I had started a thread this time last year that I was undertaking a "19 for 19 (2019) list of things I wanted to accomplish in 2019 that would contribute to my happiness. Not a to-do list of mundane jobs that needed to be finished but things that would actually make me HAPPY - some fun, some practical, some for overall health, some for learning, etc.
All part of an initiative of Gretchen Rubin and her Happiness Project.
I loved doing it! I DID NOT complete all 19 things on my list - but I did many of them or did many of them to a degree. It was present in my mind on and off all year. I am DEFINITELY doing a “20 for 20” list. I really recommend it as a way of adding happiness and accomplishment to your year! (side note: I think that on her podcast this year Gretchen is promoting “Walk20for20” - so, walking 20 minutes a day as often as possible in 2020.
Anyway here are some of my 19 for 19 list and how I did:
Read 19 books! (12!)
Read 3 YA novels! (2)
Spend a day in Detroit! (yes)
Get a pedicure in Spring! (no)
Refresh upstairs bathroom! (yes)
Refresh kitchen! (no)
Make a 2017 and 2018 photo book! (nope!)
Try a new exercise class! (yes)
Run a 10K +!!! (yes, longest run was 13K)
Monitor screen time! (yes, I get a report weekly)
Visit at least 6 MetroParks! (yes)
Take a class!!! (yes, a pottery class)
Make time for more chaise time!!! (not enough but it was in my mind to try)
Complete a beach glass project! (collected, but didn’t complete a project)
Make a will <3 (no - placing this on 2020)
Make a sweet pie from scratch! (yes)
Make a savory pie, from scratch! (no)
Visit 2 new towns in Canada! (yes)
Complete 3 health care visits: eye, physical, mammo!!! (2 out of 3 with #3 to happy in January)
This was definitely a good exercise for me. I like lists, I like positive life hacks! Building my 2020 list now. One thing I might add in is some new foods to try.
“Make a will” - While getting ready to do that, start making sure there are beneficiaries assigned to your assets. My understanding is that those asset designations supersede the will and mean less needs to someday go through probate.
Agree that making a will and associated legal documents is very important, especially for folks with assets and anyone with minor children or dependents who may need protection and support.
In light of tax changes and our kids getting older, it’s probably time fo4 us to meet with our estate attorney and review and possibly update.
We plan to go to Europe with our kids in a few months and are really looking forward to it.
This is so timely as I was thinking about my New Year resolutions for 2020 and realized for the first time I want to accomplish a somewhat longish list of things. I love the idea of 20 for 20! @basket how did you keep your list top of mind? Did you develop a plan for the year as far as when you wanted to accomplish things? Would love some advice on the set up part and how to make sure you don’t fizzle out after a month or two. Also, did your husband do it as well? I’m wondering if that would help, especially if there are overlapping items on the lists that you could do together. Thanks!
Haha on the pedicure - it’s going back on the 2020 list for spring!
H did not do it. I do best accountable to myself. It’s my happiness after all!
I typed up my list on the computer and made it pretty with some graphics and printed out a couple copies. Keep one in a drawer at work so when I open that drawer I see it. Kept one at home as well. A picture of the list on my phone so I can check it.
I put a calendar reminder on my phone to check the list monthly. That helped remind me to keep progressing or even to alter the individual task plan. Remember, the point of the list is not all the crap you NEED to accomplish or should do but things that will improve your happiness. If something (like a will) is worrying on your mind, then completing it will improve your mindspace! That is doctors appts for me - I have put them off WAY too long and it was weighing on my mind - getting them done was so, so uplifting for me!
D2 is thinking of doing a 20 for 20 list of new foods to try. She has become much more of an adventurous eater and she thought that would be fun. And make her happy!
take tai chi 3-4 times a week
teach a tai chi class or two
do art class as much as possible
do art at home (maybe exhibit?)
