May Resolutions

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I’ve heard a rumor that it’s May.  It sure doesn’t feel like May, and I’m not one to buy into rumors, but just in case these whispers are true, it’s time for a new round of resolutions.

Last month, I was all about finances.  And, not to pat myself on the back or anything, but I did focus my energy much more on saving than spending, and I did get a new job.

That new job has inspired some new resolutions for this month.

For the last two years I have been the master of my schedule.  I woke up in the morning, moseyed to a café and worked until I could no longer work—then I did something else.

I’m a little rusty on the day job thing, but slowly but surely I’m getting used to it again—and having health insurance that isn’t slowly ruining my credit score is nice.

This month:

Time Management is a priority.  I’ve been doing alright with getting my freelance work done in addition to my jobby-job, but my work hours are long and I usually have to choose between writing/exercise/blogging.  And the poor Fella is feeling a wee bit neglected.  I don’t have any clue what people with jobs and kids and husbands do.  I can hardly handle a job and a little bit of homework!  I’m not striving for perfection, but each night of the week I will focus my energy on something that needs doing.  I may not be able to exercise five nights a week, but if I can hit the gym twice a week and once during the weekend I’ll be okay with myself.

Walk to Work.  My new job is directly across Central Park.  The last few weeks have been about getting used to the new schedule, but as soon as this Month’s Metrocard runs out (May 7th) I’m going to get up and out a little bit earlier each morning and enjoy a few moments of sunshine and fresh air each morning and evening.

A Day of Rest.  I’ve heard something about all work and no play making Jack a dull boy.  Well, I know from experience that I have no problem getting lost in the whirlwind of adrenaline that comes with a packed schedule.  BUT, I actually have a life I enjoy living, and so going forward I am making Sunday my day off.  I have too much work to not utilize Saturday as a catch-up day.  Of course, the next two weekends I’ll be in Michigan recording my audio book, so those weekends are immune to this resolutions. I am, however looking forward to having some alone time in a hotel room.

Have I mentioned that I miss the gym.  I’m really looking forward to fitting it back into my schedule this month!

What are you resolving for May?

Kim

March Resolutions: Take Yourself Seriously

Over champagne toasts, and speeches celebrating newly engaged friends of ours last night, The Fella and I were asked over and over again at a party how we met.

We met on the Internet. Surely, this was not how I expected the great romance of my life to initiate, but I’m thankful nonetheless. Once the getting-to-know-you stories were finished, what took place was a barrage of Internet dating war stories. It would seem that we were not alone in our endeavor, and the couples we were chatting with shared their own stories of awkward conversations and all around strange folks. I couldn’t help but think back to all the clichés on dating profiles: beach walking, liking to stay in and go out, loving fun, and not taking oneself too seriously.

Which got me thinking. What’s wrong with taking yourself seriously?

Surely, being able to look at yourself and your life as something worthy of shrewd observation and serious effort does not exclude the possibility of a sense of humor and the loving of fun?

Obviously, this sent me down a dark and winding path of introspection. Perhaps it was the champagne. Perhaps it was the Percocet. Or, perhaps it is the timing in my life. But, whatever it was one of my favorite literary quotes came to mind. I may not always agree with Ayn Rand’s social philosophies, but she is a great writer, and often times spot on about self-actualization.

Learn to value yourself, which means: to fight for your happiness.

~Ayn Rand

That quote pretty much sums up what I think it means to take oneself seriously. A concept I’ve certainly battled for much of my life. There is something about our culture that instills in us, particularly in women, that it is selfish and gluttonous to focus our time and efforts on ourselves, our own happiness, and our own success—whatever that means to each individual.

I have undoubtedly been on the receiving end of that judgment, and I have been the one doling it out. Neither is particularly good for the soul.

One of the reasons I renew my resolutions each month is because I am on a constant quest to be a better version of myself. Sometimes I stumble. Sometimes I achieve things that surprise even me. More often than not, I fall right back into just trying to survive the tide of life.

This month I’m resolving myself to a mantra instead of specific goals.

Take yourself seriously.

 

What are you resolving for March?

