This February I Will....
themedalist
Posts: 3,218 Member
And Hello February!
Let’s build some new healthy habits! What's your goal for this month and what's your plan for achieving it? Is there something new you'd like to focus on in February or does January’s goal need more attention before it’s part of your daily routine? Now is the time to select a goal, specify a plan, and get to work. Let's make it happen!
What can you do in 5 to 20 minutes a day? Repetition is the key to all habits and small repetitions are more likely to succeed and become habits because they don't require much motivation, willpower, or time.
Check-in daily, weekly, or as often as you like, but let us know how you are progressing! We want to support and encourage you.
If you are joining us for the first time, welcome! We are glad you are here. Let us know what your goal is and how we can help. And if you're joining us midway through the month, no need to wait for March. Start today and you'll be that much closer to achieving what you want. If you're looking for ideas, our list of previous challenges may be useful.
Try to frame your goal along these lines:
1. My goal for this month (This February I will...")
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit
4. How often will you do your new habit (daily is best if possible)
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? (Small positive feedbacks such as a fist pump, saying "I'm awesome", or a star/check mark on your calendar help cement the habit you are trying to build.)
6. What help do you need from us?
7. What does success look like to you at the end of February?
Let's get to it! What's on your to-do list for February?
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Replies
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As I mentioned, I'm rolling my January goal into February. I'm going to focus on my posture this month.
1. This February I will pay attention to my posture and make an effort to sit up/stand up straight.
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal: I will use the Posture Makeover app daily.
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do your habit: After I write in my gratitude journal (which I do daily) I will use the Posture Makeover app and do that day's exercise.
4. How often will you do your new habit (daily is best if possible). Daily.
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? After I do my posture exercises, I'll say "Well done" to myself.
6. What help do you need from us? If I seem to be slacking, remind me that I don't want this to be my March goal.
7. What does success look like to you at the end of February? I'll have better posture without paying much attention to it because sitting and standing up straight will be more automatic for me.4 -
Hooray! February isn’t usually a month I jump into joyfully, but I’m feeling so good about accomplishing my January goal (and a little more, as logging my food helped me eat a lot more healthfully, and being more thoughtful about meals made me keep my kitchen cleaner, and keeping my kitchen cleaner made me start keeping the rest of the house cleaner...) that I’m eager to embrace the month. I’ll stick with January’s goal and add to it a bit.
1. This February I will continue logging all meals daily and will stay at or below my calorie goal 6 days out of 7.
2. The small actions: weekly meal planning; weekly bag lunch preparation on Sundays
3. The cue to remember: placement of phone charger reminds me to complete my logging when I plug in my phone at bedtime; weekly grocery planning with spouse, which we always do Sat morning, reminds me to plan meals
4. How often: daily
5. What reward? Clicking the “Complete Diary” button at the bottom of the food diary page (truly, I find that satisfying!)
6. What help do you need from us? Keep reporting on your own goals and how you work toward them—it helps me to hear others’ strategies
7. What does success look like to you at the end of February? A full record in my MFP food diary and maybe a few pounds lighter on the scale.4 -
Yay for a new month!
1. This February I will keep my bedroom tidier.
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal. I will put my outerwear away when I get home daily.
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do your habit: After I finish my yoga and posture routine I will make sure that I put away my sweater, jacket, scarf, and jewelry.
4. How often will you do your new habit (daily is best if possible). Daily.
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? I’ll give myself a cheer and I will take a picture of my cedar chest (where I usually put all my outerwear).
6. What help do you need from us? Just keep me accountable by being here.
7. What does success look like to you at the end of February? My whole bedroom will look tidier if the top of the cedar chest is clear. And I might have a happier husband.
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1. My goal for this month (This February I will...") give myself permission to relax & play more.
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal setting up times with friends, creating art, playing with colors, playing with themes & compositions, getting out in nature more, having fun.
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit my phrase for 2019: Fearless Jolie de Vivre
4. How often will you do your new habit (daily is best if possible) daily
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? (Small positive feedbacks such as a fist pump, saying "I'm awesome", or a star/check mark on your calendar help cement the habit you are trying to build.) I’ll say: “Great job! You’re creating the life you always dreamed of!” Down the road I *might* set up a blog or Pinterest.
