Habit Challenge Will Start Again Soon!

The last Habit Challenge was such a success that I am ready to do it again. We will start the next habit challenge a week from tomorrow. It will go from Wednesday, October 22-Tuesday, November 11th.

If you'd like to join us, please let me know in the comments. You will need to prayerfully choose a habit that you commit to doing every day for 21 days. The key is to start small and commit to follow through every day for 21 days. Then, you will have a new, positive habit that will come naturally to you (or at least more naturally than before!)

For more information on choosing a habit, go here.

As before, we will have regular check-ins, but I hopefully (with the help of my hunky techie/husband) will be able to figure a way to do it off-site. so as not to totally clog my blog with Habit Challenge Check-in posts. :-)

I am not sure yet what my habit will be this time, but I know I will also commit to maintaining the habit of going to bed on time. It has made a huge difference in my life in so many ways.

For Layna

Layna, I am so proud of you sticking with this challenge. Spending time with the Lord, in my opinion, is the most important habit anyone can choose to form. You did great!

And now, here is your haiku:

It's a miracle.
A busy college student
Seeks first His kingdom.

For Elly

Elly, I am just so thrilled that you joined us "late" and finished so well. That shows me that you don't look for excuses. You did great!

Here is your haiku:

She made up her mind.
She listened to her body.
Her body says, "Thanks!"

For Tami

Tami, you did so well! Although (like me) you didn't quite make it to 19/21 days, I can tell that you have given it your best and I have enjoyed walking through this challenge with you.

Here's your haiku:

Physical training,
And serving Hubby breakfast,
Both godly habits.

For Missy

Missy, I am so very proud of you! You were the only one of us who finished with a score of 19/21. You were diligent and I am so glad that you now have the blessing of a more orderly home.

Now, a haiku for you!

Tackling a big job
One half hour at a time.
Look what you've done, Girl!

Habit Challenge, Day 10!

How's it going?

I was in bed on time last night, but not the night before since we got to San Antonio late!

Habit Challenge Starts Tomorrow!

Okay, Bird, Debs, Layna, Missy, Tami and...Me! Habit Challenge starts tomorrow! I will do my very best to have a check-in post every day and I encourage you to pop in and let us know that you are on track. Just a word of encouragement: think how great you will feel once you have completed the challenge! Don't give up. Persevere and make this a priority.

Let's go!

21 Days Are Up!

So, thus ends our second 21 Day Habit Challenge. Did anyone stick around to the bitter end? Give me your thoughts, people!

I was able to go to bed on time within 5 minutes of 10:00 every night except a handful...and most of those were unavoidable because of traveling. However, I don't know if it qualifies as a habit for me. Probably because I took weekends off. But I am really glad I did it and I do feel a bit more refreshed! :-)

Habit Challengers Check In Here!

We are 14 days in to our second habit challenge. How's everyone doing?
Debbie--How's the time with God going?
Missy--Any more success with going to bed (and to sleep) earlier?
Cristina--Keeping to the snack time boundaries?
Bird--Going over your verses every day?

Me? This challenge has been challenging :-), but very good! I have made it to bed within 5 minutes of 10:00 each night except when we've been out of town or on a day when we had just driven back to town.

Keep persevering! If you've fallen off, get back on! 7 days to go!!!!

21 Day Habit Challenge Week Two Check In...Are You Still With Us?

Okay, y'all! It's been 14 days. Who out there is still sticking with the 21 day habit challenge? Approximately how many days out of 14 have you been successful? How are you going to make this last week really count? Is this habit going to continue past 21 days? Why or why not?

And, let me add: if you but off more than you could chew...meaning if your challenge was too challenging to begin with, then feel free to modify it.

My habit of sitting down to eat without doing anything else has been much harder than I thought it would be. But I would say that I have stuck with it 13 out of 14 days. Since I eat more than once a day, it's hard to calculate. Most of the time it has had to be an act of my will...not natural.

I do plan to keep this habit up. It is very helpful for me to prevent mindless eating and to actually see how much I am eating so I don't overdo it.

21 Day Habit Challenge Week One Check In...Let's Have It!

So, comment and let us know how the habits have been (or not been) forming. Be real...be honest. Is this helping? Why or why not?