 

Kim

February Resolutions


Every New Year I create a vision board for my yearly goals. Some of these I’m working toward incrementally, like a veggie based diet, some I’m going gang-busters on—like exercise, and attempting to dress like an adult.

Usually I post my New Month’s Resolutions on the first of the month, but thanks to a Benadryl and a glass of Chardonnay I slept through the first of the month. Looks like February is starting out with a bang!

Usually January is a month for new beginnings, but I still had some straggling old things that needed tending…and a broken big toe that took a wee bit of time to heal. My toe is healed and my schedule is clear, now it’s time to focus on all those shiny new goals.

For starters, I’ve mentioned that I put on a bit of weight over the last year, as I spent my days glued to my computer and taking frequent breaks to eat my feelings (hey, writing a memoir is an emotional undertaking worthy of a few thousand cookies a day). One of my resolutions this month is to start focusing on peeling off some of that weight before my book comes out in July and I have public appearances to make.

In order to initiate operation Hot Author, this month I will:

  • Pre-plan my meals. Whenever I’m looking to lose weight I find meal-planning to be a hugely helpful tool. Sitting down the night before to plot my meals and snacks eliminates all those dangerous moments spent rummaging through the refrigerator and pantry looking for something to sate me. Also, I spend a lot less time thinking about food when I already have a game plan at the ready.
  • Sixty minutes of cardio a day; six days a week. Remember that I work from home, which can sometimes mean never standing up. Taking 60-minutes to cycle/run/or stairclimb will ensure my metabolism at least makes some sort of effort to behave normally.
  • No Carbs after 7pm.  Expect to see a lot of omelets for dinner.

In other non-body related resolutions, in February I will:

  • Book binge! I usually read a book a week, but in the last six months I’ve averaged about a book every two months. It was like there wasn’t enough room in my head for more words. Now I’m back to reading for pleasure.
  • Actually start studying for my personal training certification. I have no excuses now.
  • Start applying to jobby-jobs again. I have an idea about what I want to work on for my next book, but I think I need a break. Now, I’d just like to make some money and get out of the house.

That’s my February. What are you resolving for February?

 

 

Kim

2013: There will be Blood…and Running…and Blogging


I stole this from Pinterest, who stole it from another site, maybe this one.

Out with the old and in with the NEW YEAR!

Twenty-twelve was a landmark year for me, but that doesn’t mean it was easy. I’m looking forward to a slightly more relaxed 2013. I mean, I’m 30 now! My 20s (and well, my teens, childhood, and most of my babyhood—I was a very ambitious toddler) were spent being far too serious, working very hard, and plotting my world domination. I’m planning on letting loose a bit in 2013; dominating the world seems like an awful lot of responsibility these days. I think I’ll just focus on managing this one little life of mine.

  • Run a half-marathon (The Nike Women’s Half-Marathon on April 28, 2013 in Washington D.C., to be precise) and meet my Team-in-Training fundraising requirement. If you’re reading this and you know me in real life you may as well donate now because I’m going to be hounding your buttocks for the next four months. Link to my fundraising site: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nikewhlf13/kimberlyraemiller
  • Donate blood every two months. When my mother was in the hospital a few years ago she received close to 30-pints of donated blood, over the course of multiple surgeries (the human body averages about ten pints, which means she received three bodies full of new blood). There is always a blood shortage in New York (and just about every other place on the planet), and I am oh-so-grateful to the O+s out there for taking a few minutes out of their lives to donate their blood. Since then I’ve made a practice of carrying my blood donor card with me wherever I go and when I see those blood donation busses around town, hopping in for a little drainage. In 2013, I’m going to stop leaving my donations to chance and start making reservations with the New York Blood Center to actually go in and donate regularly.
  • Get my personal training certification. This was on my 2012 resolutions list too, but I got super busy fulfilling my other resolution to write a book ;) This year will forever be known as the year of the dumbbell.
  • Revamp The Kim Challenge. I wasn’t a particularly dedicated blogger this year. Most days ended with me closing the computer and backing away from it very, very slowly as to not get sucked back in. Writing all day every day was a bit exhausting (so was spending all day eating my way through bouts of procrastination), but now that that’s over I’m planning on spiffying up this here little corner of the Internet of mine. I’ve got some interviews lined up, reviews of exercise DVDs, recipes, videos, and more giveaways planned…and some other things you’ll have to keep reading to find out about. Muahahahahahah (insert strumming fingers here).

