10 on the 10th; January 2026
Yay! Marsha's brought her 10 on the 10th back and I loved this month's prompt! Some months she asks us 10 questions and some month she just gives us a prompt. Both are fun to answer.
Oh I just knew this prompt was going to be so easy! Without listing crazy things I'd never do, I actually have had quite a few goals and things to do on my mind for years that I keep pushing off and pushing off because I really don't want to do them so here are 10 things I probably won't do this year (that I really probably should). Most relate to our house which is now 22 years old...
1. Repaint the baseboards/trim & doors (or any room of the house at that)-- our white trim and doors are really showing their age and use but the thought of actually getting down and repainting them is daunting so it's a task I keep putting off.
2. Remodeling the master bath (or any other room in the house for that matter)-- my husband and I have talked about a master bath remodel for years and we have done a few mini makeovers but really it could use a huge overhaul. I'd like to get rid of the makeup table and put in double sinks, we'd get rid of the jetted tub I haven't used since my boys were little and put in a giant walk in tiled shower... things like that.
3. Move! I'd love to sell our house and move south but since just me and the younger two want to do this (and they'll be off at college so their votes don't even count) I can't see us moving any time in the near future.
4. Travel overseas-- I have so many sights and countries on my list of places to visit but I highly doubt I'll be leaving the states at all this year. In fact I'm pretty sure travel of all kinds will be kept to a minimum. We have one trip planned to Utah and I hope to get Evan down to North Carolina to see my family but other than that I think all other trips will be close to home in & around New England.
5. Get a job-- with Evan graduating and heading off to college in the fall I am officially finished homeschooling so of course lots of friends and family members have asked what I plan to do next and many assume I'll be getting a job... but I doubt it. I'm not opposed to working if the right job comes along but I'm definitely not polishing my resume and researching job opportunities either.
6. Decluttering/ deep cleaning ALL the cabinets and closets-- When the boys were little without fail every single January was a time to go through every single cabinet, closet, and drawer and deep clean and declutter. But as they've aged I've gotten away from that and while I keep thinking I SHOULD do that this year I probably wont.
7. Make it Mat Yoga-- I attend a chair yoga class at my gym and the teacher is always modifying the exercises to make them more challenging for me. Both her and the owner of the gym keep trying to encourage me to go to mat yoga (which I would LOVE)... but it's from 6-7 at night and I am just not at all motivated to work out in the evening. I am a morning exercise person.
8. Reside the house-- Our siding takes a beating from the relentless sun, wind, and weather coming off the lake and is all buckled on one side. We have a few cracked pieces of siding here and there too so I've been pushing for a residing job for a few years now but it's such a big job that it's one we keep putting off. I assume we'll tackle it when it's time to redo the shingles. I'm hoping it can wait a couple of years until at least one of the college bills is done.
9. Volunteer-- Since I've made it pretty well known I'm probably not going to get a job a few people have mentioned I could volunteer... but I don't see myself doing that either. In case you haven't noticed I'm not much of a people person (and I can not imagine working at an animal shelter--- ewww!) so I don't see this happening in 2026 either.
10. Reaching my WW Goal weight-- That might sound so defeatist but I only reached my WW goal weight (that they set up/recommend) once and that was when I was in so much pain for a full year that I hardly ever ate anything. I have my own more realistic goal that I am just 4 pounds shy of hitting that I think is much more doable.
Linking up with:
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Ahh! I have a list of things that I should do but probably won't in 2026 and you have given me ideas to add even more to my list like paint the baseboards and doors. My eldest will be finished her education in June and I am not 100% sure about getting a job either, if the right one comes along I will take it but I'm not going out looking for one. I am not a people person either. hehehe
ReplyDeleteHa! Glad I gave you some more ideas to add to your list you won't get around to doing.
DeleteOh I love this prompt. How fun and I love a little honest realism. I have a lot of those same things on my list...and I do chair yoga for the same reason. Once 5pm comes around I'm in my pjs, especially in winter!! Great share!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! Yes! I told them I'm in my pj's by 5 so I just can't possibly come to class at 6.
DeleteThis made me laugh! I'm going to write my own post now. I can't wait to see you again this year...how fortunate are we to have this IRL friendship now?!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it such a fun prompt?!
DeleteWhat a fun prompt. I always have winter goals, and complete some of them but never as many as I hope. And hey, if you don't need to work, don't. Just because your kids are grown, doesn't mean you need to go back to work.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! I definitely don't feel like I need to go to work and thankfully my husband doesn't either.
DeleteI like this prompt, too, and may borrow it! I think its great to be realistic, since at this time of year, we set our expectations and don't consider our limitations. Sure, there are things we should do, but we also have to conserve our energies for what we truly want to do! I don't really want to work, either, but it gives me structure that would otherwise be lacking in life. I should probably acquire a few hobbies, ha ha.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! I don't make resolutions usually because I found I rarely had the follow through.
DeleteThis if a funny thing and I love it. Ten things we won't do this year. hahaha. Love that. Happy Weekend.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you!
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DeleteGreat prompt and you reminded me that I really need to organize/declutter my cabinets and closets! I always make a good start but sadly never get through everything. Somehow this year I haven't even thought about it yet!
ReplyDeleteI quit my job several years ago to be more available to my kids, my oldest graduated from highschool in 2024. Thought about going back to work but honestly I feel like there is plenty to do around the house, garden work, etc. that I don't have the urge to go back. It's a personal decision for sure.
There is always something that needs doing around the house!