Here is the list of those of us forming new habits...pick someone to pray for:

Missy--sit down to eat dinner each night until everyone is finished.
Kellie--exercise 4 times per week.
Bird--memorize 2 scriptures per week
Maryfran--take vitamins every day.
Milly--not speak ill of anyone.
Dani--Check each day to be sure the kids have done their chores correctly
Julie--read a chapter per day in the Bible
Debs--record everything she eats in a food diary
Brandi--Sit down to eat without doing anything else at the same time.

I will go first. :-)

Stopping everything and sitting down to eat has been very good for me. First it pretty much eliminates mindless eating and it helps me to have more time to think, "Am I really hungry?" Instead of just putting something in my mouth because I want to or because it's "time to." It also eliminates the bad habit of just eating without having put food on a plate first like at a party. I totally goofed last night and did that at the refreshment time after Life Group. Woops!

I have done really well for the most part, but I still am tempted to eat snacks without sitting down or sit in front of the computer with my snack. I am going to make myself sit either at the table or the sofa.

How are all of your habits forming? How can we help?

21-Day Habit Challenge Day 3 Check In: We're All In This Together!

Happy Friday, everyone!

I wanted to post yesterday, but it was one of those days that turned into one of those nights where you can barely muster up the strength to turn on he dishwasher before crawling into bed...

So, here's the official list of people taking part in the 21 day challenge to form a new habit:

Missy--sit down to eat dinner each night until everyone is finished.
Kellie--exercise 4 times per week.
Bird--memorize 2 scriptures per week (which verses are you memorizing this week?)
Maryfran--take vitamins every day.
Milly--not speak ill of anyone. (Did I get that right, Milly?)
Dani--Check each day to be sure the kids have done their chores correctly
Julie--read a chapter per day in the Bible
Brandi--Sit down to eat without doing anything else at the same time.
If you are taking part in the challenge and are not on this list, please say so in the comments and I will be happy to add you. :-)

Please take a moment to choose someone to pray for. Okay, now let us know how it's going so far.

I will start. I did well Wednesday and most of yesterday, but then I actually forgot the first part of my goal. So I ate snacks while standing up. And I also ate while at the computer a couple of times, but by His grace I stopped. It is taking some getting used to, but this is really good for me.

I am looking forward to hearing from you all!

Check In Here

It's technically Tuesday night, but we will be leaving really early for a homeschool field trip, so I am putting this up tonight.

If you are taking part in the 21 day habit challenge, please say so in the comments. Also, let us know how things go the next few days by commenting here. We want to encourage each other.

As I stated before, mine is as follows: For the next 21 days, I will sit down to eat without trying to do anything else at the same time.

With God, all things are possible! Good night!

Reminder: Habit Challenge starts tomorrow!

(Read the previous post if you have no idea what I am talking about. :-)

If you are joining me in the challenge to form one new good habit over the next 21 days, now is the time to pray about it and define exactly what habit you are going to form. (Make sure it's measurable.) I will post an official challenge check-in post tomorrow and that will be a place where you can name your challenge and let us know how it is going over the next few days. I may post a mid-week check in and I will definitely post an official check-in at the 7 day, 14 day and of course the 21 day mark.

Let's lift one another up in prayer. And may I suggest praying as you read? It's easy to forget over the course of the day.

Is there a prize you ask? Of course!! One newly formed habit that will produce lasting fruit in your life. :-)

They Say It Takes 21 Days...

To make or break a habit. I am challenging myself to form a new habit: sitting down to eat without doing anything else at the same time. (It's amazing how many things I can do while I eat!)

Why this particular habit, you ask? Well, first of all, I believe the Lord told me to. And I can see why. I mean, when I eat while doing something else (even watching TV), I tend to eat more and not feel as satisfied.

I have been reading Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. I was struck by something he said in the chapter titled, "Study":

Most people find it virtually impossible to go through an entire day focusing on a single thing. We are the lesser for this dissipation of our energies.

I am trying to focus on doing one thing at a time now. Forming a habit of sitting down to eat without other distractions, for me, is just one step toward living a more purposeful and focused life.

For whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God. -- 1Corinthians 10:31

So, does anyone else have a habit they would like to form? Please pray about it first. Then let me know!

My challenge officially begins Wednesday. First, let us know what habit you want to "make or break." Make it measurable. (Not, "I want to read the Bible more..." Instead, try, "I will read 2 chapters every day for 21 days.") Check in periodically in the comments to let us know how you are doing; at least once per week. We can encourage and pray for each other.

But if nobody else is led to take part, I don't mind doing it alone. I will update you on my progress :-)