Study Spanish for a minimum of 15 minutes a day for the first four months.
- Plan a trip to Peru (and maybe some surrounding countries).
- Refocus attention on my two regular blogs.
- Earn some money somehow.
- Continue to lose weight through diet and exercise.
- See friends more often.
- Read more books.
- Start the To-Do List today.
I have kept one resolution that I made on New Years long ago, perhaps 2010? I decided that I would let people into my lane when I drove. If they had their blinker on and needed to get over, I would let them in. It just makes things nicer for everyone. And I kept it all year and made it a part of who I am.
No other ones have stuck. I need a nice little list like yours.
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The only one I made and kept was to take the stairs at my gym!
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That’s a lot of good intentions, Mali. Your list made me a little nervous: I too should study a new language every day, spend more time with friends, work on diet and exercise, declutter….
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There’s no guarantee I will do any of this. But they’re on my to-do list!
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Ambitious list, Mali! I should try to learn a little Hungarian — I did try with an app but I didn’t feel like it was helping at all.
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Hungarian is apparently a very difficult language and, unlike Spanish, has little in common with other European languages. Learn the basics of hello, thank you, and “check please” and you should be fine!
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I just managed my 2018 in 2018. And “giving them a full month break”? What is that? Sigh.
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Brava on finishing 2018 in 2018. I am beyond impressed. I faltered a few months in, and never recovered.
We don’t have the generous 5-7 week annual leave that some of the Europeans get, but our 4-week leave provisions and the timing of Christmas and New Year mean that most people can get a decent break at this time of year. I’m sad you can’t get one of those. You’ll need that time when you come to NZ!
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Impressive list. I have maintained a 461-day streak with my language app. I hadn’t verbalized that to-do but admit maintaining consistency was indeed a goal. Remains so, in fact.
Good Luck. Happy Summer.
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Wow, 461 days is incredible! I’m in awe. Consistency is really important. My problem now is that I’m redoing a lot of stuff, as I taught myself Spanish back in 2006 and 2007. But I have forgotten enough that I can’t just start where I left off. Sigh.
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Peru — are you planning to do Macchu Picchu? (sp?) I know several people who have gone there (In much better shape than I am!! lol)
As a long-term employee, I was getting five weeks of vacation time when I stopped working, which is about as much as anyone gets hereabouts, no matter how long they’ve been at their job or how senior their position. Very few people I know ever took four weeks all at once, although 2 weeks at a time was not uncommon, The people who did take a full month off generally used it for an extended trip somewhere. The idea that nost people would regularly take an entire month off… wow. 🙂 (Although I’m assuming they wouldn’t have much more time off for the rest of the year, then?)
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Yes to Machu Picchu. (I’ve only just figured out which word has two c’s and which doesn’t!) But we won’t be hiking. And hope we won’t get altitude sickness.
Many people take a month off, not most. But the thing is, there are so many public holidays over Christmas and New Year that you effectively get nine-ten days off without having to take any extra leave. (A lot of government departments and companies shut down between 25th Dec and 3rd or even 7 January.That’s why they can add on just two weeks annual leave and have so much time off.
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Wowza to the trip to Machu Picchu… but how does one do that trip without hiking? Can’t wait to see your photos.
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There’s a train! Actually, there are several, ranging from basic through to luxury.
The travel planning is driving me crazy though.
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