There was a time when I read blogs simply as a distraction.  Something to do instead of housework, cooking, or whatever.  I first started reading fitness blogs and stuck with that sort of blog for a long time.  But somewhere along the way I discovered that there were blogs.about.other.things.  I also found that there are some really.great.things to be learned from blogs.

For instance…this post today got me thinking.  (It also served as a great big distraction as I was plenty busy at work, but pulled out a big hot pink super-sticky post-it and got busy writing!)

Chris Brogan talks about how each year he comes up “my 3 words” – three words that he will use as guidance for how he should conduct his efforts in the year to come. He sets his goals around these three words and builds deadlines and projects around these words.

I happen to love making lists of goals, New Years Resolutions and whatnot.  But I tend to go crazy overboard and end up with so many different lists, goals, directions — and continue spinning in circles as usual.  I come up with more things to get done than I can possibly ever get done and end up frustrated at my lack of progress.  My mind is on overdrive almost always and it is a challenge to stay focused on anything with so many shiny things out there in the world.

Back to to Chris Brogan post — his 3 words are all super-smart and lofty:  Ecosystems, Owners and Kings.  He explains why he chose those words and how they fit into what he wants his business and his life to be.  Better for you to read his post than for me to explain it here..after all, I have kids to bathe in a few minutes.

So that brings us to my 3 words.

On January 1st of this year (before I read the post about 3 words), instead of making my usual Super-Sized New Years Resolution List — I grabbed an index card and wrote the words you see underlined.  The words in italics are just my explanation of why I chose those words.

1. Eat Veggies:  I’ve slipped into some less-than-healthy eating habits and sometimes actually go an entire day without eating a veggie.  I feel better when I eat better, so this really means that I want to eat better myself and prepare healthier food for my family.  Veggies are the basis of a great diet so that’s where I’m going to focus.
2. Sit on the Couch:  Some people worry about being couch potatoes.  I, however, hardly ever sit on my couch.  I am workong on breaking the I-must-always-be-busy disease I’ve had for way too long.  When I do sit on the couch, I connect with my kids, my husband, even my cat.  So more of that and less running around the house trying to make it perfect (which wasn’t working anyway).
3. Grow My Home Biz:  I’m working on a home business so that I can work from home, only when my kids are in school.  Working full-time, with 4 kids, is just plain insane.  We need a lot more flexibility than any actual j.o.b. can really offer.   I use every bit of vacation/sick time for family-related things and still end up missing a lot.  However, we do like having a second income and I actually enjoy being productive.  So I’m working on a way to be home and earn money/use my brain. It’s going well — it will take a lot of work over the next 6 months — but I’m up for it.  Which means my time on the couch will be time I’ve earned.

So, in typical fashion — I’d gone overboard and used a few more words to get my 3 words for the year.   To simplify, I’ve pared my list down to actually just 3 words:

1. Veggies
2. Couch
3. Biz

This list feels completely do-able.  I know there are all sorts of steps in there, but I don’t need to fill notebooks with lists to maintain my focus.  Veggies, couch, biz.

What are your 3 words?