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I tried an experiment last year with my new year's resolutions/goals for the year that worked out pretty well. I didn't meet all my goals, but seeing which ones stuck and which ones were a bit more challenging to meet was also a useful exercise. Last year I started with 11 separate goals, with targets related to 11x each (since it was 2011). So this year I'm going to step it up a notch and aim for 12 multiples of 12. I have found that making my goals SMART in this way does a LOT in terms of keeping me on track. Here are my general categories/targets:
1) Health and fitness
Work out at least 12 times a month
Lose 12 lbs
Try at least 12 new healthy recipes
2) Home
Complete 12 small house-related projects
Grow 12 new plants
3) Financial
Save and extra $1200/month over and above retirement and college savings
4) Relationships/personal growth
Read 12 books
Visit 12 new restaurants in Beijing
Visit 12 new places with family
Go out with a friend at least 12 times
Have a date night with DH at least 12 times
I have one more that is kind of personal so I'm not going to write it out :~)
How about everyone else -- care to share your goals/resolutions for 2012? Maybe if we put these out there it will help keep us all on track.
lhamo
In doing my year-end paper purge, I discovered several of my annual goals lists dating back 5 years. Amazingly, I accomplished some of the things I wrote down. The thing I noted though is that several goals just repeat themselves every year.
Without clear intention and motivation, I can see why. Lasst year, I saved an article on a year end ritual I found interesting. Basically, you set a side a few hours of complete solitude and ponder the following before setting new goals:
How have I spent my time in the last year?
What has inspired me this past year?
What are the results of the actions that I HAVE taken?
What blessings have I received?
What were my disappointments and how did they change me? Ditto with accomplishments and joys.
What books have I read and how have they changed me?
What conditional patterns have I recognized and what allowed me to see them more clearly?
Looking back can help with future goals I am hoping.
I am gonna be the oddball, I find I do better without setting goals. I finally realized it, I mean I have general goals and some real big focus areas but once I put a number or date it is just downhill.
So I have a giant post-it note on my wall with tiny post it notes. I write small to-dos on the little notes and move them to the other side as I do them. So if I want to exercise 6 times this month I write 6 tiny notes and each time I exercise I move the note to the done side.
Lhamo, I had to laugh about the book reading. I went to the library for a movie and got 2 books and read them both the same night. Not very big books but I need a goal of doing some dishes before the books now and then, LOL
Actually the book reading goal is kind of a silly one for me, too -- I can polish off a book a night if I start after dinner, and I'm a pretty voracious reader. But I fell out of the habit of reading books when we moved overseas as English books are fairly expensive to buy in China and the library system isn't what we are used to here. I treated myself to a kindle last year because I was really missing reading. I hit my 11 book goal by about February -- would have been earlier but I had a busy start of the year at work. Now I can get library books on my kindle, too, so the 12 books a year was an easy goal. Need to have a few of those as the 12 lbs to lose is going to require some butt busting!
I like your post-it system. One of the things I would like to put on my household improvements list is a giant whiteboard for this big wall we have in our dining room -- I envision it as the "family control center" of sorts where we can all track our goals, etc. But I don't think DH will consent.
lhamo
Wildflower
12-27-11, 10:12pm
My goals are pretty simple and doable, and will improve the quality of my life I think.
Eat less, eat better, eat simpler.
Get more rest.
Relax and smell the roses more, be in the moment.
Walk more, sit less.
Drink more green tea, less coffee.
Nag DH less, appreciate him more. ;)
Let the little things go.
Save more money.
Love myself more, less self-critcism.
Read more, learn more.
Clean adequately, not obsessively.
Let my kids and grandkids make mistakes, that's how they learn...
Realize I can't fix everything, I am not in control.
Breathe slowly, inhale, exhale....slowly :)
Work on my obsessive tendencies.
Zoe Girl
12-27-11, 11:11pm
Oh I guess I have some goals,
Earn more money! Really focus on whatever opportunities there are in my field
Enjoy more, just chill
learn spanish and practice french, eventual goal to be tri-lingual
keep my finances in order, just the basics like checking account up to date, not getting fancy
lead/teach meditation in some form
So I just found out you can borrow books from the library on an e-reader (I have a nook), but everything has a wait list right now so I haven't tried to make it work yet.
Wow! You guys have it so together. No real goals for me, other than staying healthy, happy, and content.
Actually, now that I think about it, there is one main thing I'd like to see and that is, no financial surprises for 2012. (More of a wish/dream, than a goal, but still).
