I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions. Really, a resolution is (more often than not) simply a recipe for failure. Instead, I set goals each year. What’s the difference? Resolutions are usually somewhat vague. “I’m going to lose weight this year.” Whereas a good goal is specific and measurable (and realistic, which resolutions may or may not be).
Accountability also helps, which is why I like to post my goals! Usually, I don’t meet them all (occasionally, I’ve fallen short of pretty much all of them; it depends somewhat on circumstance), but I do make more progress in these areas when I set goals than when I don’t. And I like the fresh start that each year offers. 🙂 So here you go: my goals for 2011.
- Complete 23 more items from 101 in 1001 list. [This is pretty tough, as this inherently means I will not complete the entire list. But if I accomplish the 101/1001 items on my goals list for this year, I will have done a lot that I wouldn’t have otherwise. Next time, I will make more of my 101/1001 items smaller!]
- Make progress on 18 additional items from 101 in 1001 list.
- Include at least 3 items from the “Live Life to the Full” section.
- Include at least 3 items from the “Bless My Household/Family” sections.
- Finish organizing the kitchen.
- Plant a garden.
- Finish constructing Advent calendar.
- Finish Advent book.
- Finish homemaking book.
- Write prayer (e-)book.
- Design Day-Timer
stamps.
- Make progress on health book.
- Take 1 CLEP (humanities?).
- Come up with a ministry the girls and I can do from home.
- Work on teaching Sophia to read. [Yes, this one is a bit vague. I’m not sure what she’s ready for, though, so I can’t be more specific yet.]
- Buy Ray’s CD-ROM.
- Set up emergency thumb drive.
- Create gluten-free bread.
- Set up T2H shop.
- Brainstorm list of product ideas.
- Read the Bible through.
- Memorize 5+ Bible verses/passages.
- Get in shape. [This one is vague, too, on paper. However, I will be using several of the more specific goals from the 101/1001 list as measurements for this.]
- Reinstall Rosetta Stone.
- Make progress on unit studies wiki.
Where did you happen upon the idea for the list? It seems similar to Elizabeth George’s book that I had been in a study. (too tired this morning to sort out the grammar in that sentence)
I, too, tend to lean toward goals, instead of resolutions. I have had several bouncing around in my head. I’ve got some organizing ideas that I’ve gotten on paper…action could be another story. 🙂
I like your list. You reminded me that I want to work on CLEPs in the future…I’ll have to think a bit more on that.
Also, did you mean purchase Ray’s Math CD? Just curious..
Hope you are doing well…I’d be pleased to help out if there’s anything I can do for you these days. Just drop me a note!
Rachel, I love reading about your goals….I’ve never been a “list maker” simply because I would feel like a failure when I didn’t complete all of them. I like the fact you have taught me that by completing even some, or most of the list, I will accomplish more than I originally planned. I will be making my own list, but not sure where I will post so I can be accountable to it…on a side note, according to Sophia the other night, she wanted to “read the bible” so good luck with trying to teach her the basics when she’s ready for the “big bible”
Thanks for inspiring other!
Great list of goals! Thanks for sharing.
Haha. Yes, Sophia keeps asking us, “Will you teach me to read tonight?” We keep trying to tell her it’s not a one-night process!
Charity, if you’re talking about the 101 Things in 1001 Days list, I stumbled across it on a blog (don’t remember which one now, as it’s been a couple of years). The original idea is here: http://www.dayzeroproject.com (There are some technical issues with the site at the moment, but they’re being addressed.)
Yes, Christi, the Ray’s math CD. We have the Ray’s books, and those are what we use for arithmetic, but the high school math is not available in print. Getting the CD will let me use it as a refresher, and also let me check it out to see if it will work for our children when they reach that point.