As always, I plan on exercising regularly, eating well (but not all the time, because life is meant to be enjoyed)—but those aren’t New Year’s resolutions, those just a part of life. If I just happen to look super awesome in a bikini come summer, so be it.

Happy New Year! What are you resolving for 2013?

Kim

December 2012 Resolutions


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The end is upon us. [Cue foreboding organ music]

If the Mayans are correct, we’ve got another week and a half left on the planet. If, however, they end up being wrong there’s a lot of life left and that means onward and goalward.

The last 11-months have been all sorts of mentally and emotionally exhausting; a true lesson in be careful what you wish for. I’ve decided to take December easy on the personal goals and resign myself to wrapping up loose ends.

In December I will:

  • Finish any remaining book edits.
  • Make the new www.kimberlyraemiller.com a live website. If you go to my personal/professional website now there are filler images up, but this doesn’t reflect what the new site will look like. I’ve spent the last few months going back and for with my web designer to work on and approve new design elements and content. I’m hoping to have this live before January 1, 2013.
  • Work out a study/testing schedule for the ACSM personal training certification.
  • Pay attention to why I’m eating. In general I’m a scheduled eater; I eat three meals a day at regular times. I’ve tried for years to implement the five-small meal a day philosophy, but I can never remember to eat snacks or feel hunger at the appropriate times. Having said all that, the last few months have screwed up my hunger cues in a major way, and while I’m not going to worry about “dieting” I do want to pay attention to why I’m rummaging through the refrigerator. Am I hungry, anxious, or looking for a distraction?

This year has been an incredible journey for me, and as I ease out of it I want to make sure I’ve given each element a solid last effort before sending it on its way.

What are you resolving for December?

Kim

October Resolutions

I start off every month doing two things. The first is saying to myself, “Holy crappola, how is it January/February/March/April/May/June/July/August/Septemeber/October/November/December already?” Then I read my detailed Astrologyzone.com horoscope. Seeing as how I’m a Capricorn it always says pretty much the same thing: Dear Capricorn, you’re going to work, work, workidy-work this month. Sometimes being the work horse (or goat) of the zodiac isn’t particularly exciting, but at least for the last year it has been relatively true.

September was the first real break in crazy stress I’ve had in a long time, and now that I’m back from my well-needed vacation it’s time to get back to my Capricorn ways, at least for the time being. I’m in the homestretch of book stuff now. I’m now in the revising stage, which is a whole new level of “Wow, this is hard, why did I decide to do this” but I can see the finish line in sight. So, as you may be expecting my first resolution for October is:

  1. Finish book revisions. You have no idea how much I can’t wait to have a finished manuscript! I’m incredibly lucky to have this opportunity, and although I’ve been super-duper secretive about what my memoir is about, I really hope that the final product will be something that is both an enjoyable read and will help people come to terms with their own personal hardships.

But, that’s boring, and even Capricorns can’t be all work and no play, so the here are some of my other goals for this month:

  1. Rock my Jessica Rabbit Halloween costume. The skin tight sequined dress is in my possession, and it is probably the sexiest I’ve ever dared to be on Halloween. Please note that I once rocked a ‘Conservatively Dressed Hooters Waitress’ costume. Since the first phase of book writing meant a few too many pints of ice cream and way less exercise than I’m used to, I’m going to aim to up my gym time. Well, I’ve already upped my gym time, but now that I’m back to days of sitting at a computer, I aim to maintain my gym time uppage.
  2. Techno Timeout. One of the best things about my vacation earlier this month (other than the eye pus, which was super exciting) was how free I felt from my technological bindings. The smartphones, e-mail, and social media sites that are meant to make our lives easier and connect us all can sometimes feel, at least to me, like chains I just can’t escape. I’ve decided to make Sundays in October digital detox days, meaning no phone, no email, no scouring Google Reader for updates of my favorite blogs. Book reading, cooking, conversation and cuddling—that’s what I’m prescribing for this month.
  3. Leave nice reviews. I realized recently that I only tend to leave reviews on sites like Amazon or Yelp when I have experienced bad service. How unfair is that to the companies that provide me with great service on a daily basis? This month is about accentuating the positive—just not on my digital detox day.
  4. Dress like a grown up. I’m going to let you in on a little secret: I spend most of my days in yoga pants and tank tops. Working from home has a somewhat stunting effect on ones ability to dress themselves. BUT I actually feel better about myself, and am more productive when I get dressed in real clothes and even do inconsequential things like brush my hair and put on makeup.

