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Happy New Year! 2020 is in the past, and for most people, this is a good thing. What a year it has been! I recently wrote about the positives 2020 brought into my life, but there were some struggles. Some of those struggles were in terms of the goals I had set for myself and could not meet. In speaking with friends and my readers, this was a source of frustration for various reasons. A few got sidetracked due to the pandemic. Circumstances in their life got in the way, and their goals were put on hold. The last year threw us all for a loop.
For example, my goal to lose some weight was derailed by what I call the quarantine 15. In the beginning, I turned to one of my favorite stress relievers, baking! Another example, working from home full time, was a big adjustment for me. My time management went out the window, and I became too wrapped up in my work. I let things, like my running, slide. I also do not do well with a lot of free time. I work best with routine and a schedule. It took me a while to establish that. The less time I have, the more I accomplish. Does that make sense?
Stop Making Resolutions-Set Goals
So, how can you and I make 2021 different? The first thing is to stop making resolutions! Instead of resolutions, set goals. Wait, you may be shaking your head and thinking, aren’t these the same thing? Actually, no, resolutions and goals are not the same things. According to the dictionary, a resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something. It is a statement of what you want to change. A goal involves setting, planning, preparing, and taking action.
For example, a pretty common resolution is “I want to lose weight.” To change this from a resolution to a goal, you need an action plan. What do you need to do to reach that goal? How are you going to change your eating habits? What kind of exercise will you do? How many times a week will you exercise. Remember, a goal must be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Relevant, and Time-Based. It also needs to be written down. I suggest a pen to paper rather than on your phone. Research shows our brain remembers better and more when something is written down on paper.
A regular old notebook would do, but I bought this goal planner over on Amazon. I love it.
How to Accomplish your Goals.
Goals are personal to each person. However, to accomplish any goal, we need to be at our best. We need to feel our best. The environment we work and live in must be free from chaos and clutter. We need to eliminate any unnecessary stressors. How do we do that? It is my firm belief if we add these nine goals to our list, accomplishing everything else will become just that much easier.
Create a Morning Routine
How we start our day sets the tone of the day ahead, controls our schedules, and prioritizes our time. Now what you do is up to you. It could be mediatation, prayer, exercise, journaling, or reading. Mine is checking off some to-do lists for my blog and social media before my workday begins, all while drinking a nice cup of coffee. By accomplishing these small tasks, I feel less pressured to get these things done later in the day, and it gives me a chance to wake up slowly. I highly suggest The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. It helped me establish my routine.
Move Every Day
Exercise is key to helping us feel better. The endorphins released when exercising makes us feel happier and more confident. It keeps us younger. It does not have to be hardcore either. Go for a walk, do some yoga, find a video on YouTube to follow. Just get out and move. I become bored very quickly with strength training, so I need to mix it up. I subscribe to a streaming service that is all workouts. It cost less than my local gym, and I do them all from the coziness of my home.
Drink More Water
Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate! Water is the most critical thing that we can put in our bodies. It delivers oxygen to our bodies and flushes out toxins. It aids with weight loss. Our skin looks healthier when we hydrate. The list goes on and on. If my water intake is slacking, I feel sluggish, and accomplishing anything on my list is that much harder to do. Here are some tips on how to hydrate more.
Declutter your House
I don’t know about you, but I can’t concentrate if there are clutter and chaos all around. It is all I can think of, and it serves as a colossal distraction. Therefore, the need to declutter and keep my house as organized as best as possible is essential. As I sit here and write this, my dining room table is a mess with Christmas stuff. As soon as I am done with this post, I will spend my day organizing, as I will get nothing else done on my list. Of course, one of my goals for 2021 is to declutter each room, so this goal serves a couple of purposes.
Take control of your Finances
Worrying about money can be all-consuming. It can creep into all other aspects of your life and affect your mood and motivation. Knowing exactly where your money goes every month and having a plan to save for the future can go a long way. If any of your goals involve money, like saving for a trip, new furniture, a retirement goal, etc., you must know how much is coming into the household and how much is going out of the household.
