Resolve
I've noticed over the years that I am the kind of person who likes a specific challenge (e.g. no french fries for a year, yoga every day for a month, no TV for a month) as opposed to a general resolution (eat right, exercise, less stress). I think it's because, that way, I have identified a very specific end goal and have put myself in a position to celebrate when I have accomplished what I set out to do :) Along the same lines, I like my self-challenges to be tough, but do-able.
This year, I've decided to take the many areas of "I've been meaning to do that..." and put them on a schedule. So that I don't stress out about it, the goal is very simple: do at least *one* thing to improve that area of my life at some time during the scheduled month. For example, January is going to be "car month." Some things I could do -- get the oil changed, replace the front license plate, get the car washed, vaccuum the inside, clean out the trunk, get new windshield wipers, call the insurance agent about that one line item that's been bugging me, etc. Or, I could do them all! (But again, I'm not going to commit myself to that.) I'm very curious to see how this challenge goes.
So here's the schedule (and some suggested tasks):
Jan - car (see above)
Feb - photos (wedding album, prints off of negatives/digital, other albums, hang/display)
Mar - doctors/dentists (all those check-ups I've been meaning to get...)
Apr - cooking (organize recipes, try new recipes, use new things off registry)
May - good will/garage sale (get rid of at least some of the stuff in the basement!)
June - computer (back-up files, clean-up folders, reinstall operating system)
July - finances (figure out Roth IRA, check contributions, read books on $, budget, Quicken)
Aug - music (upload, download, research, buy, get rid of old)
Sept - clothes (buy new, get rid of old, pack seasonal, get tailored)
Oct - office space (photos, coasters, mugs, make comfortable)
Nov - filing (organize system, get rid of old, file new)
Dec - books (get library card, organize, get rid of old, make reading list)
We'll see how it goes, but it will be fun to know that I am making inroads (even if they are very small...) Of course I still have all the general resolutions bouncing around in my head -- I will do my best to eat right, exercise, keep current with emails, spend time with my husband, not let me job take over my life, etc. But those goals are ongoing, and I need something to which I can affix the stamp - Mission Accomplished!
This year, I've decided to take the many areas of "I've been meaning to do that..." and put them on a schedule. So that I don't stress out about it, the goal is very simple: do at least *one* thing to improve that area of my life at some time during the scheduled month. For example, January is going to be "car month." Some things I could do -- get the oil changed, replace the front license plate, get the car washed, vaccuum the inside, clean out the trunk, get new windshield wipers, call the insurance agent about that one line item that's been bugging me, etc. Or, I could do them all! (But again, I'm not going to commit myself to that.) I'm very curious to see how this challenge goes.
So here's the schedule (and some suggested tasks):
Jan - car (see above)
Feb - photos (wedding album, prints off of negatives/digital, other albums, hang/display)
Mar - doctors/dentists (all those check-ups I've been meaning to get...)
Apr - cooking (organize recipes, try new recipes, use new things off registry)
May - good will/garage sale (get rid of at least some of the stuff in the basement!)
June - computer (back-up files, clean-up folders, reinstall operating system)
July - finances (figure out Roth IRA, check contributions, read books on $, budget, Quicken)
Aug - music (upload, download, research, buy, get rid of old)
Sept - clothes (buy new, get rid of old, pack seasonal, get tailored)
Oct - office space (photos, coasters, mugs, make comfortable)
Nov - filing (organize system, get rid of old, file new)
Dec - books (get library card, organize, get rid of old, make reading list)
We'll see how it goes, but it will be fun to know that I am making inroads (even if they are very small...) Of course I still have all the general resolutions bouncing around in my head -- I will do my best to eat right, exercise, keep current with emails, spend time with my husband, not let me job take over my life, etc. But those goals are ongoing, and I need something to which I can affix the stamp - Mission Accomplished!