DeleteWe have talked and talked and gotten quotes and quotes about redoing our master bath. How extensive (gut job or not) and then how expensive (gut job or not!) are two things we are having trouble coming to a decision about so we´ve done nothing about it beyond talk. Our homes are similarly aged. We repainted all of our baseboards a few years ago and honestly they could use a touch up but I don´t see us doing that in the near future! We talk about moving but I think it will definitely depend on where the kids end up living. I love working very much part time on my own schedule! I don´t consider myself much of a people person either but I have found a few staff members at one school whom I really like and do enjoy the interaction with when I´m there.
ReplyDeleteKnowing my husband.. we'd probably tackle most of the remodel ourselves.. which makes it even less appealing since that means working nights and weekends and taking even longer. I am the painter and while I know the house would look great retouched I just can't motivate myself to do it. My husband wants nothing at all to do with moving and swears he will die in this house (I, however, hope to change his mind!).
DeleteI love this! And it makes me think about my 10 answers to this question. Hmmm....
ReplyDeleteIsn't it so fun?
DeleteI have been part of a bathroom remodel removing a tub and replacing it with a shower. This is a great, fun list!
ReplyDeleteOh ours is going to be much bigger than that; we also want to replace flooring and put in radiant heat, add double sinks, etc. It would be a total gut job...
DeleteLooks like you had not as much of a problem with the prompt as I did! Great list.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! I only struggled a bit to come up with the last 3.
DeleteI can't wait to hear about your trip to Utah!! Ruth@playworkeatrepeat
ReplyDeleteI really can't wait either!
DeleteWhat a fun and thought filled list! I found myself nodding in agreement with many of the things on it After 30+ years in our house though, we are finally remodeling two bathrooms this winter and it's a bit overwhelming right now as we make all the decisions. Exciting but a bit stressful!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I remember that decision fatigue well from when we built our house... so many decisions to make! I hope the remodels go well.
DeleteLove this, Joanne! I have a massive list of things I probably won't do this year, haha. Being a people person is over rated lol! ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteJoanne, such a great prompt. I have some of those on my list. Thanks so much for sharing at Love Your Creativity.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun?
DeleteOh, you came up with some different ones! I hate dusting the floorboards. Ours are stained wood which shows the dust so much more than white ever did. I wanted white when we built but it was $$$ more and would take three weeks longer for some strange reason. The trick is to get just close to the flooring not all the way. That makes it go faster, I've found. I'd love to move to a house with more windows though I hate to wash them. Thanks, Joanne, for playing along!
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
I hate dusting trim too; our old house had stained wood and I agree that the dust shows more that way but the white really shows scuff marks (particularly the stair risers).
DeleteThis is a great prompt. Reading and thinking yep. Need to do it! Feels like a bit of letting go as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you; it really does.
DeleteI love this! I agree with you - don’t get a job!😂
ReplyDeleteLOL! I've started telling people I'm retiring.
DeleteI agree with you about not getting a job! lol. I have a few more years till Simon graduates but I feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteI have zero desire to work outside the home... but I am tempted by the appeal of more money to pay for those college tuitions.
DeleteBoy oh boy, do I love this! I usually keep things like this a secret, but hey, no more!
ReplyDeleteNothing seems to be much of a secret anymore! LOL
DeleteWhat a great idea for a post! Funny how some people think you would want to work. I can see how some might want to with extra time on your hands. I think it would be pretty hard going to work after being at home so much. I find it funny that when people retire from work they often get another job. My husband is talking about jobs he thinks I should do when I retire...*eye roll*
ReplyDeleteYes! We've noticed that too; so many people pick up jobs in their retirement. We know of a few that started a whole second company!
DeleteOh love your list. My daughter volunteers at a second hand book shop. She opted to work in the shop, but she was given the choice to work sorting and pricing books, behind the scene. I'm like you and am definitely a morning exercise person. I have gone to yoga in the evening during the summer when it is light, but I prefer my morning classes. #mmbc
ReplyDeleteOh now that I would enjoy... and probably spend far too much of my money while doing it! I love books.
DeleteGreat list. I know people are resistant to not doing it themselves but the only reason stuff gets done here is when we put aside the money to get it done because while I hear friends and family discussing great DYI plans they never seem to be done. The projects I've wanted done I save and pay because they would still be on my some day list.
ReplyDeleteWhile I love going to restorative yoga in person, all other classes I schedule remotely because of scheduling conflicts and the ability to play back something I didn't get. The studio I use will send you the feed and the video of the class is good for 5 days. Can't remember the last time I did one live.
We built our house 20 years ago so we have all the skills and know-how but I am definitely feeling less inclined to tackle large projects as we age. There is really nothing that NEEDS to be done but there are things we wish we had done differently the first time around and we have the money to swap it out so it's fun to think about but I am in no way ready to deal with the mess and the noise and the disruption.
DeleteI find the questions about getting a job interesting. Society assumes that once children grow up and/ or leave the home a stay at home mom will find paid work. I'm interested to know: how do you picture your life when you have more time for yourself? Do you have any specific plans?
ReplyDeleteI really don't have any specific plans for ideas. I do hope to tackle some of the larger jobs around the house I've been avoiding but other than that I'm not really sure.
DeleteThis is such a great prompt! I was nodding along to so many of these... especially painting the baseboards... that sounds like an awful job! Haha. Brian and I painted the baseboards in our old house that was a fixer upper and I still have nightmares about it. Haha. I'm lucky if our baseboards even get cleaned in our current house - which that is actually on my list for this year and I'm already dreading it! Ha!
ReplyDeleteI painted ALL the woodwork before it was installed while we were building and then touched up once they were installed and we had to fill all the nail holes.... and I hated it 20+ years ago when I didn't have a bad back! LOL
DeleteDon't feel bad. I'm with you here. I have a list of things that won't get done either.
ReplyDeleteVisiting today from SSPS
I think we all have one of those lists...
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