Lifestyle

2020 March Goal Reflection

Jessica
2020 March Goal Reflection

In an effort to actually maintain my 2020 goals, because they are in fact good for me, I figured I would blog about them. This seems to be a good medium for reflection and accountability for me. Soooo let’s see how I did in March, shall we?

1. Find a morning prayer routine

Same prayer routine as the beginning of the year.Right now I open the prayer from a book on my nightstand but I think maybe I should have something printed more formally to remind me.

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians,
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month.
Amen.

And then for Lent, which started on Ash Wednesday  I added the Memorare to my daily routine.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

2. Travel internationally relatively cheaply at least once

Well I was going to go to Europe for Spring Break for free as a chaperone but coronavirus put a stop to that. So there’s that BUT I still have my Oxford Summer Program that, although I pay for my way, I get $7,000 to cover costs.

3. Finish our master bathroom renovation

Well this coronavirus quarantine is providing us with plenty of time to work on projects – we finally purchased a 56″x30″ mirror for our bathroom. We haven’t installed it because Will likes to quadruple check everything and I am currently painting the frame for it. So look out for the April goal posting on the mirror!

4. Work out at least twice a week

Week 1:

  • Will got the flu & my hip flexor was inflamed so this week was a loss

Week 2:

  • I did a bad job of this most week too because I was running around trying to get our spring break trip to still go & preparing for the end of the Quarter took every ounce of energy
  • Friday, March 13: BodyRock: “Train Like the Stars – Try this Celebrity Back Workout!” (28:35)
  • Saturday, March 14: I cleaned my patio, if you saw it before I cleaned it you would know this was a workout & then I meditated afterwards for a bit (see the yoga goal below)

Week 3:

  • Monday, March 16: Will and I went for a long walk
  • Wednesday, March 18: 23 minute jog
  • Friday, March 20: BodyRock: “Abs on Fire – 20 Minute HIIT Workout” (21:48 – I made modifications to everything) then I did yoga (see the yoga goal below)

Week 4:

This is me finally getting into a quarantine rhythm & I killed it!

  • Sunday, March 22: My cousin & I went on a really long walk (as you can see, this is my prefered activity, quarantine or not!)
  • Monday, March 23: Will and I went for a walk & I did some self-guided yoga/meditation
  • Tuesday, March 24: BodyRock: “Learn how to Train with Bodyweight Alone!” (26:32 – I made modifications to nearly everything) then I did yoga (see the yoga goal below)
  • Thursday, March 25: Nike Training Center App: “Leg & Glute Essentials” (27:05 – this is an amazing workout app and currently all their premium workouts are available for FREE)
  • Saturday, March 28: BodyRock: “Abs on Fire – 20 Minute HIIT Workout” (21:48 – couples workout with Will!)

Week 5:

  • Tuesday, March 31: Nike Training Center App: “Total Body Strength Essentials” (25:10)

5. Build a bookcase for our library

Ugh Will told me he will 100% not buy anything & that we are going to build this ourselves. I really don’t know if this will get done this year but if we continue to be off because of the coronavirus it might get done. Only time will tell!

6. Do not purchase new clothes unless I get rid of something first

  • I got rid of a pair of nice Banana Republic pants that, upon putting them on for the first time in a year, did not fit me at all. I am not one of those people who leaves things in the closet for “someday.”
  • I normally try to sell clothing to a second-hand shop when cleaning out my closet but in the charitable spirit of Lent I decided to donate the haul of clothes I purged last month.
  • I got really bad cabin fever & did a little online purchasing lol. Belk.com was having a great sale (I found out thanks to Instagram) so I bought 2 things: a midi beige skirt ($24.50) & a quarter-button up white blouse ($6.48) plus FREE shipping (still waiting for them to arrivE)
  • And technically not a clothing item but I bought a thin gold necklace from Jane.com ($7.99 + FREE shipping)

7. Reduce our grocery bill by $100 a month (it’s like $800 right now!)

Week 1:

  • $148.50 at Winn-Dixie on Sunday, March 1
  • Will got the flu at the beginning of the week so I had to go back to Winn Dixie for ready-made soup & medicine. Not counting that purchase as our groceries. ($56.33)

Week 2:

  • $105.13 at Winn-Dixie on Monday, March 9
  • $87.69 at Winn-Dixie on Thursday, March 12 (now that I am not on the spring break trip we needed real food at home)
  • $79.94 at Public on Friday, March 13 (coronavirus food prep with Will)

Week 3:

  • $61.08 at Winn-Dixie on Tuesday, March 17
  • $8.34 at Public on Thursday, March 19
  • $233.88 at Winn-Dixie on Friday, March 20 (bought enough wine & beer for the rest of this apocalypse, oh and food)

Week 4:

  • $118.98 at Winn-Dixie on Saturday, March 28

Grocery TOTAL for March: $843.54

Restaurant TOTAL: $199.61

*So the pattern of our bills were super weird this month due to coronavirus. We’re trying to do take out at a local restaurant at least once a week to support the local economy.

