Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Resolutions

I'm sure I am doing what many others are currently doing- building resolutions for 2014.  Every year I do this, every year I start off great, and every year I end up falling off the boat.  So why do I keep doing these resolutions?  I guess I would rather have a goal and fail than have none at all.  At least with a goal I know I have aspirations.  And usually during the year I will get back on the boat and work towards them a little more.  My problem is with consistency. The only goal that I actually met this year was my Goodreads goal of reading 250 books. 

For 2014 I am going to make professional and personal goals.  I am hoping that putting them out there for everyone to see will help me become more accountable.

PERSONAL GOALS
1. Complete the #500in2014 challenge.  I am joining a group on Twitter who have made it a goal to run 500 miles this year.  That's about 1 1/3 miles per day.  We are using the Nike+ Running app to track our progress.  I have also enlisted a couple of friends to do the challenge with me.  I am feeling pretty confident that with my online support group and my personal support group I can meet this goal. 
2.  Eat healthier.  My husband got me a juicer for Christmas and I am loving it so far!  I would like to have some sort of juice every day in this new year.  I would also like to cut some foods out of my diet.  I'm usually not too bad but there is room for improvement. 

PROFESSIONAL GOALS
1.  Read 300 books in 2014.  In 2013 I met my goal of 250 books.  I want to up my goal to 300 this year since I was successful with the 250. (Hmmm...  I think this could also be considered a personal goal since I read for enjoyment.)
2.  Read more professional books.  When looking through the books I read in 2013, I did notice I have a huge book gap in this category.  I am going to commit myself to reading 1 professional book a month.  I am good a starting them but not finishing.  I think the problem I have right now is that I have too many started! 
3.  Blog at least once a week.  I would like to participate in It's Monday What Are You Reading, Slice of Life, Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday, Poetry Friday, and Celebrate!  I would love to do all of these every week.  However, I know me.  If I miss doing one, I will fall off the boat because I have the "all or nothing" mentality.  So I am going to participate in one of these each week.  If I am able to do more than one, then that is a bonus.

So there you go, 5 resolutions for myself.  Wow, that seems like a lot!  I think I will need to periodically check back with these resolutions and measure how I am doing with them. 

Happy New Year!