Tag: resolutions

2015 Goals

~ K ~ 3 Comments

2015I’m super late with posting this, but life and the holidays have all gotten away from me. Anyway, I post these goals for me to review and keep tabs on myself. The one goal I achieved in 2014? Keeping my son alive. That’s all that mattered.

  1. Use the elliptical trainer once a week.
  2. Take a 30-minute walk around the corporate center twice a week.
  3. Read the Bible again. (I’ll probably jump around and read some of my favorite books of the Bible this year.)
  4. Take the BELS examination in May (and pass!).
  5. Take a fun and relaxing 10-year anniversary trip with my husband.
  6. Read 5 books in their entirety.
  7. See 1 movie in the theater with my husband this year.
  8. Lose 30 pounds this year.
  9. Be more assertive about my work and what I can and can’t handle.
  10. Spend more time playing with and taking care of my son when I’m not working.
  11. Eat heathier: Incorporate 1 fruit and 1 vegetable into any of my meals per day.
  12. Attend the Postpartum Progress conference in July.
  13. Pay off my my credit card with the highest balance.
  14. Sock away a substantial amount of income toward a down payment on a house.
  15. Limit fast food, such as Chick-Fil-A and Wendy’s, to twice a week. (This does not include fast casual, such as Panera Bread and Chipotle, or sit-down restaurants like Texas Roadhouse and Cracker Barrel.)

2014 Goals

~ K ~ Leave a comment

2014

Happy New Year! Since it’s the first of the year, it’s time to post this year’s goals! Here are my goals for 2014:

  1. Keep my child alive somehow after birth (prayer, please!)
  2. Visit New York 4 times during the year to see family
  3. List 3 things that I’m grateful for once a week
  4. Schedule a blog post for each season (minimum 4 times a year)
  5. Use the elliptical trainer on Thursdays or Fridays once a week
  6. Strength train on Thursdays or Fridays once a week after the baby is born (DVD videos)
  7. Complete NaNoWriMo novel before November 1
  8. Attempt NaNoWriMo in November
  9. Completely revise Getting Right with God by December 31
  10. Read 36 books by December 31

The last 4 will pose a challenge but what are goals for if they are all easy?

2013 End-of-Year Goals Check In

~ K ~ Leave a comment

2013

1. Schedule a blog post for each month
FAIL. I didn’t post much in the summer and through the latter part of the year.

2. Go to the gym once a week
FAIL. I quit the gym because I got an elliptical trainer at home.

3. Strength train on Mondays
FAIL. I have not strength trained on Mondays. I will wait until the baby’s born before tackling this again.

4. Read 80 books this year
FAIL. I haven’t been in much of a reading mood. I’ve only read 35 books this year.

5. Craft a new novel from an original idea (not something that I’ve recycled)
SUCCESS! I started writing an original novel for NaNoWriMo. I haven’t finished it yet, but I’d like to.

6. Write a new novel from start to finish in 30 days
FAIL. I had a lot of health setbacks in November that prevented me from completing a novel in 30 days.

7. Write 300 words a day whether it’s a combination of blogging, journaling, article writing, or noveling
FAIL. I haven’t written much this year.

8. Attend the Writer’s Digest conference
SUCCESS! I attended the conference, pitched some agents, and had a mighty good time.

9. Submit query letters to literary agents
SUCCESS! I’ve gotten nothing but rejections, but I’ve submitted query letters.

10. Complete synopsis of Getting Right with God
SUCCESS! In fact, I received a synopsis from an editor that’s even better than the one I wrote.

11. Watch a movie on Saturday evenings with Jason
FAIL. I’ve been bad about doing this. I just haven’t been in a movie-watching mood. 😦

12. Submit a query letter for an article
SUCCESS! I submitted a query letter for Relevant magazine. Never heard anything back, but I did submit something.

13. Develop a routine in the morning
FAIL. I have no routine except to get the heck up.

14. Develop a routine before bed at night
FAIL. I have no routine except to fall into bed.

15. (And oh, why not?) Become a mother
SUCCESS! Fertility treatments have helped me to realize this 2013 goal. I’m due in late February 2014. Exciting!

2013 Mid-Year Goals Check In

~ K ~ Leave a comment

1. Schedule a blog post for each month
SUCCESS! I’ve had a blog post each month so far.

2. Go to the gym once a week
FAIL. I haven’t been to the gym in 2 months. My hope is to go on Sundays.

3. Strength train on Mondays
FAIL. I have not strength trained on Mondays. I don’t know if I will.

4. Read 80 books this year
IN PROGRESS. I doubt I’ll read 80 books this year. I haven’t been in a reading mood lately except for book club books.

