Happiness Project: Boost your Energy

This week on the Happiness Project, MiniVanMom asks us to look at ways to boost our energy. According to Gretchen Rubin, "research shows being happy energizes you, and at the same time, having more energy makes it easier for you to engage in activities - like socializing and exercise - that boost happiness. Studies also show that when you feel energetic, your self-esteem rises". The five steps Rubin used to boost her energy are:

• Go to sleep earlier
• Exercise better
• Toss, restore, organize
• Tackle a nagging task
• Act more energetic

I don't know anyone who gets enough sleep, certainly not any mother! My day begins when the alarm goes off at 4:55, every school day (unfortunately, this means that sleeping in on the weekends is now 7:15). I really don't know how I can get anymore sleep. I feel as though I am going to bed at a reasonable hour (usually 10ish). Instead of more sleep, I would kill for some recharging time!

I have started to get back on the exercise bandwagon and it feels good. I love the boost that it does give me. The problem is finding the time to actually do it. I can't get up any earlier, and I don't want to workout after dinner. With kids activities, I just don't always have the time. My plan is to make it more of a priority now.

Cleaning house and getting things in order is definitely energizing and contagious. I love the feeling of having things in their place. My real problem is that I don't do it on a regular basis. While my house is clean, it is not always tidy. I am probably a little too laid back on the occasional pile of mail, or pair of shoes cast aside. I've got three kids, the youngest of which is just 21 months. I feel like I am constantly picking up crap and putting it back where it belongs.
I know there are people out there whose homes always look neat and tidy, I wish I was one of those people, I just don't have the energy to do it. There are times when I panic, what if someone just dropped by? Maybe I'm too concerned at what other people would think of me...or maybe I should find the time to tidy on a regular basis. Don't get me wrong, my house doesn't look like a bomb went off, just not perfect.

I have too many nagging tasks to even focus in on one. lets review that nagging "to do list"
At least I've gotten the painting/lights/and carpet done.

Act more energetic- I guess that's like acting happy. That is a tough one. I don't know if I have enough energy to feign energy. but, I resolve to stop dwelling on being tired. I have a horrible habit of responding to the question, "how are you?" with "tired". Even if I'm lying, I am going to find a way to respond differently.

I think once I start "acting energetic" and get on a better exercise routine, the energy will come...my very own Field of Dreams.

Am I happy?

Last week I wrote about the Happiness Project. A blogger I have been reading for a while now decided to lead a few of us down a journey exploring happiness and what it means for us. The assignment this week is to answer three questions:

Why are you doing this project?
What is your history in trying to be more happy?
What does happiness look like for you?

I'm not sure what happiness looks like for me, completely. I have a great marriage, 3 beautiful and healthy girls, a job that challenges me, a great home and wonderful family nearby. When I think of other people I know who have more difficult life circumstances, I am happy that my life seems so good. Then, of course, there is always the flip side.

When I look at the big picture, I think I'm happy. Do I feel happy on a daily basis? Not very often. I know for a fact that even though I am considered by many friends to be very patient, I actually lose it quite often with my kids. I hate the constant strife there is at home. I hate the yelling and subsequent tears that are inevitable on an almost daily basis. I hate that I don't have the time to just BE with my kids and give them the individual attention they need. I want to be able to do things with them, but am often "too busy" with checking homework, cleaning, laundry, cooking, paying bills, etc. I hate how stressed I get knowing that some aspect of my life is always getting the short end of the stick, and too often, it is my kids.

This project is not about focusing on what I hate, however, so I need to figure out what happy would look like to me. I know that happiness has got to have less stress and more me time. What has worked for me in the past has been to be able to find just a little bit of time to recharge my own batteries so that I can be a better mom to my kids. You know what they say...happy mommy, happy family. Or maybe they don't say that, but I certainly will!

Happiness Project

I've decided to participate in a Happiness Project started by Minivan Mom (one of my absolute favorite reads). The first challenge she created for us is to come up with 1o reasons why we love where we live. Here goes:

10 Reasons Why I Love Living in Olney, MD

10. The house itself When we were looking to move, we decided that we needed a house that was just a smidge bigger than what we had with an extra bedroom. We wanted a house that you could walk out to the back yard. We needed a 2 car garage and would love for it to be on a family friendly street. when I saw this house online, I knew it was the perfect house. We actually only looked at about 2 other houses and none seriously...this house was perfect.

9. The neighborhood We live on a cul-de-sac with very little traffic and great neighbors who will invite us over for blizzard parties, play dates and have awesome block parties.

8. Living close to family When we moved, we only moved about 10 miles from our previous house, but that also made us 10 miles closer to my parents (who are only 10 miles away now), and only .7 miles away from one of Pat's older brother's and his family. Our kids all go to the same school and they get to see each other often. plus we get to swap babysitting.

7. off the beaten path Our previous neighborhood was just off a major commuting route through Montgomery & Howard Counties and went straight to DC. While it got us to places easily, it was often traffic laden and noisy. Now, the town we live in is no where near any major city or large commuter routes. Now, there are roads we can take to get us places, but we are not in such an urban-like environment.

6. more suburban we are more suburban than we were, but not so cookie cutter and Stepford Wives like. There is a horse farm across the street from the kids elementary school, but we are by no means in the country. It is a good mix.

5. No beltway tie-ups I never have to get on the highway on any of my weekly/daily errands. I love not having to traverse the DC Beltway. The more time I can stay off that death trap, the better.

4. sidewalks There are sidewalks on every street, at least in my part of town. makes walking with the kids so much easier.

3. small town feel It never fails, I can always see someone I know at the grocery store, Starbucks, the gym. there is a general feeling that everyone knows everyone. I remember going out to dinner before we even thought to move here and we felt out of place because so many people at the restaurant were stopping at tables to talk to other patrons. It was nice to see and a definite change from the "don't look at me" feeling you often get.

2. Access We are not too far from cultural centers and activities in DC and Baltimore.

1. no big box stores around This one can also be a hate, but what I have found is that when you live close to a target/walmart there are a lot of people that flock to your general area-increasing traffic, crime, etc. I love that there is no major reason to bring hoards of people to town other than the locals...it keeps things nice and calm. We do have everything else you would need (3 grocery stores, library, post office, different places of worship, liqueur store, restaurants, 2 Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and a gym).

In short, I don't think I could ever regret our decision to move to Olney. It cost quite a bit to buy our house, but it will always be worth it. Our kids are in a better environment, making great friends, going to a great school and are happy. Totally worth it.