6. What help do you need from us? Validation that exploring my true interests & passions is valid & worthy.
7. What does success look like to you at the end of February? A pile of art, sketches, compositions, color combinations, writing, and a HUGE smile on my face. And a deeper appreciation & realization that the doing yields greater learning than dreaming about it! And one art piece generates ideas for 10 more!! Let the snowballing begin!!4 -
@MadisonMolly2017–oh, my goodness, what a beautiful goal! Just reading it made me feel inspired. And “Fearless Joie de Vivre” is gorgeous!2
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@MadisonMolly2017–oh, my goodness, what a beautiful goal! Just reading it made me feel inspired. And “Fearless Joie de Vivre” is gorgeous!
Thank you @jroslyn !!
UPDATE:
Feb 1: sketched compositions, used copier to magnify/crop images
Feb 2: Dove in and played with the design freehand. Liked it better than the original! Dove in at 10 pm with “play more. Be fearless. Go for it” and painted the sketch - loved the doing. The colors are gorgeous!! At midnight used white pen to enhance design. Woke up next morning so please!
On my walk, I realized my Fearless Joie de Vivre was dissipating. Asked myself happened? Why the tightening ?
Told myself just to play. Then 100 yards from home, like a lightning bolt, it hit me, “You gave yourself 3 years to lose the weight...maybe that’s your clue?”
I’m giving myself 3-4 years to play around.
It’s awesome. Relieves the pressure of being great now. Encourages the DO!
Feb 3: long hike in nature, took a number of landscape/tree/sky/rainbow photos to use as reference and picked up some eucalyptus leaf-filled twig branches to use in same piece!
So far, so good! Creating the life I dreamed of.3 -
MadisonMolly2017 wrote: »@MadisonMolly2017–oh, my goodness, what a beautiful goal! Just reading it made me feel inspired. And “Fearless Joie de Vivre” is gorgeous!
Thank you @jroslyn !!
UPDATE:
Feb 1: sketched compositions, used copier to magnify/crop images
Feb 2: Dove in and played with the design freehand. Liked it better than the original! Dove in at 10 pm with “play more. Be fearless. Go for it” and painted the sketch - loved the doing. The colors are gorgeous!! At midnight used white pen to enhance design. Woke up next morning so please!
On my walk, I realized my Fearless Joie de Vivre was dissipating. Asked myself happened? Why the tightening ?
Told myself just to play. Then 100 yards from home, like a lightning bolt, it hit me, “You gave yourself 3 years to lose the weight...maybe that’s your clue?”
I’m giving myself 3-4 years to play around.
It’s awesome. Relieves the pressure of being great now. Encourages the DO!
Feb 3: long hike in nature, took a number of landscape/tree/sky/rainbow photos to use as reference and picked up some eucalyptus leaf-filled twig branches to use in same piece!
So far, so good! Creating the life I dreamed of.
I love everything about this post. Kudos!
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MadisonMolly2017 wrote: »@MadisonMolly2017–oh, my goodness, what a beautiful goal! Just reading it made me feel inspired. And “Fearless Joie de Vivre” is gorgeous!
Thank you @jroslyn !!
UPDATE:
Feb 1: sketched compositions, used copier to magnify/crop images
Feb 2: Dove in and played with the design freehand. Liked it better than the original! Dove in at 10 pm with “play more. Be fearless. Go for it” and painted the sketch - loved the doing. The colors are gorgeous!! At midnight used white pen to enhance design. Woke up next morning so please!
On my walk, I realized my Fearless Joie de Vivre was dissipating. Asked myself happened? Why the tightening ?
Told myself just to play. Then 100 yards from home, like a lightning bolt, it hit me, “You gave yourself 3 years to lose the weight...maybe that’s your clue?”
I’m giving myself 3-4 years to play around.
It’s awesome. Relieves the pressure of being great now. Encourages the DO!