1) return to part-time (i.e. 36-40 hours/week) employment
2) reduce expenses by $3,000 per year to accomodate that (details on my blog)
3) continue to save $1,000 per month for kid's college
4) improve fitness (measureable: lose 20#, run 3 miles without stopping and do 10 regular (not at the knees) push-ups without resting
The only goals I have so far are to study Italian and more German, and to apply for a 3-month work placement in Spain (and save up for that).
I never make quantitative goals because I know I can't realistically stick to them. It's too much nagging pressure.
1) return to part-time (i.e. 36-40 hours/week) employment
Wow, if that's part-time for you, what's full-time?
I do better without specific goals: I have enough of an inner critic that it's like being around my mother when I was growing up, only I can't get away from it. The last couple of years I've tried picking a word as a theme, that worked somewhat better for me.
Originally posted by Herbgeek.
I do better without specific goals: I have enough of an inner criticThat's me. Maintaining a sense of steadfast stability and determination still remains my biggest goal. For the most part I do well (all categories), but I do need to occasionally remind and encourage the inner workings of my mind in order to stay focused, keep on track, remain conditioned, and to stay fully committed and true.
I guess my goals could best be summed up by trying harder to be true to myself and less to society. I seem to relate to the lifestyle of the masses less and less each year and it's rather freeing to realize that I can stop doing something that I wasn't doing for myself.
This is the first year I can remember writing out specific goals as an adult. They amount to spending less and living healthier in the new year which isn't anything overly original. What is unique for me (and I won't bore you with the details) is making a detailed list as to how I will achieve my goals. I'm also leaving the end results open so I won't be disappointed by progress or lack there of. I simply want to see what I can accomplish and to not set unreasonable end goals that will lead me to feeling unsucessful.
I want to learn to ride that bike in my garage! Also, I want to start selling things at craft fairs, which is a project I started in 2008 but worried myself out of it. This time, I'll keep things simple and not obsess over the details so much.
And my resolution every year is to get better organized. Sometimes I am, sometimes I'm not.
Wow, if that's part-time for you, what's full-time?
It's 43-51 hours/week. And that combined w/ three teenager's activities to too, too much. :0!
early morning
12-28-11, 10:20pm
I'm trying to do better with goals. I find them very intimidating for some reason. But I need to add 6K back to our emergency fund. And I need to get into better condition and lose weight.
fidgiegirl
12-28-11, 11:42pm
I do better without specific goals: I have enough of an inner critic that it's like being around my mother when I was growing up, only I can't get away from it. The last couple of years I've tried picking a word as a theme, that worked somewhat better for me.
Maybe this would work for me for my weight/fitness/health goals. It seems like setting a number is a biiiiiig no-no for me and a sure way to fling myself into a semi-depression where I should be making continual effort even in spite of failures small or large.
As far as 2012, I can't see past about March. We should be into the new place by then . . . whew . . .
catherine
12-29-11, 1:17am
I love goals--it's so much fun to work towards them... but I usually do best with just one at a time..and they tend to be financial goals. For the past couple of years my goal has been the same: I have an income goal I want to reach (which I made higher last year--and achieved it), and I break that income into thirds--with one third going to debt paydown. Last year I accomplished that goal.
Somehow when you really have a clear end in sight, you get there!
I had one big goal last year which I accomplished: get a job in CO and move there. I leave tomorrow!!!
But on to the new year:
-re-read and actually implement Getting Things Done at my new job
-get the house in CO painted and carpeted before DH brings all the stuff in Feb
-climb at least one 14er with my cousin's husband who asked us to take him up at least one this summer
-visit Rocky Mountain National Park at least 4 times (which would make the year pass worthwhile)
-do the Bolder Boulder (half a 12 mile run! ;)) with my new co-workers
-grow 12 tomato plants
-plant at least 4 fruit trees and maybe 5: apple, pear, apricot, and plum for sure and possibly peach or nectarine
That's what I have for now; I'm sure more will come up. Most of these are front-loaded for winter to early summer but with life in a little bit of flux it's difficult to make concrete goals too far ahead.
JaneV2.0
12-29-11, 11:58am
I'm aiming for more arty-craftiness in 2012. Also more organization and walking.
Read more, knit more and watch TV less.
Really maintain my vegetable garden this year.
Lose another 25 pounds.
