20 Best Tips

The Start of a New Year

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I love the start of a new year – a chance to look back on all that we did over the past year and look forward to the fun things coming in the new year.

pencil sharpener

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And perhaps a chance to revamp a few things that might not be working so well {ahem}. Time to tweak a few routines, pull out some curriculum pieces that may have been forgotten, reorganize the homeschool room, sharpen new pencils and restock the school supplies.

Ahhh….organization.

The last few weeks being primarily offline have been fabulous and a chance for me to re-focus a few things and think about what goals and ‘resolutions’ to set for myself in the upcoming 2013 year. Want to know what is on my mind?

  • Simplify – get rid of the excess around our house, in our lives overall {there is always something to do and a place to go}.
  • Couch to 5K – I really strongly dislike running, so why this is such a fascination to me is really a mystery. I do, however, want to get in better shape {and lose a little bit of weight}, so this is on my list to do. I started it the week before Christmas – again, where is my head??
  • Read 12 non-fiction books – I read fiction books like my kids eat candy. Non-fiction books and I tend to have a different relationship. I have six books in my stack so far {7: An Experimental Mutiny against Excess, Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe, Unglued, The Mom Walk, Platform and Good & Angry} and am looking for another 6 to finish out the year. I may {ahem} have gotten a jump start on reading two of them, but really do want to read more in this area!
  • Finish up the Before Five in a Row printables – You all have been asking and YES I do plan to work on them.

There are quite a few other things that I’m mulling over in my mind – household projects to tackle and whatnot {following the principles in 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life by Crystal Paine}, but above are the ‘key’ things that I have on list so far.  With company here, I haven’t been thinking as much about what is coming as I have been focusing on what was happening at the moment.

Some Fabulous Companies to Thank

Photobucket elves Weekly_Homeschool_Planner_125_Buy_Now_copy

Apologia Educational Ministries ~ producing resources to help homeschool families learn, live, and defend the Christian faith.

Maestro Classics ~ introduce great music and classics stories to children with this classical music series. Don’t miss their newly released Carnival of Animals that you will want to check out!

Teach Them Diligently Convention ~ encouraging families to disciple their children and have a great commission focus at home.

Weekly Homeschool Planner – organize your school day and record your daily learning ~ year after year with this editable pdf homeschool planner.

 

What Are YOUR plans?

A few days ago I shared my Top 10 Visited Blog Posts from 2012 – and it was so interesting to see what everyone is reading on my site {grins}. There will definitely be more of what you all love and this month I’ll be focusing on answering some of the homeschooling questions that you have been emailing me about this past month.

Overall, I am REALLY looking forward to the new year and all that is in store for our family!

Are you ready for the new year? What ONE THING do you hope to accomplish in the upcoming year, either personally or in your homeschool? Leave a comment below!

 

Jolanthe Signature affiliate button

Apologia Educational Ministries ~ producing resources to help homeschool families learn, live, and defend the Christian faith.

Maestro Classics ~ introduce great music and classics stories to children with this classical music series. Don’t miss their newly released Carnival of Animals that you will want to check out!

BEECH blogging retreat 2013

This post may contain affiliate or advertiser links. Read my full disclosure policy .


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Comments

  1. I started the C25K program last January and participated in a 1/2 marathon this past November. And I too harbored a very strong dislike for running that I’d clung to for almost 40 years. That actually changed the longer I trained. Keep up with it! You definitely will be encouraged & motivated by your progress.

  2. Happy New Year, Jolanthe! Good luck with the 5k. I’m always impressed with the self discipline of those who run. I will stick to walking, and I definitely need to do more of it this year.

    I have to force myself to read fiction. I’m a non-fiction junky, lol.

  3. Stacie Nelson says

    I got through today! Yay! Sorry your website it giving you trouble. That would be frustrating!

    Good for you for running a 5K — how is the training going?

    I have five of your six books on my reading list, too! I don’t know Good & Angry, I’ll have to check it out!

  4. Kimberly K says

    I think we could be in(RL) best friends, all 3 of your goals are also on my list only I challenged myself to read ONLY non-fiction for the whole year. Like you I read fiction voraciously so this will be a huge switch. I am reading an interesting biography named Half Broke Horses and have Unglued on my nightstand ready to read next. I read 7 last year, it’s wonderful! Keep us updated! And thank you for keeping up your site, I always enjoy your posts.

  5. Looks like some wonderful goals for this year!! I have been working on the clutter thing for a few months and I am liking the progress.. the question is how to keep it from coming into our house at birthdays and holidays.. any good book ideas for that?

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