Feb 3: long hike in nature, took a number of landscape/tree/sky/rainbow photos to use as reference and picked up some eucalyptus leaf-filled twig branches to use in same piece!
So far, so good! Creating the life I dreamed of.
I love everything about this post. Kudos!
Thank you @77tes
It’s a transition, but if not now, when?!!
♥️2 -
@MadisonMolly2017, that is beautiful and inspiring!3
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@MadisonMolly2017 I have such a big smile on my face! I LOVE YOUR POST! I have been soul-searching about what I really want to do when I grow up (kind of silly since I'm only 6 years away from retiring) and to read your February goal of creating the life you dreamed of made me even more determined that I can still achieve some of my dreams! You go get 'em girl...
@jroslyn I also smiled when I read yours! Isn't it great when one habit leads to the next, to the next, to the next? Really made me feel joy seeing how excited you are about starting the new month! Awesome!
I see lots of good monthly challenges here! Let's do this friends!1 -
This February I will increase my water intake...
1. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal: I will not refill my coffee after I finish my travel mug I bring with me to work from home. I will switch to water. I will fill my water bottle before every conference call. I will fill my water bottle each time I go to the rest room, and I will fill my water bottle before each meeting.
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit: Meetings and switching gears at work.
4. How often will you do your new habit (daily is best if possible): daily
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? (Small positive feedbacks such as a fist pump, saying "I'm awesome", or a star/check mark on your calendar help cement the habit you are trying to build.) I will increase the ounces of water I drank on my diary on MFP. I love seeing that number go up!
6. What help do you need from us? If you have any tips on what reminds you to get more water, I'd love to hear them! It's not that I don't want to drink it. I get involved at work and just don't realize how much time goes by in between my breaks!
7. What does success look like to you at the end of February? At the end of February, I will be drinking water automatically without needing to remind myself. My wedding ring will fit again because my hands won't be as swollen if I really nail it!
Have a great day!2 -
fitphoenix wrote: »@MadisonMolly2017, that is beautiful and inspiring!
Thank you so much @fitphoenix That means a lot to me!1 -
PackerFanInGB wrote: »@MadisonMolly2017 I have such a big smile on my face! I LOVE YOUR POST! I have been soul-searching about what I really want to do when I grow up (kind of silly since I'm only 6 years away from retiring) and to read your February goal of creating the life you dreamed of made me even more determined that I can still achieve some of my dreams! You go get 'em girl...
@jroslyn I also smiled when I read yours! Isn't it great when one habit leads to the next, to the next, to the next? Really made me feel joy seeing how excited you are about starting the new month! Awesome!
I see lots of good monthly challenges here! Let's do this friends!
@PackerFanInGB
Yes, you can❣️ Took me about 3 years...but I got there 🌈 Never give up!!2 -
Feb 4
Studied sketching faces in different positions and tried the techniques
Deepened my techniques & knowledge re: ears eyes nose mouth & how they vary with front, 3/4 tilted, side view.
Painted for 2 hours at a coffee shop, using new techniques I learned on line
Came home and used colored pencils, white acrylic pen, and neocolonial II over the watercolor portrait- new methods and approaches. I’m liking the results!4 -
Late entry..
This February I started:
. Log all my meals and portion control
. Exercise 60 min 6 days / Wk , alternating cardio, strengthening, & yoga
. Find accountability buddies
. Daily set aside time for worship and gratitude
. Nurture my relationship with family and friends
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Update
Feb 5 Sketched two portraits while riding ex bike - crazy as clipboard kept slipping- they turned out great! Did another in bed before sleep.
Studied & memorized ratios of width of face to height. Depth to height, too.
Made swatches of my colored pencils, so I know what color they really are! Took a lot of time because many needed sharpening!
Feb 6
Copied last night’s sketches to play with them with color.
Studied two activities in a Betty Edward’s book on side view of face & front view. I learned that on a side view, the distance from back of eye to the back of ear = distance from eye to bottom of chin. That the facial features take up very little of entire shape of head in a side view. Explains why my side views always looked odd.