8. Finish decorating the living spaces in our home

We installed all new kitchen appliances the first week of March. The  “5 minute job” took a few days. lol

Since our semi-quarantine from the coronavirus we’ve gotten some more done:

  1. Finish tiny odd & end jobs around the house (picking out art pieces, organizing guest bedroom/storage, etc.)
  2. Sold crap I’ve been holding on to via Facebook Marketplace
  3. Finished the baseboards (filling in holes, sanding, & painting) around the house

9. Read and/or listen to at least 30 books

I do a big book review at the end of the year but these are the books I have read or listened to in March:

10. Blog at least once a week (or 52 times over the year)

I successfully blogged 13 times this month:

  1. Passive Money Making
  2. Preparing to Chaperone Abroad
  3. Travel Tips: Illness Abroad
  4. UNESCO: Medieval City of Rhodes
  5. 2020 Ireland Accommodations
  6. One Teacher’s Perspective on the Coronavirus Outbreak
  7. BEFORE venturing into e-learning
  8. When my thesis on the plague seems super relevant
  9. Pestilence & Prayer: Religion Introduction
  10. Distance Teaching Lesson Plan: Epidemics
  11. Pestilence & Prayer: Categorization of Plague Saints
  12. The Ultimate Gilmore Girls Book List
  13. Teaching the Holocaust through Visual Culture: Itinerary

11. Transform part of my backyard into some kind of garden

We re-sodded part of the front lawn that was looking rough…so that’s a positive.

Oh and we also talked and made preliminary plans for installing raised beds in our backyard! I read sections in a book on Florida gardens for first timers. This goal may only get done because we are working from home due to coronavirus outbreak.

12. Practice yoga at least once a month

Here are the following times I practiced yoga:

13. Cook a meal 100% out of my pantry at least every other week

With both of us (unfortunately) being home due to the coronavirus outbreak I figured this would be a perfect time to really sharpen my pantry-cooking skills. I got really GOOD at this skill with our semi-quarantined life (#silverlining).

14. Apply to (& get accepted) to one summer program

I am now OFFICIALLY accepted to study at Oxford to take two classes: Refugees since 1918 & Conflict in the Middle East. So thankful I received a scholarship from the English Speaking Union of Central Florida for this amazing three week program this July.

Andddd I also got accepted as a College Board AP Art History essay reader. I applied last year, never heard from them and figured it wasn’t going to happen this year either UNTIL I got the email this month. Even though they are no longer doing the reading in person, I still got accepted into the pool! That counts for something.

15. Host someone over for dinner at least once a month

Well social-distancing makes this a little awkward. But my cousin, who lives alone, in DC made the drive down to Florida to quarantine with her family, we hosted her for a night & got take out. #supportlocal

16. Write a letter (& mail it!) at least once per month

I really should have done more of this considering coronavirus social distancing makes gatherings difficult. I’ve learned I am not a letter writer. Even when I’ve run out of excuses not to do it.

But I did manage to send out one postcard on March 30th lol still counts!

17. See at least 5 artworks from the AP Art History 250 Curriculum

I am so sad. I was going to kill this goal this spring break in London & Paris, however, FEAR NOT I will (hopefully) be in the UK this July. I think I’m going to spend at least one of my free weekends running around London looking at art.

18. Have a cheap date with my hubby at least once a month

Not exactly cheap but Will & I went out for drinks we friends & co-workers right at the beginning of our “spring break.” With our semi-quarantined life anytime we go outside our house is now officially a date. lol

Picnics in the backyard = date; afternoons on the hammocks = date; long evenings walks = date; watching “Person of Interest” on Netflix = date

19. Get at least a 65% pass rate for my students in AP World History

My students are doing much better with their writing than any year before so that makes me feel much more comfortable. However, I am nervous how this coronavirus stuff will affect. Personally, I’m excited to flex my teaching muscles virtually, however I know there is so much nervousness and unexpectedness with this virus that I don’t have my hopes too high!

Even though College Board is now only testing them on Units 1-6 (which I finished before spring break), the format is now totally foreign to me (online & only 45 minutes of FRQs). I’m not worrying though because there is nothing I can do about it & I hope if I stay cool, calm, and collected, they will too.

20. Vote Trump out of office (!!!!)

With his handling of the coronavirus, I don’t think this man needs my help screwing himself over. Bravo Trump.

JMF

By Jessica

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