Reconnect with Old Friends
This one makes your heart full. I had a visit from an old friend last week, and it did wonders for my mood. The rest of my day was so productive as I was feeling so good from her visit.
Take time for Self Care
Make sure you are doing something that rejuvenates you. I love to relax by reading or scrapbooking. all while listening to your favorite book on Audible sound? Like heaven to me. How does a bubble bath Whatever it is, please make time to do it each week.
Eat better
It is that simple. Eat more fruits, veggies, whole grains, and less sugar, and you will be amazed at how much better you will feel. You naturally will have more energy to get through the day.
Get More Sleep
I fought this one for a very long time. I still struggle with it from time to time. It is not because I can’t sleep; it is because I don’t want to sleep. I always looked at it as a waste of time. However, research has shown, and my body agrees we need sleep. Sleep keeps us laser-focused to accomplish our to-do lists and keep us on track to reach our goals. Set a regular bedtime and stick to it. Not only does the amount of sleep matter, the quality of sleep matters as well. According to one study, we need anywhere between 1.5 to 1.8 hours of deep sleep a night. This is roughly 20% of our overall sleep. I find if I take a sleep supplement, it helps me achieve that number. I started using NUUN Rest, and it has changed the quality of my sleep.
Wrapping up
If you have not figured it out by now, the nine goals listed above are about making us feel and perform at our best. Again, if we feel our best, we can set out and achieve any goal we want. It starts within ourselves.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Please leave me a comment below. Happy New Year!
It is hard to believe it is September. Summer flew by, but then again, March seems like it was 20 years ago. This has been the longest year, yet I have not accomplished as much as possible during this extraordinary time. It has been a strange time. I have often felt we are living a bad dream, and I keep hoping to wake up from it. I will go out on a limb and say, at times, I was downright depressed. I spent too much time watching Netflix, playing on my phone, or anything else BUT focusing on my goals.
This summer, I set small goals because that is who I am. I am a goal setter, type A personality that needs to have something to focus on at all times. I did not want big, audacious goals. I wanted goals that I knew I could reach and still feel productive. In June, I shared my goals (see below), and now it is time to see how I did and reset for the last four months of the year.
Blog
Continue to grow my social media accounts, new course work 2-3 times a week, including SEO content and eight new blog posts.- My social media accounts grew by 1%. I completed eight blog posts but did not touch my course work. The course work is #1 priority for the fall.
Time Management
Implement a new weekday schedule. I am going to start time blocking. Time blocking is a type of time management that has you divide your day into blocks of time. Each block is dedicated to accomplishing a specific task.–I did this initially, but work was super crazy this summer, and it let it bleed into other things. I started blocking my time again this week, and so far, so good.
Personal
- Finish my 2019 scrapbooks.- This will be a heavy lift, but I am determined!– I have no idea why I put this on my list. I have so much to scrapbook for 2019; it was just not reasonable. I would have had to do this and nothing else! I did complete July and August 2019, so that is something.
- Read six books.- I read seven!
- Explore 6-10 state parks in Massachusetts.-We explored four.
- Get back to date night.– Yes, we did this twice.
- Spend more time outside.- I was outside A LOT. It has been great.
Health & Fitness
- Build off the 7lbs loss and lose another 10lbs.– We won’t talk about this one. I need to duct tape my mouth shut.
- Minimum of 10,000 steps a day.- DONE
- Consistently strength train.-DONE
- Continue training for fall races.-DONE
Overall, I did okay. As I mentioned, I kept it relatively simple. With all the chaos around us, I could not concentrate enough on the bigger things. However, six months later, it is clear life is not going back to normal anytime soon. I need to see past it and use this extra time at home to my advantage. I need to stop wasting time and focus on what I want. There are things I am not happy with, like my weight gain, and now is the time to make a plan and stick with it. When I started this blog last year, I knew I wanted it to be much more than a hobby. It was to become a second stream of income, a side hustle. Now is the time to start acting like it and put the work in.
September-December Goals
Blog
- Complete all course work.
- Land three sponsored posts.
- Write 20 blog posts.
- Earn my first comped trip.
- Grow my social media platforms by 5%.
