I have one thing to say about 2016.
I am not really one to make New Years resolutions. In fact, I kind of hate them. They tend to be so general like lose weight, eat healthier or spend less time on social media. You know what the problem with these resolutions are? They aren’t really obtainable. Sure, you can lose 10 pounds this month or stay off Twitter for a week but the thing is, there is no end goal. How do you know if you are done?
When you do things in moderation, it is hard to draw the line. Sure, I can eat healthier this week but then next week I might have a cheat meal Tuesday because it is a friend’s birthday. Then Thursday night I might come home hangry and have chips and salsa. It is a slippery slope.
This is why I like to set specific goals for myself. Ones that I can cross off a list. Over the last two years, I had set quarterly seasonal goals for myself and while it worked pretty well most quarters, I want to do things differently this year.
I have so many ideas and dreams. Don’t we all? But I just feel like I am constantly floating around, not really doing anything to actually make these dreams a reality for myself.
For the month of January, my main focus is to plan and prep to set 2016 up for my most successful year yet!
I want to get a planner so I can actually set dates for things I want to have accomplished. I also plan to schedule the house chores in there to keep myself from literally doing everything on Saturdays. I hate wasting three hours every weekend cleaning when I could be doing little things daily for 15 minutes. Oh, and maybe do a little blog scheduling too. Crazy, I know.
As you know, I am participating in the Breakup Challenge this month by doing Whole 30. I haven’t decided exactly what foods I will re-introduce after the 30 days but allowing my body to detox and reset is huge for me.
I have my mind set this weekend to take down all of our Christmas decorations and start cleaning out one of our spare bedrooms. They tend to become a toss all over the holidays and I can’t stand messes for very long.
When the get my life together, organize and purge all the things hair grows up your ass, you run with it! What are you going to do this year to work towards your dreams?
23 Comments
I don’t do New Years resolutions either. I feel like they come with too many expectations and are just a list of wishes for the year that I soon forget about or make one slip-up and then say “screw it” for the rest of the year.
I am currently waiting for my planner to arrive and can’t wait to fill it with *allthethings!* I usually schedule daily clean-ups and blog posts in it, along with meal plans (when I remembered), and the usual birthdays/occasions. It really helped me at least feel more organized! I’m taking down decorations and cleaning out a closet this weekend too. Good luck with all of your goals!!
I love this. I try to just set goals like eating healthier and drinking less… Like I’m not going to quit eating pizza or give up wine, but moderation. 🙂 Also love your idea of scheduling cleaning! Our house is a mess and I’m tired of cleaning all weekend!
I love this. It’s like a kick in the pants, and who doesn’t need one of those? I’m still super glad that we’re doing this whole 30 thing together, because alone it’d be effin impossible. I know 2016 is going to be awesome for you — I’m just glad I get to sit around and witness it! 🙂
Love your way of thinking, it’s definitely best to set goals that have an ending to make them obtainable. I love my Sugar Paper planner from Target, you can’t beat the price for only $10 😉
Green Fashionista
Goals are useless if they aren’t specific and measurable (and all of SMART, for that matter). Good for you for recognizing that and starting the new year the right way! Good luck making 2016 amazing—I know you can do it!
I’ve never done a resolution until this year, but part of it is measurable! But I tend to agree with you on resolutions. They’re so broad and you usually can’t measure them. I guess if you have a resolution and then check in on your progress every month or something maybe it works? But when I think of resolutions I always think of how the gym is packed in January and then by March it’s not anymore. Haha.
I’m so ready to purge my whole home… GET RID OF ALL THE STUFF!!!!!
I’m with you girl, they’ve got to be measurable and they got to be able to be crossed off the list with my new Parker pen! I think that just with wanting to lose weight or running a marathon, it’s all in our minds, about control and drive!! Girl I know sometimes it’s hard however, with your grit and determination, you can make those things happen in your life and need to be done! go girl go!!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has a spare bedroom that turns into the Christmas dump/wrap zone. I conquered about half of it last weekend. The rest will have to go with the decoration take down. I agree with you on resolutions. I rather have set, measurable goals, like Whole30, or paying off credit cards by a certain date, etc. I need to get a planner figured out too. I ordered a pretty one but I don’t like the layout. Dang it!