My goals for 2012:
Health & Wellness
1. Do a restricted paleo/primal/low-carb diet for the whole year.
2. Maintain daily exercise.
3. Make meditation my priority when I feel stressed.
4. Spend as much time outdoors as possible.
Fun & Adventure
1. Get back into the arts: painting, drawing. Maybe sewing.
2. Do more hiking. More day trips to beach, napa valley, SF.
3. Try some fun new stuff - fashion & beauty wise. Be more daring.
Career & Education
1. Take one night class per semester.
2. Take more risks in my work life.
3. Use more of my natural talents.
Home & Community
1. Make progress on home projects. Maybe one project per month.
2. Restart the monthly dinner party at our house but make it potluck.
3. Get back to monthly volunteer work projects.
I had one big goal last year which I accomplished: get a job in CO and move there. I leave tomorrow!!!
Best to you and your DH - I've learned as an adult that geographic location makes a big difference in life satisfaction for most people, so I'm happy you'll have that part all set. Congrats on making it all happen!
happystuff
12-30-11, 7:17pm
I know that I have a tendency towards an "additive" personality and it has reared it's head this past year. While there were benefits reaped - I also realize that my time just got sucked away from other things. My hope for the coming year is to actually practise some self-control and moderation in all aspects.
I had one big goal last year which I accomplished: get a job in CO and move there. I leave tomorrow!!!
That's what I have for now; I'm sure more will come up. Most of these are front-loaded for winter to early summer but with life in a little bit of flux it's difficult to make concrete goals too far ahead.
Oh yeah, I forgot that you were coming to the best state ever. When you get settled we should meet up somehow.
I'm going on a lot more vacations in 2012. We are starting on Jan. 1st, going to Florida for a while. Then go up to Savannah in March. We will have to see how all that goes, maybe go out west in the summer, Id like to go to Yellowstone.
I also plan to have my pilots license done by May, Ive started and I plan to study for my written some while on vacation. And buy an airplane.
Get rid of all the stuff I don't use in the garage, Ive started but have a long way to go. Actually plan on getting rid of a lot of stuff we don't use or need anymore.
Id like to say that I will stay within a budget, but Ive tried to make budgets for years and we have never kept within one. As long as the net worth is in good shape I don't worry to much about it. But after years of tracking you would think we would hit one eventually. We came close in 2008, so I know we can do it, but with the market being in the tank that year we put off some spending.
I know that I have a tendency towards an "additive" personality and it has reared it's head this past year. While there were benefits reaped - I also realize that my time just got sucked away from other things. My hope for the coming year is to actually practise some self-control and moderation in all aspects.
I just wanted to say what a great goal this is! I could replace my long list with just this one goal and probably be happier and accomplish more. Thanks for reminding me of this.
I plan to use the library checkout desk more and the self checkout less. I avoid automated checkout automatically at retail stores, so I'm not sure why I'm so eager to put library employees out of work.
This is going to be another big year, but surprisingly, I am not that freaked out by it.
Some of my goals:
-New flooring for most of the house. It needs it. I am trying to balance cost with looks and durability here, and I think I have a good plan.
-Trust myself more. I seem to be shedding a lot of my insecurities lately and I'd like to see that trend continue.
-Most of 2012 (until my birthday in October) is the Year of Peace and Patience for me. An observation I have made that I think will be hugely helpful in this is that most of my inner-turmoil and impatience with myself and others comes from a fear of ridicule and judgement.
I am thinking about committing to this goal:
To take a flower arrangemetn to work every 2 weeks. That would be 24 arrangements. It's a fun thing, yet it would sometimes also be a chore and an obligation. Haven't decided if I will do that.
Have More Fun.
this is my annual goal. This year, though, I am trying to both avoid the rigid goal setting I have done in the past and the loose, unstructured "have more fun" of the recent past....
So I want to have fun while I work out regularly (this is to get in better shape for an upcoming xc ski trip), and have fun while I play music (not get tense and anxious about my performance) and have fun while working (not struggle against perpetual competency fears that appear independent of any competency issues) and have fun connecting with the DH and the rest of my extended family (adult children, siblings, grandchild, all of that). And have fun while saving more money, too, which I am looking forward to. The blessed renovations are (nearly) finished, we are going to be able to complete the work ourselves, and so I want to approach it with a focus on making it fun, and paying attention to the fun of saving rather than paying contractors.