Work. Dress up. Power off. Say nice things. Get pretty. That’s what’s in store for me this month. What are you resolving for October?

Kim

June Resolutions


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Oh. My. God. It’s June.

Excuse me while I hyperventilate into this paper bag.

[heeeeeee, hooooooo, heeeeee, hooooo, heeeeee, hooooooo]

Okay, that’s better.

This June I am resolving to work really, really, really hard, and be kind, and maybe do my best about not eating junk food and getting to the gym regularly. But mostly, I’m just going to focus on working really, really, really hard.

I have two months to finish the first draft of my manuscript, a task that has been much harder than I originally anticipated.

Uh, next time I decide I want to write a book, someone remind me to not write one about myself!

I do apologize that my blog has become somewhat sporadic in posting lately and mostly consists of me having a nervous breakdown, but that’ll be over soon enough, and I can go on about my daily business figuring out how to be healthy and happy and not a maniac.

So, here are my resolutions for June:

  • Write at least 1500 words a day. My manuscript is about half done, which sounds cool, except for the fact that I only have two months to spew out the other half. I spent a good portion of the past four months writing and re-writing the same sections. I totally spiraled down a rabbit hole of rewriting and now I have get out and get finished.
  • Keep getting up at 6am. Operation morning exercise has been going well, and it has definitely added a feeling of accomplishment to my days. I may not be able to go as hardcore at the gym as I like, but if I can get there four days a week I’ll be happy.
  • Balanced eating. I’m not putting any crazy restrictions on my diet. Gluten, sugar, dairy, meat, etc will come and go, but right now all I care about is fueling my body and mind efficiently, without over fueling so I feel all bloated and gross while sitting at my computer ALL DAY.
  • FINALLY PAY OFF MY CREDIT CARDS! Contract signed and my signing bonus is on its way, which means after months and months of serious budgeting and lamenting about my credit card balance I can pay off my debt and live within my means again. Yay means. Count that New Year’s Resolution accomplished.
  • Blog more. The reason I haven’t been blogging much lately is twofold: for starters I’m insanely boring. There is literally nothing going on in my life that is not staring endlessly at my computer. Secondly, I keep running out of words by the end of the day. I’m going to try, really try, to not spew boring things out into the Internet, but to blog more nonetheless.

That’s about all I can handle. What are you resolving for June?

Kim

May Resolutions

 

Hello May.

Welcome to my life. I have been waiting a long time for you come around with your warm days and cool evenings, blooming flowers, and subtle reminders that life is better spent under the shade of trees than just about anywhere else.

May is probably one of my favorite times of year, it’s not quite hot but it’s not cold either, which to me means one simple truth: dresses and cardigans.

I love dresses, dresses are like pajamas you can wear outside. Can we all just agree that the world would be a better place if we could all just wear pajamas all the time?

Cardigans are like a security blanket you can wear.

Put them together and instant comfort.

I’m also excited about May and hoping that this will be the month that I finally find a balance between work-me and life-me.

To say the past few months have been demanding would be an understatement, but I think I’m finally burgeoning on a place where I can balance being a human being and work. So that’s what my resolutions for May are about.

