Adding structure

 How to put structure into my day!

Now that I am retired I am finding that I really need to get motivated to make each day count. I feel I waste many of my days doing nothing so this lazy attitude needs to be tossed out and replaced with productivity.

In my collection of unfinished items I have decided to work on an embroidery project. It is a pair of pillow cases and I have only one about halfway finished. It is a more intricate design which uses many different stitches. They will be very elegant when I finish them. I am going to set a finish date for the first pillow case just to get me motivated to complete the first one. I will give an update as to when the complete date is and how the project is coming along.

I also have been working on a budget as my income is a little less than when I was working and I now have medical copays that need to be paid out-of-pocket with my new insurance. To curb my mindless spending I now ask myself if the item is really needed and for what beneficial purpose does it fill. Groceries also are now being budgeted. I will share how I go about figuring out meals and how I go about what needs to be purchased and what is already in the pantry and the fridge. I will share what my target budget for the week is and at the end of the week I will report if I kept to the budget or did I go over.

Another everyday activity is my exercising or in an earlier post I called it "going out to play" or "taking time out for recess". I have not been consistent with my exercising as of late but as of today that has changed.

Today I used my stationary bike peddles for 30 minutes. It isn't like going for a normal bike ride but it does keep the legs moving. I also did several exercises sitting in a chair along with stretch bands, and some standing leg exercises too. So for today I did about 1 hr. 10 min. of exercise which made me feel good about myself.

I am also scheduling some phone visits with some of our elderly in our congregation and touch base with some friends that I haven't heard from in a while. Reaching out is much more productive and enjoyable than waiting for someone to think about and pick up a phone to call you.

That is all for this post. I will share more in  my next upcoming post. 🙋