set boundaries with elderly mother- if possible
take a trip in March with daughter to NM and hire help
address osteoporosis, including visit to integrative doc
get all 5 year post cancer tests possible done and make decisions
buy portable ECG and BP devices for afib to avoid 911
find an apartment to stay in, leave seasonal rental
help struggling kid have a good year as much as I can
take a college class
walk more, even when it is cold
try to pay more attention to how I look
get a job I can do physically
try to see friends more, be less of a hermit
make a will
meet with a financial planner about trusts for special needs kid
help with political campaign
go to museum exhibits and concerts more by myself
I already do lots of things that make me happy, as a result of previous years’ resolutions:
Meet local friends at least twice a month for lunch
Go to the city (I’m an hour out of NYC) once a month to meet friends
Have people over for dinner once a month
Go to the gym every other day
Bring up one useless item from the basement every time I’m down there (and get rid of it)
New for 2020:
Limit my screen time to four hours per day
Read a book at least one hour a day
Expand my menu repetoire for dinners at home
Take a history course
Volunteer for get-out-the-vote efforts
Some estate planners are pretty good with special needs options as well. We will start with our estate attorney and see what he recommends. One of our kids has never been able to work more than a few hours per week so far in her life due to health issues she’s had for over two decades. I will feel better talking with the estate attorney about his thoughts and recommendations — have enjoyed working with him so far.
Run a half marathon (April 5th!)- training program starts Jan 11th.
Start making healthy lunches for work
Practice Meditation
Drink less wine
Start a Fitness blog (even if I never post it for others to read)
Row 3X /week (rower in my basement-no excuses)
Slow down while eating
Replace Bath towels
Get photos refinished
Meet up in NYC with my sister
Visit Nantucket and the Vineyard (always wanted to do this)
At least one cultural event with my friend S.
Put together a puzzle
Dinner/social event with my Running Buddies
Read at least 1 classic novel (I read a lot but not classics)
Watch 10 movies
Volunteer for election
Listen to 6 new (for me) musical artists
I personally think you should make a list and we all sorta follow along… Lol… That could be fun ?. IE :when you try a new restaurant, then we all try a new one and report back. Lol…
Just a few things to remind myself of, 19 or 20 would be too long to remember ?:
Try a new activity that I have not tried before in my life
Re-read Middlemarch and War and Peace!
Write book review for every book I read in 2020
Start a new volunteer job!
Learn a new dish for each month
Teach DH my mother tongue ?
Find and take a class in Chinese ink painting. DID!
Read more for pleasure. DID! - 51 books so far, Goodreads helped me keep up the momentum
Drag DH to more movies. We loved every one we saw, but we could have seen a lot more. not so much
Do more day hikes - we went hiking most weekends we were in Hong Kong and it was not only enjoyable, it’s also healthy. not so much
It sounds like a negative, but I need to say no to more jobs. There are two categories I’d like to eliminate or at least reduce drastically. Legalizations and small downtown stores. Too many of them end up being real time sinks. And I’d have a lot more time for painting if I didn’t spend time on this stuff. DID mostly!
I’m not sure if it will be this year, but I’d like to get myself to Yellowstone. not yet
Do something in NYC at least once a month. Concert, meal, museum whatever! DID!
I will have to figure out goals for 2020, but I liked this project.
Can’t come up with 20, but a couple of things will feel really good:
needlework
contact trainer for advice on managing dog aggression so I can take my creatures around and head things off before they escalate a situation; either classes or one-on-one consults, whatever's needed
more needlework
continue my progress in developing a relationship with food that doesn't feel shamed, deprived, or desperate but happy and strong instead
OK, here goes, this year there will be a lot of transition because I will retire in lieu of layoff at the end of January. I will have full medical and a pension, but I would like to find a part-time job and enjoy life more. :
Close all 3 rings on iWatch 5 times a week
Go to yoga 20 times
Play pickleball 5 times
Play in 3 tennis tournaments
Get my tennis racquet restrung
Buy a new tennis bag
Reduce nighttime ice cream to 4 times per week
Go to the beach 10 times
Go on 5 local hikes
Buy a new tennis bag
Babysit granddaughter 10 times
Apply for 5 jobs (unless you get one first).
Organize closets
Get closet organizers for master closet
Get closet door for guest room
Try a Spin class
Go to lunch with friends
Visit sister in Santa Monica
Take Dad out of Memory Care for a drive 3 times
Go out to lunch with Mom 5 times.
Make 10 dinners (my husband usually does all the cooking).
These are great! I still have to get my 2020 list on paper. And it won’t likely be at “20” right from the start - nothing wrong with adding in the next few weeks!
I’ll try and remember to bump up the thread monthly if people are interested in being reminded/post progress.