I guess what I mean about all of this is that I want to take a Fun approach. If working toward a goal isn't feeling like Fun, what can I do to make it more fun? I don't love painting but it is far more fun taken in bits, with lots of music, and something to look forward to when it is finished. And I don't want to torture myself if I fall short so the actual stated goal is to just Have More Fun. Without specifying "more than what?"
I love reading everyone's goals and noting their approaches to them. Thanks for the thread.
I am thinking about committing to this goal:
To take a flower arrangemetn to work every 2 weeks. That would be 24 arrangements. It's a fun thing, yet it would sometimes also be a chore and an obligation. Haven't decided if I will do that.
Why not aim for 12 times, or an average of once a month -- if you miss one month because you are too busy or just not into it, you could do two the following month. Or, if you feel you need it more in the early, dark, cold months of the year you can do once a week for the first three months and feel good about having reached your goal! Or you could broaden it out to just men giving 12 arrangements during the year -- some could be taken to work, others to parties or to given to friends/family, etc.
I think the thing that worked for me last year with the 11x11 approach was that for the most part it was pretty easy to knock off one project a month in the different areas I was focusing on. there were some big fails, though -- DH and I never worked out the date night thing, for example. But I recognize that is important, so this year it stays on the list, but I am going to discuss with him making a major change in our household scheduling to make sure it happens -- mainly asking our helper if she will commit to staying late on Friday nights every week in exchange for not coming in on Saturday afternoon. That will also help keep me on track with two of my other goals -- cooking more new recipes and going to more new places/restaurants.
I guess what I am trying to say is that I have realized through my experiment last year that it is really important to set smaller, baby-step type goals -- ones that are pretty easy to achieve. Then you gain a kind of momentum and also avoid that feeling of failure that can come about when you have overstretched and aren't hitting your targets. but when you add up 11x11 or 12x12 changes/achievements in a calendar year, your life is really moving discernably in a positive direction.
Hmmm... maybe I'll call my blog 12x12 and use it as a forum for exploring this idea further.
lhamo
Why not aim for 12 times, or an average of once a month -- if you miss one month because you are too busy or just not into it, you could do two the following month. lhamo
yes, you are so right! That's what I'll do. I think that 12 a month is actually a goal that I'll have a hard time meeting. and you are right, in the summer during height of iris 'n lily season, I can do more.
In doing my year-end paper purge, I discovered several of my annual goals lists dating back 5 years. Amazingly, I accomplished some of the things I wrote down. The thing I noted though is that several goals just repeat themselves every year.
Without clear intention and motivation, I can see why. Lasst year, I saved an article on a year end ritual I found interesting. Basically, you set a side a few hours of complete solitude and ponder the following before setting new goals:
How have I spent my time in the last year?
What has inspired me this past year?
What are the results of the actions that I HAVE taken?
What blessings have I received?
What were my disappointments and how did they change me? Ditto with accomplishments and joys.
What books have I read and how have they changed me?
What conditional patterns have I recognized and what allowed me to see them more clearly?
Looking back can help with future goals I am hoping.
I like that - I think I'll copy those questions in my list book and ponder them a bit.
I've got to improve my health - I've been stress eatting a lot the last 2 years.
I plan to take my kayak even further this year (on lake and on rivers) and I'd like 2 river camping trips this year.
I plan to research where to continue my education in counseling (it's been 23 years since college).
Save for a newer truck.
Work on my list of house repairs (small jobs like recaulking)
Increase my chicken layer population and tackle even more meat chickens this year (try 25 this spring).
Improve my garden soil and add a new berry garden (my berry bushes all died in the heat this last summer).
Because my birthday is at the end of summer and I work for an elementary school, I always feel that the new year begins in September! My goals for this school year and I reiterated over lunch to my DH yesterday, is to be calmer around the children and keep my mouth shut in the staff lounge - really I overshare and need to rein it in!! I find it much easier to remain calm around an out of control student than to stay quiet with adults. I keep a little note that simply reads "breathe" in the math materials that I teach each day as my reminder.
Bastelmutti
1-3-12, 3:00pm
PERSONAL
* Get back to making gifts by hand rather than buying (even though I buy a lot of handmade from other people)
* Exercise regularly - started in December; somehow starting early took off some of the pressure of this being a "New Year's Resolution"
* Call my aunt once a week - done once already
* Minimalist wardrobe to cut down on laundry
* Keep working on household decluttering and organization - mainly home office, hallway shelves, hallway closet, bedroom closet & basement storage (started in fall, need to step it up!)
