New Years Goals

Notice that I did not title this, "New Years Resolutions". There is just something about that word that I don't like. Maybe it's just the idea that so many people are supposedly "resolute" and "resolve" to change their lives, and then they never do. But a goal- a goal is not something that you just decide to do one day and from then on you've done it. A goal is something that requires smaller steps to accomplish it; it is a desired end result of a process, rather than an instant fix. As long as you're always reaching for a goal, then you are accomplishing it, just a little bit at a time. Whereas it seems with a resolution that if you mess up once, there goes your resolve and you're screwed.

So here are a few of my GOALS for the coming year:

1. Keep up with the laundry. I will try to do at least one load a day, and get it in first thing in the morning when I go downstairs. I will fold it during the little ones' quiet time.

2. Pick up and put away. I will try to give myself at least 3 15-minute sessions of this each day (morning, afternoon, and night) so that I can keep up with it.

3. Get the dishes done every evening. I will make myself do them before I crash for the night so that I can wake up to a clean sink in the morning.

4. Vacuum every day. The dog simply requires it.

5. Swish and swipe the bathrooms weekly and dust weekly. I always seem to forget about these...

Those things are all very simple, and should take very little amounts of time. If I just try to do them a little bit each day, then I should have plenty of time to do the following:

6. Read my scriptures and have morning prayer daily.

7. Spend at least 1 hour of quality play time with the kids every day. It's sad, but I don't do this on a regular basis. 

8. Get to bed before 11pm each night.

9. Start doing some scrapbooking/paper crafting again.

10. Redecorate my little girl's room.

11. Work on making my office a comfortable, creative space.

12. Send more thank-yous and remember more birthdays.

13. Be nicer to my husband. :-)

It may seem like a long list, but I know I'm not going to do it all from Day 1. I am going to be thinking about it, and definitely making an effort, but I know that if I just "resolve" to be perfect and do all those things, I will most likely crash and burn within 2 weeks. However, if I give myself permission to take smaller baby steps and just focus on one goal at a time, then I can gradually build up good habits that will last all year. And if I do crash and burn, I give myself permission to forgive myself and just start trying with baby steps all over again. 

So, Happy New Year, everyone! 

Leave a comment and share your goals for the new year!