Transition time

At the new moon this week I will move to a new theme focus - from abundance to joy, children, and self-expression, a perfect theme for this next phase of my life. 

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health, home, holiday, and prepare for Grandson fun. Today I'm also making a few fun transition-to-joy plans for the week:

• Complete our hot tub set up, and soak!
• Make a dinosaur terrarium with my grandsons.
• Paint an Autumn positivity abstract.
• Choose a new positivity book to read 

Agenda:

1. Read "The Sweet Spot"

2. Soul notes journal

3. Housework script

4. Fall Cleaning and Home projects

5. Holiday mindset

6. Dinosaur School plans

1. Read "The Sweet Spot":

I'm reading this book by Christine Carter (2015), about "How to Find Your Groove". The thesis is that when we hit from our sweet spot we have optimum power and the greatest ease. Chapter 5 is Easing the Overwhelm, another take on positivity.

The first step is to decide on my five top priorities and say no to everything else. I am really good at this already!

The second step is to create a work ritual-script and stick to it.

She is focusing on work, but for me it is more of a life script. I already have one of these or my morning Thinking and Writing Time that works great, and a new one for exercise, which is also working well. But then the day sometimes goes sideways. I need scripts for my creative time, for hygiene, and for housework.

Tips for life-focus:

• Assign a starting ritual for each transition: A special extra cup of coffee or an afternoon cookie, while I get myself into the zone.
• Distraction rule banning phone and email during my focus times.
• Limit my choices by deciding criteria for success that are "good enough", then not belaboring it - this works for clothes, food, and projects.
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2. Soul Journal:

In Ongo our theme last week was saying NO in order to set compassionate boundaries. I am so good at this I had almost nothing to say. The thought that came to me was backwards: I need to say NO to my own propensity to slide into torpor and slothfulness, setting a compassionate boundary for numbness. The needs I would support are health, self-expression, peace, order, focus, and empowerment.

3. Housework script:

This week I will try a new script for house cleaning, two times a day - my Morning and Afternoon Chores.

Morning- 

1. 8 am: Transition to Morning Chores: Get dressed, and mentally list 10 action items to get myself in the zone.
2. 8:15: Take 10 mini-actions, starting with clearing my bedroom and ending with getting breakfast.

Afternoon-

1. 4 pm: Pick-Me-Up NRG drink + protein, then mentally list 5 actions to take, starting with the room of the week
2. 4:15: Take five actions starting with the room of the week and ending with toy clean up.

4. Fall Cleaning and Home projects:

Fall cleaning has an entirely different feel and focus than spring cleaning. In the fall we finish up, pack away, and "batten the hatches"-- we put away all the outdoor stuff, air out the sweaters, and prepare for winter. 

This week I will continue fall cleaning in the bedroom and office. 

And we are trucking right along on our big renovation project. Our spa is coming today! 

My next steps:

• Build the spa hand rail.
• Clear out the junk left in the yard, and find places for it.
• Take photos of the saws and post them on Craig's list
• Design a shower, towel cupboard, bamboo planter, screen, and steps.
• Choose railings, and order them. Get steppers and paint.
• Begin to place the cement steppers.
• Paint the front of the house, and the bedroom windows.

3. Holiday mindset:

In order to keep the main thing the main thing, my intentions and priorities for the week are:

1. Savor the experience of our new hot tub - part of the celebration!
2. Communicate with everyone to confirm Thanksgiving food assignments, and a time for the meal. 
3. Make a list of gift-making ideas, and used books and toys: Make a plan, order supplies, and get started!

5. Dinosaur School plans:

Our fall schedule includes a two day pre-school, with coloring pages on a different theme each week, related outdoor projects, field trips, and art. I want to focus on nature awareness, process art and basic art skills (drawing, painting, cutting, glueing, etc.).

This week the theme is dinosaurs:

1. Look at dinosaur books, cards, and mazes. 
2. Make a dinosaur terrarium with tiny plants.
3. Work at dinosaur board puzzles