- Revamp my newsletter and grow my list by 10%.
Time Management
- Each week plan my week and block my time from 7-5 each weekday.
- Use my planner to its fullest. LIVE BY IT.
Health & Fitness
- Duct tape my mouth shut. – Ha!
- Go back to tracking my food. Stay within my caloric budget.
- Continue with my running and strength training.
- Lose 25lbs by 12/31/20.
- Get a minimum of 6.5 hours of sleep a night.
Personal/Household
- Finish my reading challenge for 2020. I have 18 books to go.
- Finish my 2019 scrapbooks.
- Continue exploring state parks.
- Go away for a weekend at least once a month.
- Tackle a room a month and spent 10 mins each day getting rid of any clutter until it is gone.
- Finish the basement makeover.
It may seem like a bit much for the next four months, but if I manage my time well and put in the work, I can do great things, and so can you! Dust off those planners and get to work. Don’t remember 2020 as the year we would like to erase from our minds, but as the year you put the foot on the gas and went after your goals. I can’t wait to hear how you did!
Wasn’t it just May? Where did June go? It came and went so fast; I did not have a chance to post about my goals or do my monthly check-in. Many of you have commented that you find these helpful and motivating, so I apologize for not posting.
I am going to do something a bit different this month. Instead of individual goals for July and August, I will combine the two and set my goals for summer. These two months go by so fast, and it makes sense to combine them.
Below is what I committed to in May and how I did.
Blog
I will build on what I did or did no do in April. Moving forward, I think four blog posts a month will be the norm. I will chip away at my courses and will try to do ONE session of SEO a month. I am not letting go of this goal; I am trying to make it attainable.- My approach worked. By breaking down the SEO goal even further, I was able to stay on track.
Personal
- I will build off my 2.5lb weight loss and aim for 2-5lbs this month.-I am down 7lbs!
- Continue to move my body 30 mins a day.-DONE
- All my summer races were canceled, but I plan to run them virtually.-3 virtual races were done and more to come.
- Research vacation options for summer to replace our canceled Canadian Rockies trip.-Two new vacations planned.
Household
- Purge Nicholas’s room.-Done
- Begin the basement (scrapbook room) project.-NOPE
- Clean out my garden boxes and start my veggie garden.-DONE
Wow, not bad! I would say May was a huge success! Except for the scrapbook room, I did everything I set out to accomplish. I think the scrapbook room project will wait until the winter months. With the beautiful weather here, I plan to be outside as much as possible.
Goals for July & August
Blog
Continue to grow my social media accounts, new course work 2-3 times a week, including SEO content and 8 new blog posts.
Time Management
Implement a new weekday schedule. I am going to start time blocking. Time blocking is a type of time management that has you divide your day into blocks of time. Each block is dedicated to accomplishing a specific task.
Personal
- Finish my 2019 scrapbooks.- This will be a heavy lift, but I am determined!
- Read 6 books.
- Explore 6-10 state parks in Massachusetts.
- Get back to date night.
- Spend more time outside.
Health & Fitness
- Build off the 7lbs loss and lose another 10lbs.
- Minimum of 10,000 steps a day.
- Consistently strength train.
- Continue training for fall races.
I am keeping it simple. I want to enjoy the summer and will hold off on the bigger household projects until the colder weather.
How about you? What are your summer goals?
Another month has concluded. We are also on week 8 of a stay at home order. Crazy! How are you holding up? I hope you are all safe and healthy.
As I mentioned back in April, March was a bit of a cluster. As the world began to shut down, I lost my motivation. I knew I had to kick it up a notch in April, but also was going to give myself grace when I needed it. Like many of you, we have had a lot of travel plans canceled, the workload in my day job became overwhelming, and I had to oversee social distance learning. Life was a bit chaotic, but I was determined to make something work and that I did!
Review of April’s Goals
Blog
- 30 mins, three times a week on SEO.- NOPE – still did not happen
- Write and post 4 new blog posts.- YES
- Grow social media platforms by 5%.- Yes on a 2 of the 4. Not bad!
- Finish blog course work.- One down, 2 to go.