BUSINESS
* Finish up my Saturday volunteering gig in late spring, then quit for next year (starting Sept.) and spend the time and energy saved on my business instead
* Get re-invigorated about my business by 1) acquiring a new technology & training on it (then offering to clients) and 2) switching over e-mail and other functions to Google to streamline everything (started over Xmas break - need to learn more about apps)
* Website for my business (had initial mtg. w/ developer over Xmas break)
* After initial investment of doing the above and seeing how things go with clients, set higher revenue/mo. goal & plan for meeting it
I recently moved (sold house) and pretty much got rid of everything (not much to begin with) as well as really went thru reducing my personal belongings to just a small briefcase-sized safe with my important papers, photos, etc..., 2 mid sized bags of clothes and shoes, and a few "toys" (bike, skiis, etc...). I plan to travel as unencumbered as possible for several months this year and don't want to have to store anything (sis and I share 2 boxes of family photos and momentoes that she keeps at her house). So my only "simple living" goal right now is to not accumulate anything else while I'm living in temporary rented digs. That means no shopping for anything I don't absolutely need, trying to make the things I have last as long as possible, and not having anything extra.
My financial goals are the same - live within my means (monthly pension) and find free or low cost alternatives that I like better than expensive ones so that my monthly expenses stay low but my happiness factor is still high.
Fitness goals are basicly to keep up with my daily runs, bike rides, gym, and play sports when I can. Also to walk my dog somewhere great everyday as long as she can walk. I also want to start competeing again in long distance trail runs so have a few of those planned for this year and will combine travel with running competitions when I can. Also want to try some more extreme type activities. Things that i wouldn't do as a hobby because of expense (like sky diving) but would like to try once. Scratch a few of those off the old bucket list.
My personal goals are to try and meet a like-minded guy who is also free to go and not tied up with the whole consumer rat race and image of success. Someone who could care less about the car he drives (or even if he drove one) and the stuff he has or the image he projects. Meeting guys isn't the problem, meeting guys who are down to earth and non-traditional is a problem. Maybe if I get the heck out of Southern Calif - hotbed for the Donald Trump wanna-bes of the world :-) - I'll meet a nice simple living guy.
ETA: One of the main goals I had when I retired early was to not have goals. By that I mean not have schedulded things I had to do (or felt I had to do) at a desiginated time. So I rarely make goals such as "create this or do that or make this or volunteer this many hours or.....whatever". Instead, I leave each day free to do what ever I want. I found this works much better for me and is more inline with my simple living goals then one which is "cluttered" with a bunch of time and stuff related goals. Those can often be demanding and create as much stress in someones life as anything else.
Since I've done everything I can to spend less money, one of my goals is to get out and make more money. Gotta get my Reflexology clinical hours done so I can take more classes and get certified. The hard part is actually making myself do this as a business. Really I should offer my massage services to the residents in my development. I'm just not a go-getter.
Since I'm on-call at the spa 2 days a week, one of those days I'd like to volunteer at the library; my plan is getting my foot in the door and hopefully getting a paying job sometime.
Eat healthy and exercise more---who am I kidding? I say that every year.
Get my horse as healthy as possible. He's 26 years old and has Cushings, which is common in older horses. He's on medication and herbs now so I really want to spend time getting him fit and keep him going for as long as possible. Once an old horse is retired, they go downhill fast.
Maybe learn to cook a bit. I don't enjoy eating/cooking and eat whatever's around the house. This will be a useful skill someday.
As always, get more organized, declutter/downsize, and try to spend even less money than ever.
While online, turn off the tv instead of half-watching things I'm not interested in. Use my Pandora shuffle more. My online time will stay the same, since I consider it socializing, entertainment, and education/research. Keeps me out of the store.
Well, now that I've had a few days to think about it, I realize I do have some very general ongoing goals.
Chiefly, I want to further develop some profit centers this year. I spent part of 2011 getting my head around the fact that it is possible to do this (a la Barbara Winter in Making a Living Without a Job) rather than having to start one business that would free me to work for myself. So I am looking at some blogs that I have already started and how those can generate income, and also will be working on our new rental business. Part of the challenge in this is to keep my focus on one profit center long enough to get it making some money, and then sustain it. I tend to go in great guns and then fizzle and move on to the next thing.
Also, as always, health. I finally found a doc that I feel can "hear" me, and we are meeting again in February. I hope to have some new ideas from some testing I did for her, and to find some solutions to my health challenges.
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