5. Craft a new novel from an original idea (not something that I’ve recycled)
FAIL. I was supposed to write the Alpha League of Parapsychology, but I don’t think that’s going to work out.

6. Write a new novel from start to finish in 30 days
IN PROGRESS. November is usually my month to complete a novel.

7. Write 300 words a day whether it’s a combination of blogging, journaling, article writing, or noveling
FAIL. I haven’t been writing much lately.

8. Attend the Writer’s Digest conference
SUCCESS! I attended the conference, pitched some agents, and had a mighty good time.

9. Submit query letters to literary agents
SUCCESS! I’ve gotten nothing but rejections, but I’ve submitted query letters.

10. Complete synopsis of Getting Right with God
SUCCESS! In fact, I received a synopsis from an editor that’s even better than the one I wrote.

11. Watch a movie on Saturday evenings with Jason
FAIL. I’ve been bad about doing this. Need to get back on track.

12. Submit a query letter for an article
SUCCESS! I submitted a query letter for Relevant magazine. Never heard anything back, but I did submit something.

13. Develop a routine in the morning
FAIL. I have no routine except to get the heck up.

14. Develop a routine before bed at night
FAIL. I have no routine except to fall into bed exhausted.

15. (And oh, why not?) Become a mother
IN PROGRESS. I’m undergoing fertility treatments to help me achieve this goal. It’s exciting!

2012 Mid-Year Goals Check In

~ K ~ Leave a comment

1. Schedule a blog post for each week
FAIL. I forgot about this. It’ll be more realistic for me to schedule a blog post for each month.

2. Go to the gym on Tuesdays for at least 15 minutes
FAIL. We are down to one car making it almost impossible for me to go to the gym during weekdays. This goal will be revised to go to the gym on Sundays for at least 15 minutes.

3. Strength train Mondays and Thursdays a week for at least 15 minutes
FAIL. I’ve forgotten about my strength training goals. This goal will be revised to strength train on Mondays.

4. Put aside $25 per paycheck ($50/month) for website redesign in March 2012 (before website expiration in April)
SUCCESS! My website has been redesigned.

5. Combat discontent by listing 3 things every day that I’m grateful for
FAIL. I’ve fallen off the wagon with that as well. I will list 3 things every night in my journal.

6. Relax 2 times a month on the Sabbath (a day off, not necessarily Sunday) by reading, listening to music, dancing, napping, meditating, watching a movie (something fun) for most of the day
SUCCESS! I’ve been relaxing more.

7. Read a book for at least 15 minutes 3 times a week
SUCCESS! I am ahead of my reading.

8. Read 36 books (3 books a month) by December 31
SUCCESS! I am on track to surpass this goal.

9. Complete half of manuscript rewrite by June 2012 (Work on 10 pages once a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays for 2 hours)
SUCCESS! My manuscript is complete.

10. Complete rewrite of manuscript by December 2012
SUCCESS! See previous point.

11. Edit for 1 new client this year
IN PROCESS. I haven’t had a new client yet but the year isn’t over…

2012 Goals

~ K ~ 3 Comments

Happy New Year! Since it’s the first of the year, it’s time to post this year’s goals! I’ve set reminders so that I can do a mid-year and end-of-year check-in. Nothing special here; just a straightforward list of my goals.

1. Schedule a blog post for each week
2. Go to the gym on Tuesdays for at least 15 minutes
3. Strength train Mondays and Thursdays a week for at least 15 minutes
4. Put aside $25 per paycheck ($50/month) for website redesign in March 2012 (before website expiration in April)
5. Combat discontent by listing 3 things every day that I’m grateful for
6. Relax 2 times a month on the Sabbath (a day off, not necessarily Sunday) by reading, listening to music, dancing, napping, meditating, watching a movie (something fun) for most of the day
7. Read a book for at least 15 minutes 3 times a week
8. Read 36 books (3 books a month) by December 31
9. Complete half of manuscript rewrite by June 2012 (Work on 10 pages once a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays for 2 hours)
10. Complete rewrite of manuscript by December 2012
11. Edit for 1 new client this year

Helpful tools assisting me this year:

Blogging: WordPress

Gym of choice: Planet Fitness

Strength training guru: Personal Training with Jackie Warner: Power Circuit Training

