is the grass greener quote

Monthly review: is the grass greener?

is the grass greener quote

If you read my newsletter, you will have already read this! But I like to keep my reviews on the blog as well, so have published it here too.

This year I have made many changes to my daily routines and overall structure to my week. I try hard to be present and live in the moment, but there are times when I wonder what other options are like – I wonder is the grass really greener as the cliche goes?

A couple of the changes I have made this year, looking back with the benefit of hindsight now, have been about testing if the grass is greener not just trying something new.

It has been a great experience and I have learnt a lot from it. For the record the grass hasn’t been so much greener per se – it has just been different. It wasn’t perfect, there were struggles, there were things I loved about it, things I disliked and things that stretched me and made me grow.

I would not have had this experience if I hadn’t tested it out. Starting something you are not sure you will like can be difficult. Trying things and then being prepared to say it isn’t for me can be confronting. Changing our mind and having to tell others can make us feel uncomfortable.

Other people however care much less than we think they do about what we do day to day. Most of those around us have full lives and if they are close to us, they just want us to do what is good for us.

Having a goal to keep you on track about what you want your purpose to be, is super useful if you tend to worry about what other people think. If you are confident in what you are doing even if that thing is just testing out something new, you are significantly more likely to see it out.

I am going to continue to try some new things for the rest of the year and see how it works for me. Just because we are getting close to the end of the year, isn’t an excuse to stop and stick with the status quo.

There are 69 days left until the end of 2019 – plenty of time to make positive changes!

What you going to do in November?

October monthly review

HabitConnection to goal - Nurture new routines to re-energise, re-invigorate and create personal growth.Poem quoteOct Review
Establish a new work routineI have been working from home for the last 10 years and the last couple I have had less connection with others.

In 2019 I want to change the way I work to re-energise the way I feel about work.
“Don't let your life goals fall victim to the allure of comfortable routines.”
~ Zero Dean
While I have my out of the home work routine completely sorted, I have struggled the last couple of months with my work from home (Planning With Kids) work - which would explain I feel like my work at home routine took a sharp rise upwards in October (September was a low base though!).

I am still contemplating some further changes, but they will need to wait until next year now.
Establish a new morning routineI have had the same morning routine for about the last 5 years. It has served me well, but with the changes in ages of the kids there is now greater flexibility and it is time, I tried some new routines to re-invigorate the start to my day.“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.”
~ John C. Maxwell
My morning routines are running smoothly. I share what my typical day looks like - My typical day 2019.
Dedicate two hours a week to learning something newI read, listen to podcasts and audiobooks, but I haven't taken the time to really learn something new for some time.

This habit may change a little along the way, but the aim is that I learn something that helps me grow or gives me a new skill.
"Change is the end result of all true learning."
~Leo Buscaglia
I have spend time learning about Vitamin B, in particular B12 which is hard to get if you are eating a plant based diet. I am still having whey protein powder and eggs occasionally so will be increasing eggs across my week, to give me a boost in B12.

These are a couple of good articles if you are interested in this subject:
Create a bimonthly non fiction book clubStarting a book club has been on my list of things to do for years and by making it non fiction, it will support my goal for personal growth. Yes I could read the books on my own, but I always get so much more out of a book if I know I have to discuss it with others.“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
~Dr. Seuss
Our last book for the year is Axiomatic by Maria Tumarkin. It is non fiction but written in a unique narrative style.

I am about half way into it and I wasn't sure if I liked it the first few pages in, but now I love it. I have cried twice already and it has made me think deeply about the existence of others in Australia.