Work
- Find work-life balance- It can be hard to shut it down when working from home. I am setting my hours, and rarely will I make exceptions. I need to treat it as if I am going to the office every day.- YES! Though I was busier than usual, I did a much better job of this.
Personal
- Move my body 30 minutes every day. When I am in the office, I reach my 10,000 step count most days, without counting my exercise. Since working from home five days a week, that has not been the case. The result is tight hip flexors, a sore back, and feeling like a slug. Again, I need to treat my day as if I am in the office.- YES! I hit my step goal 22/30 days. I also moved my body 30 mins each day.
- Get up, shower, and put something on besides running clothes or yoga pants.- I would say I did this 75% of the time.
- Though I maintained my weight, my goal was to lose weight. I am going to give myself grace and aim for 5lbs, rather than 10lbs.- I lost 2.5 lbs, so half.
- My goal race, the one I was training so hard for was canceled. Yes, I had a pity party, but again, this morning, I said no more. I picked a fall race, and that will be my new goal race. My new training plan for that will start late May, but in the meantime, I have a short term training plan I am following for all my runs leading up to then. Plus, I still have summer races that have not been canceled yet.- YES! I ran 76 miles in the month of April
- Save all money not being spent on gas and entertainment and put toward our next vacation.- Half of what we are not spending went toward future vacations. The other half went toward some online shopping. LOL!
Household
- Finish organizing the cabinets in the kitchen.- YES
- Clean the fridge.- Nope
- Start cleaning and purging my scrapbook room, so we can renovate by the end of the year.- Nope
Miscellaneous- all were accomplished!
🌟 More doggie 🐶 walks.
🌟Scrapbook.
🌟Try new recipes.
🌟Read more books.
🌟Cherish the additional time I have with my boys being home.
Did I attack the month with gusto? Hummm..gusto is a bit strong of a word. I certainly had my days where Netflix came before everything else. I also took more time to do things that relax me. There were lots of walks. I read a couple of books and was able to scrapbook more of 2019. All wins in my mind.
Now, what will the month of May look like? Assuming we will remain under a stay at home order, I plan on more of the same, with a few additions.
Blog
I will build on what I did or did no do in April. Moving forward, I think four blog posts a month will be the norm. I will chip away at my courses and will try to do ONE session of SEO a month. I am not letting go of this goal; I am trying to make it attainable.
Personal
- I will build off my 2.5lb weight loss and aim for 2-5lbs this month.
- Continue to move my body 30 mins a day.
- All my summer races were canceled, but I plan to run them virtually.
- Research vacation options for summer to replace our canceled Canadian Rockies trip.
Household
- Purge Nicholas’s room.
- Begin the basement (scrapbook room) project.
- Clean out my garden boxes and start my veggie garden.
I am trying to be realistic with my list. I tend to take on a bit much and then get frustrated when I don’t accomplish them all. I have to remind myself that these need to be SMART goals- specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.
Tell me, did you reach your goals for April? If not, what did you do to readjust? What is your plan for May? Please, let me know below.
Stay safe.
Heather
If I am honest, March was a cluster! I went in with good intentions and a plan. Ha! That blew up in my face when the schools shut down, my company mandated we work from home, and the only time we could go out was to the grocery store, pharmacy, and to exercise. Then after a mild winter, spring arrived, but Mother Nature thought it would be funny not to play along. The weather has been cold and rainy. April has to be better, right?
Well, not so fast. If you look at the world around us, April is going to be pretty much the same. The schools shut down, and working from home continues through May 3rd. We can still only go to the grocery store and pharmacy. We are doing our part to flatten the curve, and I am okay with that. What I am not okay with is my lack of motivation, and using this as an excuse not to accomplish many of the goals I set out for myself last month and for the remainder of 2020. Today that has all changed. I drew a line in the sand and developed a plan.
Never in my adult life have I spent so much time at home. I think I was in denial at the beginning and kept thinking it would end soon. Instead of wallowing in my sadness over missed trips and races, I am going to concentrate on my 2020 goals. I am going to use this time to do things I keep putting off or never seem to have the time to do.