  1. Blog. I miss blogging on a daily basis, but I’ve often ended my days feeling like there are just no more words left in me. So, I’m going to make it a point to blog more (although I’m reticent to define what “more” means just yet), even if it’s just one meal, workout, or life philosophy at a time. I’m starting this goal out with a giveaway so you should come back tomorrow for the opportunity to get swaggy stuff!
  2. Take time to live in the present each day. A manicure, pedicure, hour with a book (that I’m not writing), or dinner out with friends—go a long way to take the pressure off. I’ve been pretty hard on myself lately, a habit that has probably done more harm than good to my work. I’m going to trust myself to work hard during the hours I set aside for working, but also take a moment or two to veg. Chilling out is an important part of life, a part that I often feel guilty about.
  3. Cut out the processed, but don’t count calories. I have a trip to Israel coming up. I would love to look fan-friggin-tastic in my bikini, but right now I can’t handle the pressure watch everything I eat and log countless hours of cardio. So instead, I’m cutting out the processed foods in my diet—many of which are the fake meats I keep around for meals with The Fella. And trusting my body to know when and how much to eat if fueled with the stuff it would find in nature anyway.
  4. Set a sleep schedule. I have not been sleeping well and this has become a huge problem. When I was a kid and couldn’t sleep my dad would say, “If you can’t sleep, don’t sleep—but rest and sleep will come.” I’m going to channel that advice, even when my mind is buzzing under the covers and I’m itching to get out of bed and start scribbling my thoughts, I will trust that resting will do my body good, and perhaps even lead to some sleep.

That’s it, my resolutions for May are about not being perfect, but being good. I will trust in myself to do the best I can, but not worry about doing everything perfectly. Sometimes good enough is the perfect goal.

What are you resolving for May?

Kim

April 2012 Resolutions

 

Photo Credit:WeHeartIt.com

 

Can you believe it’s April already? We’re a quarter of the way through 2012!

Here in New York we’re fluctuating between summer-esque sun and winter weather. It appears that Mother Nature still hasn’t quite figured out what kind of spring she’d like us to have, and I have subsequently been dressed completely inappropriately for weeks now. It’s cold. It’s hot. It’s cold. It’s hot, but it’s raining. Hey look, it’s snowing. To be honest, the weather isn’t such a big deal to me—until early Fall I’ll be behind my desk typing. I’ve chalked 2012 up to The Year of the Recluse.

My life has certainly taken quite a turn this year, and while I feel unbelievably fulfilled on so many levels—I’m also going through a lot emotionally. Some of it has to do with book writing, and some is of a completely different personal nature. Balancing the really amazingly good with the heart-wrenchingly bad has had a significant effect on me. I certainly don’t mean for my blog to become “heavy central,” but I guess I am feeling a bit heavy these days, and because of that I have one very simple (or, not very simple at all) goal for April:

Honor my limits. For the majority of my life I have completely ignored any indicator that I cannot be any and everything I want to be—usually all at once. This moderately delusional behavior has led to quite a few accomplishments, but also a lot of tears, sleepless nights, and general anxiety. While I have come to accept my all-or-nothing personality, I’ve also realized very recently that there are limits to what I can handle. I’m not entirely sure I know what it means to honor my limits just yet (having never done it before), but I’m making it my goal this month to find out.

This is not the kind of resolution I can cross off of my to-do list and call it a day. There are steps though, and so this month I will make an effort to take them.

