Spring Reset

Hello spring.

Now that the grass is turning green, the girls and I find ourselves wandering the property after school on nicer days—exploring the new trails from last summer’s logging, skipping rocks at the creek, and keeping an eye out for early shoots and blooms. I’ve been especially interested in finding a new patch of nettles since our last spot no longer exists.

It hit me recently that we’ve lived here nearly as long as our last place, which will be three years come August. We haven’t moved through renovations and projects here as quickly as we did before, but each completed job makes this space feel more like home.

As usual, we have an unrealistic number of to-dos mapped out for the year. Now that I’m feeling better, I have my own list I’ve been wanting to get to.

And then there’s the real project: sorting through all the junk in our so-called “room of requirements,” where we’ve been storing boxes and anything else without a place. It’s a mess I won’t be able to tackle until after the kids and I are done with the school year. But once it’s cleared, we can begin repairs and turn it into a usable room.

Earlier this year, I was stuck on bedrest for anemia-related issues, which meant deferring my New Year’s resolutions—a ritual I enjoy every year. It’s frustrating to finally feel like yourself again for the first time in a long time, only to lose momentum again. I’m glad I didn’t know how long recovery would take this time or I might’ve struggled more.

A month ago, I realized I was finally emerging from survival mode when I was suddenly hit with a backlog of creative ideas. That, and I found I could physically do just a little more than the day before. Since then, I’ve been steadily improving and feeling like I might be ready to face my goals again.

I’ve heard it argued that spring, rather than winter, is when we really ought to start fresh anyway. This year, I agree.

So, without further ado, my “spring” resolutions:

• Set wake time each morning—start at 6am, work toward 5

• 15 minutes sun exposure after waking to reset circadian rhythm

• 2 hours writing/computer work before the kids need me

• Daily walk + exercise

• Set screens off time—start at 11pm, work toward 9 or 10

• Allowed at night: kindle paperwhite, paper books, planner, and bedside notebook for jotting ideas

• Closet cleanouts (all)

• Sell and donate used clothes

• Get rid of clutter in one spot in the house per week (examples: medicine cabinet, underneath the kitchen sink, junk drawer, etc.)

• Expired food in the pantry/freezers to the chickens

• Deep clean car interiors

• Sell furniture we don’t use on Marketplace

• No eating out unless it’s a special occasion

• Weekly meal prep + thaw the meat!

• Bulk food prep: lots of breakfast + lunch foods options that are grab and go

• Drowning in eggs. Eat daily + list for sale

• Sell extra goats (wethers)

• Cancel all subscriptions and limit those you keep

• Chore charts for the kids with screentime + cash rewards

• Project list in order of priority for home, barn, and garden

• Homeschool goals by the end of the school year + summer structure outline

• Things I’ve been dying to make: a wall quilt, a couch quilt, felted fabric for a pillow, sashiko embroidery, and all the knitting projects I’d like to make this year

• Books, films, and shows

I read through this list, and most of it seems reasonable enough. What’s less reasonable, perhaps, is that I want to do it all at once. I’m usually a go-big-or-go-home kind of person, but I’ll need to take things slowly now until my health is more reliable.

Ultimately, I’ve been craving structure for so long that I’m tired of waiting. Still, I know it’s going to take intention and discipline to get a grip on my habits—especially sleep.