This morning I grabbed my coffee, my planner, my work calendar, the school work schedule, and my to-do list and spent over an hour planning my month. However, before I could move forward with new goals, I needed to look back and revisit the ones I set for myself in March.
March Goals
- Blog
- 30 mins, three times a week on SEO.- NOPE
- Write and post eight new blog posts.- I wrote 6, so calling it a win!
- Grow social media platforms by 10%.- NOPE
- Finish blog course work.- NOPE
- Personal
- Lose 10lbs.- NOPE, but at least I did not gain.
- Strength train four times a week.- Nope
- Continue with weeks 11-15 of my training plan for running.-I ran, but not per any plan as my races were canceled.
- Call a dermatologist!- Not taking appointments due to COVID-19
- Sit Robbie down to discuss a savings plan for college.- Yes
- Household
- Organize kitchen cabinets.- 1/2 way done
- Try two new recipes.- Yes
Ahhh, I had such high hopes for the month, especially when it came to my blog. Instead of beating myself up, I am looking at this new month as a time to get it done. Besides work, all other activities for me are on hold. Time is there for the taking. I need to make the most of it and not waste a moment.
April’s Goals
Blog
- 30 mins, three times a week on SEO.
- Write and post 4 new blog posts.
- Grow social media platforms by 5%.
- Finish blog course work.
Work
- Find work-life balance- It can be hard to shut it down when working from home. I am setting my hours, and rarely will I make exceptions. I need to treat it as if I am going to the office every day.
Personal
- Move my body 30 minutes every day. When I am in the office, I reach my 10,000 step count most days, without counting my exercise. Since working from home five days a week, that has not been the case. The result is tight hip flexors, a sore back, and feeling like a slug. Again, I need to treat my day as if I am in the office.
- Get up, shower, and put something on besides running clothes or yoga pants.
- Though I maintained my weight, my goal was to lose weight. I am going to give myself grace and aim for 5lbs, rather than 10lbs.
- My goal race, the one I was training so hard for was canceled. Yes, I had a pity party, but again, this morning, I said no more. I picked a fall race, and that will be my new goal race. My new training plan for that will start late May, but in the meantime, I have a short term training plan I am following for all my runs leading up to then. Plus, I still have summer races that have not been canceled yet.
- Save all money not being spent on gas and entertainment and put toward our next vacation.
Household
- Finish organizing the cabinets in the kitchen.
- Clean the fridge.
- Start cleaning and purging my scrapbook room, so we can renovate by the end of the year.
Miscellaneous
🌟 More doggie 🐶 walks.
🌟Scrapbook.
🌟Try new recipes.
🌟Read more books.
🌟Cherish the additional time I have with my boys being home.
That is it, folks. This is my plan. The time is now. So if you have some things you want to accomplish, take advantage of being “stuck” at home. Now I know some of you may not have that luxury, as you are working on the front lines. I thank you for that and our nation thanks you for that. However, if you do have the time, make the most of it and report back. I would love to hear what it is you have accomplished.
Be well my friends.
Heather
I love what this picture says. March is chapter 3 out of 12. In looking back over the 1st two chapters, are you happy with what you have accomplished? Have there been goals that you have met with smashing success or ones that have fallen by the wayside? For me, both have occurred. January was a wildly successful month. February, at first glance, look a bit dismal, but after a deeper dive, I achieved other things not on my list, so all was not lost. However, March is here, and I have lots I need to accomplish. First, let’s see how February played out.
February Goals
- Start weight watchers again. I need help in dropping this weight that I gained while injured and find this program to be the most helpful.- DONE
- Start planning Robbie’s graduation party.- DONE
- 30 mins, three times a week on SEO.- NO
- Make the dermatology appointment.-NO
- Come up with a savings plan with Robbie.-NO
- Schedule posts for when I am on vacation.-NO
- Try three new recipes.- NO
- Read three books.-DONE
Three out of eight goals accomplished. On the face of it, it was a terrible month, but then I looked through my notebook full of 2020 goals and saw progress in other areas.
- Ran a 10k and 1/2 marathon.
- Signed up for a race in a location I have never raced before.