Began making color chart of 5 different brands (I thought I had two) of watercolor pencils. Got through the yellows oranges reds pinks red-purples violets. Very fun & relaxing!
Discovered a new artist who does very colorful watercolor portraits!
Researched scanners. Trying to decide if I really need one or if I can use Photoshop to clean up iPhone pics of my work! Contacted an artist to find out which one she uses & it’s the same one I am considering!
I’m having so much fun!
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@MadisonMolly2017 , My granddaughters take art classes, and they are the high point of their week. Here is the update I just got from my daughter
"Fantastic Art Day!! Kate was all squeals when she finished her Monet duplication today. She beamed, skipped, and pranced her way through the studio. And at bedtime, she hugged me gleefully and said, “I love being an artist. It makes me so happy. It’s so fun. I’m so glad it makes other people happy and I can share it with them.”
Rose was happy with her tone drawing but was quite emphatic that the black cup was much better than that annoying yellow, “the lighter toned,” cup. That one’s shape was so much trickier. But then “when I finished the cups and started the apples, I was so relaxed! It was weird. It was such like no problem.”
I think it is wonderful that you are making enjoying your art a priority! And you are learning so much, too!
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@MadisonMolly2017 , My granddaughters take art classes, and they are the high point of their week. Here is the update I just got from my daughter
"Fantastic Art Day!! Kate was all squeals when she finished her Monet duplication today. She beamed, skipped, and pranced her way through the studio. And at bedtime, she hugged me gleefully and said, “I love being an artist. It makes me so happy. It’s so fun. I’m so glad it makes other people happy and I can share it with them.”
Rose was happy with her tone drawing but was quite emphatic that the black cup was much better than that annoying yellow, “the lighter toned,” cup. That one’s shape was so much trickier. But then “when I finished the cups and started the apples, I was so relaxed! It was weird. It was such like no problem.”
I think it is wonderful that you are making enjoying your art a priority! And you are learning so much, too!
This made me smile!🙂 I think doing something creative every day is so important to finding inner happiness and peace. It’s great when little ones (and grown up ones) experience that feeling.2 -
Consistent simple work will build into great works over time. Congrats on finding something so meaningful and fulfilling!MadisonMolly2017 wrote: »Update
Feb 5 Sketched two portraits while riding ex bike - crazy as clipboard kept slipping- they turned out great! Did another in bed before sleep.
Studied & memorized ratios of width of face to height. Depth to height, too.
Made swatches of my colored pencils, so I know what color they really are! Took a lot of time because many needed sharpening!
Feb 6
Copied last night’s sketches to play with them with color.
Studied two activities in a Betty Edward’s book on side view of face & front view. I learned that on a side view, the distance from back of eye to the back of ear = distance from eye to bottom of chin. That the facial features take up very little of entire shape of head in a side view. Explains why my side views always looked odd.
Began making color chart of 5 different brands (I thought I had two) of watercolor pencils. Got through the yellows oranges reds pinks red-purples violets. Very fun & relaxing!
Discovered a new artist who does very colorful watercolor portraits!
Researched scanners. Trying to decide if I really need one or if I can use Photoshop to clean up iPhone pics of my work! Contacted an artist to find out which one she uses & it’s the same one I am considering!
I’m having so much fun!
2 -
@MadisonMolly2017 , My granddaughters take art classes, and they are the high point of their week. Here is the update I just got from my daughter
"Fantastic Art Day!! Kate was all squeals when she finished her Monet duplication today. She beamed, skipped, and pranced her way through the studio. And at bedtime, she hugged me gleefully and said, “I love being an artist. It makes me so happy. It’s so fun. I’m so glad it makes other people happy and I can share it with them.”
Rose was happy with her tone drawing but was quite emphatic that the black cup was much better than that annoying yellow, “the lighter toned,” cup. That one’s shape was so much trickier. But then “when I finished the cups and started the apples, I was so relaxed! It was weird. It was such like no problem.”
I think it is wonderful that you are making enjoying your art a priority! And you are learning so much, too!
@77tes
I loved reading about your granddaughters!
