<p>I would love to know how people come up with their resolutions and how successful they have been in achieving them in past years. I tend to set goals once every few years and I find on average it takes me many many years to complete my goals. This past year I completed my goals that were set over ten years ago. Most of them were around Planning, Wills, LTC Insurance and stuff of this sort. </p>
<p>I would love to set some goals around physical fitness and healthy eating habits but I feel like this is too general. Have any of you made small improvements/changes in these or other areas? What were they and how did you achieve them? Many years ago I started working out three times per week on set days. This worked and became a great habit for many years. The set days took the thinking out of it for me. Then I got injured and healed and I never got back to it. </p>
<p>So CC’ers what are some of your current/ past New Year’s Resolutions and goals?</p>
<p>Am typing this, so I have to follow through now. I’ve shared this with a couple of CC members off boards, but now it’s for the masses to know… I have to rejoin the Exercise/Wellness thread on CC. It helped me greatly a few years ago, and for reasons I won’t go into here, I lost all motivation in the last year or so. Two weeks ago, I had to start on a very low dosage of BP medication, so I know changes HAVE to be made. Please join us over there! (P.S. - I, too, am recovering from an injury and am in PT. Am doing the PT because that’s the only way I’m going to be able to get active again)</p>
<p>For so many years I’d pledge to do something simple. . .and probably something that most of you already do every day–make my bed, cook dinner, compliment H, stop wasting time on CC, etc. But I always fail after a short time, and then I feel bad about myself. So now I just resolve to “get through today” and take it as it comes.
I can’t help thinking of things that need to be done, though, at this time of year. This morning I was resolving to throw out all the junk in my garage–just one or two things a week, and by the end of the year, the garage should have room for 2 cars, not one. I can do this. I have bags of kids clothes that need to be donated to the thrift shop. . .that should be easy to take care of.</p>
<p>I am committed to a stressful job until the end of the school year. (I honestly don’t know how I got from Aug. to here–been living on coffee and eyedrops. . .) So I resolve to quit this job in May and take better care of myself!
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot–in 2014, after I’m through with that job, I’m going to sit down and write the great American novel. ;)</p>
<p>Last year, during Lent, I decided I was going to give up something, and that something was bags of clothes and “stuff” I never used. I donated 40 bags, one bag for every day of Lent. Felt great. I need to do that again, and include all those papers I’ve saved as well as the harder-to-say-good bye items. This will take much more time, but so overdue. I really need to pare down. How much to toss/donate? I’ll commit to 2-3 bags or boxes each week. Anyone want to join me?</p>
<p>Then, like atomom, I’ll write a book (but kids book).</p>
<p>My D would love for me to do that.
She wants me to get rid of most of her childhood books/toys/clothes
& her sisters. They actually are taking up a lot of room, but they are in the basement.
Hard for me to let go of books though.
But she says she will help.</p>
<p>I want to get more involved with my church and my faith. I know you don’t need a set time to do that, but I’m having these feelings now and New Year’s is right around the corner, so why not. Along that vein, I really want to become a better person and edge away from selfish behaviors. I’m going to find some tips for good things to do throughout the day, and I want to train myself to think more positively and lovingly, like a “good person” should. </p>
<p>And I love the donating thing, limabeans! That’s actually a really good idea for Lent and for life in general. I usually just give something up, but it’s great to give something back. I want to try to do that more often too!</p>
<p>I usually give up CC for Lent. . .but last year it was fast food.</p>
<p>OK, I know it isn’t the new year yet, but I just put 3 huge bags of kids clothes in the trunk of my car–going to thrift shop later today. Two (broken) items from the garage–into the garbage can. If that is all I get done, it’s better than nothing.</p>
<p>Now, I’m going to start working on my Christmas (Epiphany) cards.</p>
<p>A couple months ago, I decided to start fixing breakfast and lunch for H (who works very long hours and deserves whatever I can do for him). I also put out his socks and underwear for him when he is in the shower. I hate doing this because it sounds like the 50s, and my mind rebels against the “servant” role, but I’m working on changing my attitude toward these small things that take very little effort on my part, but mean a lot to H.</p>