- Increased my numbers on all social media platforms for my blog.
- Renewed the boys’ passports.
- Ran 70 miles this month.
So, what will March look like? A big focus will be my blog. I have been blogging for a year now. I have learned a lot in the past year, but there is still plenty to learn and do. Here are my goals for March.
March Goals
- Blog
- 30 mins, three times a week on SEO.
- Write and post eight new blog posts.
- Grow social media platforms by 10%.
- Finish blog course work.
- Personal
- Lose 10lbs.
- Strength train four times a week.
- Continue with weeks 11-15 of my training plan for running.
- Call a dermatologist!
- Sit Robbie down to discuss a savings plan for college.
- Household
- Organize kitchen cabinets.
- Try two new recipes.
There are so many more things I want to put on the list, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself. We are not traveling this month, so more time can be spent working toward my goals. Plus, I have a few family adventures I want to try.
What about you? What is on your list for March?
Hello February! Tell me, did January seem long to you? I have heard several people remark that January was the longest month ever. I did not find it felt any longer than any other month. Perhaps because we had decent weather and winter is not as bad as it could be. Of course, the last time we had such a mild winter here in Boston, we ended up with 108 inches of snow. Every week in February was a snowstorm. No, thank you!
If you recall, back in January, I said I would be posting about my goals and my progress throughout the year. It helps keep me on point, and I hope to inspire others to reach for their goals. So how did I do?
January Goals
- Make an appointment with a dermatologist.- NOPE
- Start a new strength training program.- DONE
- Pick a marathon to run._DONE
- Purchase family room furniture.-DONE
- Save an extra $900.00.- DONE
- Schedule out scrapbook dates with friends.-DONE
- Organize bathroom.-DONE
- Write six new posts.- Missed it by 1!
- Learn more about SEO.- NOPE
Nine goals, and I only missed 3. Not bad. The dermatologist goal, I never got around to it. I never made it a priority, and I need to do that. I was also awful at setting some time aside to learn more about SEO. Tomorrow that stops. I am putting aside 3o minutes 3 times a week to learn more.
Though not explicitly called out in January, I did make progress in other categories and related subcategories listed for 2020.
Personal
- Health
- Get 7 hours of sleep a night.- averaging about 6.5 hours
- Run/Walk 2020 miles.- 148.82/2020
- Running consistently and on week 7 of my heart rate training program.
- Travel and Recreation
- Weekend away with Bill.- BOOKED
- The Canadian Rockies.- BOOKED
- Read 50 books. – three books read in January.
- Scrapbook once a week.-I have been consistently doing this.
Financial
- Less frivolous spending.- I was much better this month, but still not where I want to be.
Overall, January was great. Now it time to think of February. What do I want to accomplish this month?
February Goals
- Start weight watchers again. I need help in dropping this weight that I gained while injured and find this program to be the most helpful.
- Start planning Robbie’s graduation party.
- 30 mins, three times a week on SEO.
- Make the dermatology appointment.
- Come up with a savings plan with Robbie.
- Schedule posts for when I am on vacation.
- Try three new recipes.
- Read three books.
We are headed on vacation this month, so any household goal will have to wait until March. I think these will keep me busy enough.
What about you? Did you accomplish your goals for January? What are your plans for February? Post in the comments or reach out to me on my Goal Climbers 2020 Facebook page.
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Happy 2020! Wow, doesn’t it seem strange to be saying that? I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season and ready for another spin around the sun. Ringing in a new year has me reflecting on 2019, the highs and lows. It also has me excited for 2020. As I review my 2019 goals, I am happy to report that I was able to mark many of them as accomplished, but there is always room for improvement. This is how I look at a new year, a time to level up, keep improving one’s self by doing and accomplishing the things that make me happy.
As I wrote about here, I do not make resolutions for the new year, but select goals for the year. I also create an action plan for each goal and write out how I will execute it on a monthly basis. Each week, I pick certain activities to do to bring me one step closer to accomplishing that goal. I write all this down in a notebook that I carry with me. It keeps me on track and laser-focused on what it is I need to do.