I am getting Christmas put away this weekend too. Funny that you mention the spare bedroom, I have one of those too that is a catch all and frankly it’s embarrassing. I need to work on that!
Love this post and I love the image-it is so true! A goal without a plan is just a wish, and let’s be honest you can literally spend your whole life wishing for something to happen and unless you put a plan behind it, it never will. You definitely hit the nail on the head with why most people’s diets fail. If every week were the same and your schedule never changed, diets would work out just marvelous. Unfortunately life happens and birthday parties, celebrations, working late, etc. causes our plans to change and we sometimes falter from the wayside. But..that doesn’t mean that you have to give up just because you had a moment of weakness. That’s the biggest point I try to emphasize to people who are trying to lose weight is to not give up and think you have to start all over if you overeat on a Wednesday night. Every day is a new beginning. You’ll have a great year this year-you got this!
Buying the dry erase board and using it as a weekly calendar by the garage door, so I see it every time I go the kitchen or as a reminder of my schedule, helped soooo much this past year. On Sundays write down EVERYTHING for that week in a daily format, with things sorta color coded (pink fun stuff, blue daily stuff, green chores). Monday- load/unload dishwasher & wipe counters, Yoga 4:30… I love it and I also write off to the side what Gabriel’s chores are. As I am walking to the kitchen to munch, I see I have work out classes scheduled and am less likely to eat junk.
I love this idea. My resolutions are more vague items, but I like to use monthly goals to work towards the big picture.
I cannot wait to hear your summary of the Whole30.
I’m not doing resolutions or goals this year. I made a to-do list (as you know). It’s more actionable and active rather than passive, which is what I need as a kick in the ass to get things done.
Like you I also want to get my house cleaned, purged and decluttered to start the year. It also feel great to get some posts scheduled ahead of time. It really relieves the stress, for me at least.
No resolutions. Seasonal goals work best for me.
Good luck!
you go girl! i like the idea of new years resolutions, but i make mine specific(ish) and more like goals. so i feel ya. go on with your bad self!
i’m doing the same this weekend–the decorations are coming down!
i just do goals that i know i have to do but also, that i can achieve. long goal lists aren’t my thing because i get overwhelmed and say “fuck it”.
this year it’s more strength training combined with muay thai, totally pumping up the jam with my skin routine by introducing monthly facials (killing 2 birds with 1 stone as this also satisfies the monthly treat yoself goal)!!
Love that quote! Similarly, “A goal is a dream with a deadline” was in my first Erin Condren planner and when I read that it was like a light bulb moment! I think there’s a balance you have to find between being too vague (i.e. Go to the gym) and too specific (i.e. planning out your gym schedule for the whole year and then getting discouraged when something comes up and you fall off the wagon), but I definitely agree that you need some sort of measurable goal or timeline. Checkpoints and little victories are where it’s at.
We have a one bedroom apartment so basically the whole thing is where we toss junk. Not cool! I’ve spent this whole week getting rid of all the things and streamlining our space more. I know that’s a cliche resolution or whatever but it got out of control over the holidays.
Good luck making 2016 your bitch! You got this!
That picture is EVERYTHING! I love that so much! 2016 is my bitch, too!
2016 is gonna be the year I’m gonna be more productive and active. I felt like I always used work as an excuse for not doing things. Well that will change this year. I plan on traveling more and doing more on my blog. Those are my top two goals for this year.
I don’t really set resolutions either, simply try to be a little more intentional after the hustle and bustle of the holidays are over and I have more time to focus on myself and the household. I really want to go on a maybe purge this year getting rid of clothes, decor, and other junk that is just lying around. Every day so far I’ve been tossing a one or two things into the donate or trash pile. It will be a slow process but it’s nice to do it a little bit each day. Less overwhelming. I’m also trying to stay off social media. Hard habit to break!