  • Sleep. I don’t get much sleep these days. In part because I’ve been dosing myself with enough caffeine and energy drinks to keep me awake well into retirement, and also because the sleep I do get is generally riddled with nightmares. In order to get said sleep, I think I’ve got to:
    • Nix the energy drinks. They’re so not good for you, and nothing I would recommend to the masses. It’s not in my character to take (or abuse) such things to begin with, but I’ve been pretty out of character in general lately. Caffeine sensitivity varies from person to person, and has a lot to do with body size and weight, and developed tolerance (much like alcohol, the more you drink of it the more you need to have an altering affect). Having said that, too much caffeine can be detrimental to calcium absorption—something that’s especially important as a woman. I’m not sure I’ll look back on this time in my life 30 years from now and think that my daily word count is worth osteoporosis. High doses of caffeine can also have deleterious effects on nerve impulses (hence jitters). Coffee does have some health benefits, and it’s my secret lover, so I’m not giving it up. But I think I can ditch the 5-Hour Energy Drink binges.
    • Chill the F-dge Out. Meaning actively partake in relaxing activities before bed. That means turning off the computer an hour before bed and doing things like meditate or journal.
  • Exercise. Fitness has always been a part of my life, and while I love to measure it by physical accomplishment (weight plates, reps, and miles), these days I need it solely for stress relief. I don’t necessarily have the same time every day to dedicate to exercise that I used to. Spending 2.5 hours to go to the gym, workout, and come back is a luxury I can’t afford these days. I can afford an hour. I need an hour a day to take care of my body. Plus, being accountable to my body has a contagious effect—when I exercise daily I tend to take more care of myself in other aspects of my life.
  • Eat for energy. To be honest, my appetite these days is almost non-existent. Every few hours I eat something because I’m pretty sure that’s a required activity. You’d think not having hunger pangs would mean I would focus primarily on healthy stuff, but lately I’ve just been eating what’s quickest to whip up, and getting back to work. This includes far more takeout and fast food than I have EVER eaten before. Methinks meal planning may be in order to both make sure I’m eating enough and eating food that will keep me focused and energized in this relatively stressful period. The good news, a good portion of this month is taken up by the Jewish holiday of Passover, which means that a lot of processed food is off limits to me anyway.
  • Sit still. Perhaps this is a lesson that others learn much earlier than I, but it’s not an easy lesson. There are things that need doing at times, that cannot be done in the present. I have heard (no, really, people have actually had to sit me down and tell me this) that life is long. The second part of this lecture usually contains some business about things having a way of becoming clear when it’s time for them to. I don’t know that I necessarily trust this whole life being long theory (because I’ve also heard that it’s short), but I do know that there are things in my life that seem completely outside my skill set. I’m hoping that trusting this whole time thing will help make things a bit clearer.

These resolutions have nothing to do with gluten, bike-riding, or word counts. But, they are the resolutions I need at this moment in my life. April is the Month of Limits, and I’m going with it. What are you resolving for April?

Kim

March 2012 Resolutions


I’m a day late in posting my March resolutions, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been on my mind. In fact, all of my 2012 resolutions are planted firmly among my lobal (yeah, I made that word up) priorities. Each month this year I’m going to make small resolutions to help me achieve my overarching resolutions for the year.

If you need a reminder of what those goals were, here’s a brief run down:

  • SELL MY BOOK!
  • See my abs/get all toned and stuff
  • Get certified as a personal trainer
  • Get out of debt/focus on financial security
  • Go gluten-free
  • Get rid of gossip.
  • Learn to ride a bike.

So here’s what I’m resolving for March:

Book:
I guess we all know now that I SOLD IT! So, the resolution is going to change a bit. Last month I got used to the idea that I was going to write a book. I played around with my schedule, trying to find the most optimal writing time, spot, and energy drink. This month, I’m going to be far more “hard ass” on myself. Sticking to a writing schedule, even if that means seeing my family, friends, and manfriend less. I have five months to finish a book that’s pretty emotionally and mentally grueling—it’s time to free my inner drill sergeant.

Abs:
I’ve realized, in the manipulation of my schedule, that my daily gym time usually docks about 2.5 hours from my day. I just don’t have that to spare most days, so I’m relying more on exercise videos. I’ve also signed up for a running class to get me out of the house once a week. I’ll probably still hit up the gym once or twice a week, but for the foreseeable future the majority of my sweating will happen in front of a television.

PT Certification:
This goal is going to have to wait until after my book deadline. While I originally thought summer, my guess now is early-mid fall.

Finances:
Last month I tracked spending and merged my retirement accounts. This month I plan to create a budget for myself and nix cabs.

Gluten-free eating:
I am not doing well with this resolution at all. For now I’m sticking to GF at home mostly, and outside trying to be conscious of it.

Gossip:
This has been a hard one. I find myself wondering what’s gossip and what’s general conversation. I’ve determined that good gossip is good, saying nice things about someone behind their back. Therefore I’m going to aim to say a lot of nice things about people behind their backs, and continue to strive to nix the negative.

Bike riding:
Now that the weather is showing signs of warming up, I may check out some bike rentals in the city and make The Fella spend a day in the park watching me fall over on two wheels.

What are you resolving for March?

Kim