Each year, this post with my goals is one of my favorites. I love telling everyone what I have planned and how I plan to achieve it. Throughout the year I link back to the goals post to see how I’m doing, if I’m still on track. I’m surprised when things change, and some goals lose their relevance/ necessity. But it’s more fun when I achieve the goals I set at the beginning of the year.
Word of the Year: Intentional
This will be the first year I’ve set a “word of the year,” but it feels so perfect. I was pretty close on my intentionality in 2017 and really want to get better…
As I go through the goals, I’ll let yo know how I’m applying the word in each of them. I read this line in Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast that kind of sums up how I hate feeling: “I felt the death loneliness that comes at the end of every day that is wasted in your life.”
#1 A Year of No Shopping
After reading this article in the NYTimes by Ann Patchett, I knew I could cut back more in the next year. Love these paragraphs from the article:
The trick of no shopping isn’t just that you don’t buy things. You don’t shop. That means no trawling the sale section of the J. Crew website in idle moments. It means the catalogs go into the recycle bin unopened on the theory that if I don’t see it, I don’t want it. Halfway through the year I could go to a store with my mother and sister if they asked me. I could tell them if the dress they were trying on looked good without wishing I could try it on myself…
Once I stopped looking for things to buy, I became tremendously grateful for the things I received. Had I been shopping this summer I would have told my friend, “You shouldn’t have,” and I would have meant it.
As part of this process, I’ve unfollowed several fashion bloggers (and even my beloved @targetdoesitagain) which also helps me get to know my own style. I’m not just buying things to follow trends, since I no longer really follow the trends. I only buy them if they bring me joy 🙂
I really didn’t shop for clothing a lot in 2017. Last year I wanted to make all of my clothes, and while I didn’t do much sewing, I actually found I didn’t need as many clothes as I thought. After shopping less over the past few years (for budgetary reasons), I think I’ve finally broken the bad habit of shopping out of boredom: I’ve realized that I would prefer to be doing so many things other than shopping.
This year, I think I could get by with just grocery shopping (ugh wish I could eliminate this… but trying to order online as much as possible. Topic for another day). And if Eric or I need something specific, it’s not exactly shopping. We’ve intentionally decided to make a purchase, and we’ll buy the thing we need. Not a substitute for what we want that we won’t be happy with.
#2 Read 100 Books
I’m a little nervous to make this a public goal! My goal for 2017 was one book/week…. so now I’m upping that! Planning to check audiobooks out of the library (intentionally using time in the car or while folding laundry) and get through all of those kindle purchases!
Follow along with my reads over on goodreads!!
Without shopping, I should have even more time for reading 🙂
#3 Establish a Routine
This goal encompasses a bunch of topics… I need to prioritize my sleep. My workday needs to be more efficient (home has a lot of distractions. One of them is a cute puppy). Maybe a morning routine would be nice?
This will take some work throughout the year. And a little bit of discipline (going to bed on time is a challenge for us). I definitely need to get a handle on my workday so I can meet my business goals!
#4 Read Through the Bible
Ok, I’ve started many, many read-the-Bible-in-a-year plans. The new She Reads Truth Bible contains another reading plan, and I’m ready for it this year! I did a ten-week study in 2017, and after that ended, I wanted another long-term study. Looking forward to what I’ll learn!
January Goals:
Maybe I’ll do a post with some bucketlist and short-term goals each month… First up:
- Whole30! With the help of Blue Apron (they’re offering 2 whole30-compliant meals per week!), Butcher Box, and Whole30 Fast & Easy this should be the best round yet!
- More Ski Days! Hoping for at least 3 this month!
What are some of your goals this year/ month?