Another tool I use to assist me in accomplishing my goals is accountability. By sharing my goals, putting it out there in the universe, I am holding myself accountable. This year, I have decided to do this two ways. First, each month I will be posting my goals for the month, and at the end of the month, I will report back, right here on my blog. Second, I have opened up a private Facebook page called Goal Climbers 2020. This is a group of goal-oriented people who are looking for accountability and support as they crush their 2020 goals. I will provide resources and tips on how we can make 2020 our year to shine. If interested, leave me a comment or reach out to me on Facebook. I will add you to the group.
Now, for my 2020 goals. I break my goals down into four categories, Personal, Financial, Professional, and Household. Within those categories are sub-categories. Under the sub-categories are the goals I want to achieve and how I will go about making them happen. Below are some examples, so you get a visual of what I am doing. I will not list them all here, but if you would like to see my full list, I will be sharing it in the Facebook group.
Personal
- Health
- Make a dermatology appt.
- Get 7 hours of sleep a night.
- Run/Walk 2020 miles.
- PR at a 1/2 marathon.
- Sign up for my second marathon.
- Personal Growth
- Listen to one personal development podcast a day.
- Family
- Date night once a month.
- Try something new each quarter.
- Make the most of Robbie being home before leaving for college.
- Travel and Recreation
- Explore my own backyard.
- Weekend away with Bill.
- The Canadian Rockies.
- Mom/Son Disney trip.
- Read 50 books.
- Scrapbook once a week.
Financial
- Pay off lingering debt.
- Pay cash for the 1st year of college. ( HUGE ONE!!!)
- Less frivolous spending.
- Save, save save. Earmark money each week to be automatically deposited in savings account.
Household
Here I break down each room and list what if anything needs to be improved. For instance, we need new family furniture. Our upstairs bathroom needs reorganization, things like that.
Professional
Most of this will have to do with this blog. These goals include growing my social media presence, landing sponsorships, and connecting with other bloggers around the globe. Of course, I have goals for my day job, but in the interest of keeping those separate, I will keep those to myself.
My goals are listed in my notebook. I breakdown the goals by quarter, month, and week. This way, I am always working on something, but not becoming overwhelmed by it all. For January, I have decided to concentrate on the following:
- Make an appointment with a dermatologist.
- Start
new strength training program. - Pick a marathon to run.
- Purchase family room furniture.
- Save an extra $900.00.
- Schedule out scrapbook dates with friends.
- Organize bathroom.
- Write 6 new posts.
- Learn more about SEO.
As you can see, some of these will be quick and simple, and others will be more involved. Each week I will schedule activities that will assist me in the more complex goals (like writing posts, SEO, and strength training). Does this make sense? It may seem like a bit of work, but once you are in the habit of writing these down and planning your month and week, it all starts to flow nicely.
Now, what about you? Are you ready to set goals and crush the year? Let’s do this together.
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The new year is upon us, and many people take this time to start something new. Notice how I don’t use the word resolution. I’m not too fond of the word, and much prefer to use the term goal. See my prior post for my reasons why. In any case, perhaps you want to take up running in the new year. Running is an excellent form of exercise, both physically and mentally. There is nothing better than a run to clear your head. I love “running” through my problems. I love the people I have met through the sport. I have even learned to love the burn. You get the point; I love to run.
People often ask how I got I started. Or say things like I don’t know how you do it? I could never run. Well, I am here to tell you, you can! Here are eight tips on how to start running.
Invest in the Right Shoes
Not all running shoes are created equal, and what works for me may not work for you. It is best to be fitted by someone knowledgeable in this area. Head over to your local running store and ask to be fitted for shoes. The salesperson should have you walk around the store so he/she can examine your gait. Based on what they see, they will have you try on a few different types of shoes. Once you have a pair or two that are comfortable, the salesperson should have you try them out by running, either outside or on a treadmill in the store. Make sure the store has a 30-day return policy if, for some reason, the shoes do not work out.
