Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Revisiting My 2008 Goals

Well, we are three quarters of the way through the year so I thought I'd check in on my goal list. They were sort of a resolution list, but no one ever follows resolutions, so I thought I'd try to name it goals. If you had a list do you remember what it had on it? Have you kept it up? I've usually had trouble remembering my resolutions, but this year I decided to post the list on my blog so it was easily within sight regularly. Posting something on my desk is a waste of time since it tends to get lost in the chaos, and that happens to be an item on my list, so here goes, an update on my goals.

1. Post on my blog at least once a week.

Well, I've certainly posted more than last year, but I haven't quite kept up every week. I'm still happy with my progress though.

2. Finish laying my back walkway pavers.

Amazingly enough I am still not done with this project. We needed to replace a basement window and I had to wait for the man in my life to have the time to finish that project first. Plus, I'm just that big a procrastinator. It's almost done though.

3. Continue to cut spending and reduce my short term debt

Well, it seems like I'm cutting spending, but prices are rising so it's a wash. I'll keep trying though.

4. Use a budget to buy my clothes and accessories

I've just put a moratorium on buying stuff for me since I've been losing weight anyway and prices are rising and I have a ton of stuff already. Maybe next year I'll make a budget.

5. Go to bed earlier so I can get up and write when the kids are getting ready for school

I still need to get to the writing part, but I am getting up with them and getting things done.

6. Eat at least one fresh fruit daily

I do this almost daily. Apples, oranges, peaches, strawberries, bananas, etc. I've missed a few days but overall I'm on track.

7. Clear out all the stuff from hobbies I no longer do

Done

8. Workout 3 times a week at the gym

Now I knew this was a far reaching goal. Twice a week is about as much as I've managed to accomplish. My gym is too far away for a 'quick trip' so 3x a week just has been too hard to fit in. I do other exercise though, so it's not a total loss.

9. Eat less fast food.

Done. Less and less as time goes on.

10. Actually put a couple of years worth of photos into a scrapbook

Scrapbook? Oh, right. Not sure that's going to happen anytime soon.

11. Bake cookies or some fun thing with my kids every month

Done. Lots of fun and I even get hugs from my teenage boys when the cookies or brownies appear.

12. Lose another ten pounds

Hmm, well, I've lost weight, and was actually down more than ten, but the last month has had some unexpected stresses and I've gained back a few pounds. Still, not a total loss, I'm still below where I started the year. I'll keep working on it.

13. Keep my desk at least half cleared off

I have to laugh at this one. I knew it would be difficult to accomplish this one. My desk is right inside the front door. It's a prime spot for dropping stuff off. But it is better than last year.

14. Finish creating a work area for my 8 year old in his room

Still haven't gotten this one done. We have improved his room though and he has a lot more space to work and play in, but the actual desk area I want to create isn't done yet.

15. Crochet the afghan I promised my 8 year old

Well, I did finish a scarf for him and I've started the afghan. That's progress.

16. Paint my living room

This is on hold since we are replacing our windows in that room and my husband wants to redo the whole room.

17. Finish all three of my current WIP

Three? All I had was three in January? Wow. I have completed two of them, but others keep forcing their way out of my head so I haven't really finished this goal.

18. Keep submitting my 1st novel to get it published

I'm doing this. It's painful and grueling, but I'm still doing it.

19. Do the editing on my '07 NaNoWriMo book

I've done some of this. I needed to step away from it before I could really work on editing.

20. Get an agent.

I will do this. It will happen. Do or do not, and all that.

Next year the list has to be shorter. This was a lot of stuff. But I wanted to get those things done so I wrote them down. It's said that you are a lot more likely to accomplish a goal if you write it down and even more likely if it's written in a place where you will see it often. The act of seeing it seems to improve the likelihood of it actually happening.

4 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

That is a HUGE list. I'm amazed at your energy and discipline to make as much progress as you have.

Jennifer Shirk said...

Wow! You've made some real progress on those goals! Way to go!

BernardL said...

Congratulations on the progress, I don't even have the energy to make a list. :)

Virginia Lady said...

Thanks, Charles. It took a concerted effort.

Thank you, Jennifer. I'm feeling pretty good about my progress as well.

LOL, Bernard, but you've managed to run a garage and do all the writing we've seen on your blog. Not bad, not bad at all.