<p>I always have some goals running through my mind, and January is a nice time to hit <em>reset</em> and decide what I want to focus on in the coming year. Last year, among some other more important things, I had a goal to read at least 20 “fun” books this year, which I only just managed. Since I struggled I am going to set my goal for next year at 20 again, but I predict I will have more time to read and it will be easier… maybe I’ll do more like 30. But 20 is the goal, no need to set myself up for failure. </p>
<p>I am also going to work on striving for contentment in the coming year. This year was a really, really bad year for contentment. We bought the house, decided to get married, started planning the wedding, started planning what we wanted to do immediately after the wedding, and a lot of long term goals are hitting completion or coming to a head right around now. We have been exhausted and overwhelmed all year, and when our current goals are settled (which should hopefully be this summer after the wedding) I would like to strive to NOT set any more major stressful goals for a while. I want to get married, build my fence, buy my puppy and then just BE for a year or two. Until the itch to have children kicks in and then I am sure all hell will break loose again… I need to remodel my hall bath and put a tub in before we have kids. I can’t remember a time ever in my life that I wasn’t obsessed with obtaining something that was either just out of reach or so JUST within my reach that I shouldn’t have bothered, and I need to not do that anymore before I make my husband into a crazy person trying to keep up with me.</p>
<p>My resolution every year for the last five or so has been “figure out what will make you happy, and GO DO IT.” That was nice, but I’d like to stop “doing” for a while. It isn’t making me happy.</p>
<p>ETA: And I would really like to lose another 15 pounds, but if I haven’t done that in time for my dress fitting in April I don’t give a crap and I quit. So probably not the best new years resolution!</p>
<p>I resolve to get all my bills the way they should be – meaning, get the right plan for our cell phones, buy just enough but not too much cable, etc. And I resolve to learn how to use all my devices.</p>
<p>I want to set a definite goal, not something squishy. Limabeans, I like you idea of a bag a week to Goodwill or the garbage. </p>
<p>My goal last year was to hike a section of the John Muir Trail. And I did it! Physically, THE hardest thing I’ve ever done. But very rewarding. I don’t know if I’ll be able to do that this summer because of time constraints, but I’m going to try.</p>
<p>I was just thinking about starting this thread. And you did!</p>
<p>I really want to learn to just let things go. I can get so worked up about things, and in the end, it will work out. </p>
<p>For instance, our area is in for a major cold front this week ( a high of 5 degrees on Friday and 9 below) and our furnace just quit. My H is frantic, mad and flipping out. I am trying to let it go and, yes of course, deal with it. No, we will probably not get a furnance until after the holiday. We bought an infared heater today and we have another gas fireplace heater in our family room. We will layer up on clothes and blankets tonight. </p>
<p>Tomorrow, after the furnace replace/ repair folks come and assess the situation, we may have to buy more heaters. It will most likely be replace because our furnace came with the house and we have been living here for 25 years. Another $4000 right after Christmas and just bought two new cars ( for cash) since June. Bad timing!</p>
<p>This may sound a little weird - but I’m going to focus on me and my marriage in 2014. I have already started by getting invisalign to finally fix my teeth and I’ve lost a good bit of weight so far, with more to go. I’m going at it slow and steady and it will probably take me all of next year as well. My plan - stop eating so much and get off your lazy a$$ and exercise! I’m also addressing my anxiety issues and I’m feeling a lot better.</p>
<p>My youngest graduates hs this spring and off to college in the fall. I have to learn how to be me, without being mom first and foremost. I even joined a book club and I tend to hate meeting new people. I bought hubby membership to a golf club so we will get out and golf more. We’re even contemplating a ballroom dance class.</p>
<p>We want to retire in 10 years and move so I’m going to research how to make that a reality.</p>
<p>To have the tables cleared off every night before I go to bed. H and I have jobs with a lot of paper. Throw in the mail and the newspaper, a few receipts, etc and the place feels too cluttered too quickly. If it works, my resolution next year will be to keep the tables and the horizontal surfaces in the living room clear!</p>
I can’t remember a time ever in my life that I wasn’t obsessed with obtaining something that was either just out of reach or so JUST within my reach that I shouldn’t have bothered, and I need to not do that anymore before I make my husband into a crazy person trying to keep up with me.</p>