Set Small Attainable Goals
On day one, I went out and ran 3 miles in the hot July sun. I would not recommend that! Aim for small goals. If you aim too high, you put too much pressure on yourself, and it takes the joy out of the process. Perhaps start running for time and not distance. For example, start by running three times a week for 20 mins. Once you are comfortable with that, add 5 mins and build from there.
Schedule your Runs
Take out your planner, your calendar on your phone or whatever it is you use to schedule your appointments and schedule in those runs just like you would a doctor’s appointment or a meeting with your boss. You would not cancel on them, so why cancel on yourself. I plan my runs out a month at a time. It helps!
Gradually Increase Your Mileage (or Time)
The rule of thumb is to increase your mileage by no more than 10% each week. I prefer every two weeks. Ramping up the mileage too quickly can lead to injury.
Keep a Running Journal
A running journal is more than just a place to track your mileage. It tells a story. As I track my runs, I note the weather, the mood I was in, how hydrated I was, how much sleep I had the night before, and what I had to eat that day. These are all contributing factors to any run, good or bad. I started to see patterns. I found if I was not hydrated, my runs were a bit sluggish. It is also neat to look back and see how far I have come when training for a race.
Add Strength Training
I learned this the hard way. I hated to exercise most of my life. It wasn’t until I turned 40 that I decided running was for me. I went all out. Once I find something I like, I do it. This lead to shin splints and tightness in my hips and glutes. Once I began strength training, my problems started to dissipate. Oh, and make sure to add stretching to the routine as well. You can read all about the benefits of stretching here.
Join a Running Group
Runners are the NICEST people. When I started running, I joined a running group at my local running store. It was fantastic. It gave me one night a week that was all about me and my new venture. Most groups ( I say most because there is always an exception) welcome new runners with open arms. It also helps you up your game. We tend to want to try more when we are with others. I have done some of my best runs while running with a group.
Follow a Training Plan
There many apps or free training plans available to help you get you started. Couch to 5K is a great app. Jeff Galloway, former Olympian runner, and runDisney consultant has some fantastic training plans. Jeff has perfected the run/walk method, and his plans are fantastic for beginners. Another great resource is Another Mother Runner. I am starting their heart rate training plan this upcoming weekend. I talk about it here.
Follow these tips, and you will be off and running, literally! Starting to run was one of the best things I ever did. It changed my life, and it could change yours.
Here we are, December 2019. Wasn’t it just 2017? It is crazy how fast these years are going by. I remember, as a kid, my parents telling me not to wish my life away. Now all I do is wish life would slow down a bit.
With the new year upon us, I am sure many of you have thought about New Year’s resolutions. However, may I suggest that instead of resolutions, you consider setting goals. Wait, you may be shaking your head and thinking, aren’t these the same thing? Actually, no, they are not. According to the dictionary, a resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something. It is a statement of what you want to change. A goal involves setting, planning, preparing, and taking action. For example, a pretty common resolution is “I want to lose weight.” To change this from a resolution to a goal, you need an action plan. What do you need to do to reach that goal? How are you going to change your eating habits? What kind of exercise will you do? How many times a week will you exercise. Remember, a goal must be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Relevant, and Time-Based. It is why I choose to make goals instead of resolutions. It simply works better for me.
Each year, around the 30th or 31st of December, I break out a new notebook and write down my goals. No goal is too big or too small. I break them down into four categories – Personal -Financial-Household-Recreation. Within those categories, I have subcategories. For instance, under Personal, I have health and fitness, this blog, relationships, and self-care. Recreation is broken down into trips I want to take, places I want to see, scrapbooking, and reading. Household is broken down room by room with what I want to change or fix in that room. Each goal is assigned a due date. I have found this helps me stay on track with my goals.
Furthermore, each month, I write down three big things I want to accomplish for that month and the steps I will take to get there. Every Sunday, I sit down with my planner and write my to-do list for the week. The items on this list will help bring me closer to my goals. At the end of the month, I go back to my notebook and see and track my progress.
I hope by sharing how I set my goals, it helps you in your goal setting. As the new year approaches, I will be sharing more on my goals and my goal-setting process. In the meantime, I would love for you to share your goals and participate in this exercise with me.
May the last 30 days of the decade be amazing!