Thank you so much for your encouragement!
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@nebslp
I love this:
Consistent simple work will build into great works over time. Congrats on finding something so meaningful and fulfilling!
I believe if I continue to “play,” life will be ever changing & exciting!
Thank you so much!2 -
My February goal is going well. I did leave a few folded clothes on my cedar chest last night before I left for dancing; then; putting them away would have awakened my husband. So one day didn’t happen. Mostly, I have been putting away my outerwear as soon as I get home, so the cue of following yoga just provides me with a reminder to check.3
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Better to be considerate than obsessive!My February goal is going well. I did leave a few folded clothes on my cedar chest last night before I left for dancing; then; putting them away would have awakened my husband. So one day didn’t happen. Mostly, I have been putting away my outerwear as soon as I get home, so the cue of following yoga just provides me with a reminder to check.
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Feb 7-9 Update
Playing with & Creating Art every day!
Feb 7 - more watercolor pencil swatches!
Feb 8- sketched image on watercolor paper. Bravely added first light wash, preserving whites (after looking at s couple of sections in 2 watercolor books.) Studied values of colors after they dryfor use in value-based painting.
Went to a coffee shop & sketched a little!
Feb 9 - worked more on yesterday’s piece. Building up, still, to the dark darks.
At a yoga event, I saw images that I want to paint. Sketched & made kites for future use!!
When I got home I sketched the eyes of the woman I was partnered with for several exercises!
On a walk, sketched face with app. Learned a new technique.
Feb 10
Created another portrait - and I love it. Copied it & am now adding text & colorful hand-painted collage pieces.
Taught a student about sketching faces, watercolor supplies, etc. Extremely fun❣️
Might get to teach her younger sister, too!!!
Continued to work on piece I began over a week ago! Coming along well. Added moon, refined lines using watercolor pencils.
Took pics of leaf patterns on sidewalk where I saw faces LOL. Gave me another composition concept. Sketched it.
Saw another face in blanket this AM- sketched it.
Sketched another face on my app! Fun!2 -
Please forgive my absence. I took a few weeks off to heal my body and mind.
1. My goal for this month (This February I will...")
I will exercise 30 min daily on the Gazelle.
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal.
I have recently made the spare bedroom into "my space". It includes the Gazelle, yoga mat, mediation space and hand weights. After getting my grandson to school each day I will immediately do 30 minutes. I am hoping to constantly do an hour.
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit.
Hang my keys up and go to my room.
4. How often will you do your new habit (daily is best if possible)
Daily
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? (Small positive feedbacks such as a fist pump, saying "I'm awesome", or a star/check mark on your calendar help cement the habit you are trying to build.)
I will be marking a chart.
6. What help do you need from us?
Accountability
7. What does success look like to you at the end of February? It would be great if I can make this a daily workout even after this month.
I am hoping that this exercise will help me with my piriformis and sciatica pain. Golf season is right around the corner and I plan on being ready to push my cart and walk 8 miles on the course at least 4 days a week if not more.3 -
77 minutes on the Gazelle today3
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Feb 11 Downloaded a Kindle book on creating regular studio time & finding one’s own style of creating.
Sketched some thumbnail faces & side views.
Shared some of my in-process pieces with son.
Feb 12 - returned items from my bedroom to art studio & put them away
watercolored randomly & playfully in a cafe
Love love love watercolor
& later in the evening, I used an iPhone art app to create quite a few images. Printed one to be Hubby’s ♥️ Card. Amazing what one can do with an iPhone!
Shared some of in-process pairings with a former student. I’m getting braver!
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I'm new but this february i will go for a short walk within an hour of waking up. The small things i have to achieve this is to not set a time limit and to give myself time to wake up properly in the morning. My trigger will be 7 o'clock. If i've not walked by then then off i go. I will be doing this daily. The help may be tough as i'm not sure what support to look for. To reward myself i'll have a coffee. In the long term i hope to make this a habit that i do upon waking and to set an alarm to get me out of bed to do it.4
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61 minutes on the Gazelle this morning.2
