2019 Resolution Update: September

To everyone who thinks it’s fall just because school’s back in session and PSLs are back:

1. Temperatures are still firmly in the mid 80s and San Jose summer can stretch into October at the latest.
2. The Salted Caramel Mocha is the superior fall Starbucks drink.

If I had a dollar for every time youth soccer thwarted my tournament plans, it would have paid for this morning's salted caramel mocha with coconutmilk.

Welcome to September.

— Elizabeth Barcelos (@barcelosknows) September 3, 2019

Still, there’s no denying we’re falling into the last quarter of the year.

Resolution #1: Protect my time

The last few weeks were not great for my mental health. I’m not going to delve too much into that here, but I didn’t spend last month protecting my time as much as I was incapable of doing more than the bare minimum I needed to do with my time to remain functional.

I’m bouncing back but I’m still making sure not to completely fill my calendar. I’m my own biggest project, after all. Protecting that time for myself is my best form of self care.

Resolution #2: Listen to my body

I went hiking last month and did not die.

On the other hand, I felt like dying. The last time I went for a hike at Alum Rock Park, my age started with the number 2. What I remembered as an easy hike back when I was swimming at least three days a week kicked my sedentary 30-something ass.

Yoga/barre has been a bit of a bust for me for two reasons. One: it’s just far away enough to be convenient. Two: the studio itself is lovely and inclusive but I don’t feel comfortable doing that kind of exercise.

On the other hand, getting an aquatics membership at SJSU’s new rec center is cheaper, closer, and swimming is my preferred form of exercise. I think that’s my next move.

Resolution #3: Declutter my life

I spent last month organizing my office (aka my desk’s corner of the living room) in fits and starts. Has anyone else experienced making an even bigger mess in the pursuit of organization? Because that’s been my problem with this corner.

I was going to share photos of my progress for this month’s update, but things hit a snag when the shelving unit I was supposed to inherit from Jim this weekend proved to be harder to separate from his desk than we thought.

While last month wasn’t the best for my resolutions, I’m still glad that I’m being mindful of them. Not every month is a win, but even setbacks can be part of a greater arc of improvement. Or so I hope.