Goals for 2014

Here we are again!  New Year’s Day… and a lot of people out there are thinking about their New Year’s Resolutions.  New Year, New Me, right?

Every year I make a list of goals – I don’t refer to them as resolutions.  When I was in high school and just starting college, my lists were long and full of little goals like going to a movie with a friend, making a recipe, going to Cedar Point so many times, etc.  Now my lists are usually short with bigger goals.  This year I want a hybrid… more goals that are smaller and easier to attain that relate to some bigger overall goals.

Like every year, let me start by going through my goals from last year and how well I did accomplishing them:

• Get back into running.  I did better in 2013 with this goal than I did in 2012, I can definitely say that, but since the end of summer I have pretty much let running fall to the wayside.
• Cook more homemade meals. I was more successful with this goal in 2012 than I was in 2013, that’s for sure.
• 52 blogs in 2013.  Fail. I think this post is only my 38th or 39th post period for this blog.
• Continue to keep a clean and organized home in 2013.  I did a fairly good job with this.  There were definitely some times when I slacked off a bit.  Moving has definitely helped with this because I got to re-organize where everything belongs.
• Not to be a Matron of Honor-zilla.  I was a good matron-of-honor at my best friend’s wedding.  There were times when the “zilla” really wanted to come out, but I kept my cool and my best friend had an amazing day that I was so happy to be a part of!
• Continue to look at advanced degrees and specializations that I can attain as a registered dietitian.  I definitely did a lot of looking and thinking about what I might do in my future, but didn’t take any real big steps forward with this.

I didn’t do too bad.  So this year, like I said, I want to do a hybrid list – bigger goals broken down into smaller achievements.  Let’s get this party started… here are the BIG goals I want to accomplish this year:

• Get Fit.  I always focus on running, but I really just need to focus on being more active in general.  I also really want to build my strength.
• Save Money.  This overall goal is going to affect my other goals.  We just bought a house this year and there are going to be a lot of things that we need to do to make it our home, and those things are of course going to cost money.  Since we had to drain our savings to buy this house, I definitely want to boost that savings back up and try to stop throwing so much money out the window.
• Blog More.  This year I have LOTS of ideas for how this is going to happen, which hopefully means that it will!
• Nurture My Relationship.  Ken and I have a very good and happy relationship, but like any relationship it needs attention and work to keep it going strong.
• Spend Time With Loved Ones.  Since moving away in 2012, I don’t see many of my friends or family as much as I would like.
• Work On My Future.  The last couple of years this has  been a goal, but I need to focus on smaller steps to actually achieving whatever it is I want to achieve!

Whew!  Those are my biggies.  So now let’s break it down!

1. Cancel my membership at my current gym and get a new membership somewhere else (the new place has an indoor track and fitness classes that I hope will motivate me to be more active). DONE before the New Year even started! :)
2. Buy a fitness class punch card for 10 classes each month and attend 10 fitness classes each month.
3. Do strength training at least twice per week.
4. Run at least three times per week.
5. Reach a goal of 50 miles in a month walking and/or running by the end of the year.
6. Run at least 3 5k races this year, and either an 8k or a 10k.
7. Train for a duathlon and complete one by the end of the year.
8. No eating out on Wednesdays unless it is a special occasion or we are out of town.
9. Post a “What I Ate Wednesday” blog at least twice per month.
10. Drink at least 80 oz. of water each day.
11. Cut down on drinking diet pop and eventually give it up – possibly for Lent?
12. Cut out artificial sweeteners as much as possible.
13. Make my lunch for work at least 3/5 days per week.
14. Use MyFitnessPal and post a weekly summary at least once per month to this blog.
15. Put at least $100 per month into both savings accounts.
16. Do Project 365 (take a picture every day) and post a weekly summary to this blog.
17. Make at least two Pinterest recipes per month and blog about it.
18. Go on an overnight ski trip with Ken.
19. Get season passes to Cedar Point.
20. Visit my out-of-town friends at least 6 times this year.
21. Sing karaoke.
22. Visit my parents at our cottage (their home) at least 2 times this summer.
23. See 311 in concert this summer.
24. Plan a vacation and REALLY use my vacation days.
25. Organize and submit all of my continuing education credits.
26. Complete the application to become a Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition by 4/24/14 or make the decision to wait until next year.
27. Study for the CSG credential exam.
28. Go to church with Ken’s family at least once per month.
29. Read the Bible.
30. Start RCIA in the fall.

*I’m considering this a work-in-progress.  I am having writer’s block and can’t think of any more little goals I would like to accomplish, and I am sure throughout the year my goals and aspirations will change.  So here it is, for now… my goals for 2014!  Wish me luck!