Saving money: PNC’s Virtual Wallet

Tracking habits-in-the-making: Health Month

Reading books: Goodreads

Organizing novel structure: Scrivener

Tracking time, cost, and billing of clients: Time Master + Billing

2011 Resolutions… Goals… Targets… Likely Misses… (Revisited)

~ K ~ 5 Comments

On January 4, I promised to revisit my 2011 resolutions to see how I was doing. Most people have forgotten about their resolutions by now but I’ve mark it on my calendar to revisit these goals on June 4 (okay, I’m a day late) and December 4. Here they are in all their uncompleted glory:

2011 Resolutions/Goals

  1. Land an agent for my young adult novel. Postponed as I edit a book and revise my novel to make it even better.
  2. Exercise for at least 15 minutes 4 times a week. More like exercise for 10 minutes once every two weeks.
  3. Lose 25 lbs. Hah!
  4. Eat more salads and vegetables. I am eating more greens so I guess I’m on track so far…
  5. Read 75 (or more) books. According to Goodreads.com, I’m 10% behind my goal. I’ve only read 26 so far.
  6. Relax on the Sabbath (Sunday). [This one, by far, will be the most difficult one for me to do.] Fail. So far.
  7. Attend a writer’s conference. Done! Completed in January!
  8. Attend CCEF’s October conference in Louisville. I received a slew of invitations to weddings this year. This, unfortunately, may be an unrealized goal.
  9. Learn to be content with what I have and who I am. Working on this. It’s not easy.
  10. Spend more time with God through prayer and Bible reading. I’m on the wagon and then I’m off. Ongoing process.
  11. Attend morning church services at my home church at least twice a month. I’m a little less married to attending services at my home church than I am about getting to church twice a month.
  12. Write a post (nearly) every day on different aspects of enjoying God. I was really good with this for a while. I suppose I should start this back up. What haven’t I already said?
  13. Cut down on sweets aka be less addicted to sugar. I’ve cut back from 5-6 packets of Splenda to 2.5-3 packets—woot!
  14. Read through the Chronicles of Narnia. Oof, I haven’t even started yet.
  15. Hold scheduled write-ins at the library through the month of November for NaNoWriMo. I’ll see if this is possible. For right now, though, I can’t even think about November!

I’m not opposed to creating new goals and resolutions and dropping others as the year goes along. Upon today’s reevaluation of these resolutions from January, here are my goals are for December:

2011 Goals

  1. Land an agent for my young adult novel.  Build up clientele for book editing.
  2. Exercise for at least 15 minutes 4 times a week. Exercise for at least 20 minutes 2 times a week.
  3. Lose 25 lbs. Lose and keep off 10 lbs.
  4. Eat more salads and vegetables. 
  5. Complete the reading of 80 books. 
  6. Relax on the Sabbath (Sunday).
  7. Attend CCEF’s October conference in Louisville.
  8. Learn to be content with what I have and who I am. 
  9. Spend more time Focus on building discipline with God through prayer and Bible reading. 
  10. Attend morning church services at my home church at least twice a month.
  11. Write a post (nearly) every day once a week on different aspects of enjoying something that God is teaching/has taught me. 
  12. Cut down on sweets aka be less addicted to sugar. Designate specific days for dessert and stick to it.
  13. Read through three of the seven books in Chronicles of Narnia. 
  14. Hold scheduled write-ins at the library through the month of November for NaNoWriMo. Complete the rewrite of my novel before December 31.

In six months, I completed one of my goals. Many of these are attainable; others I don’t expect to actually complete as they are ongoing processes that will be on my annual list year after year (exercise and losing weight). But in the future, I hope that spotty church attendance becomes less of an issue.

iPhone/iPad/iTouch Productivity: Lists & Tasks App Mania

~ K ~ 3 Comments

I’m an organizational/planning freak. As a result, I’m CRAZY about lists.

  • If there’s something to do, it goes on a list.
  • If there’s something I want to purchase, it goes on a list.
  • If there’s a book I want to read, there’s a list for that too. (Goodreads is fantastic, btw.)

I have grocery lists, travel lists, and wish lists. I am your List Maven Du Jour.

I received an iPhone for Christmas, and as a result, have been exploring the to-do list apps in Apple’s App Store. At one point, I downloaded about six (free) apps all at one time just so I could try out their features. (Note: An app that was free has since begun charging since I downloaded it.) A few of them were free “lite” apps meaning that they had limited features for you to try out before plunking down the cash to use the full version. I really appreciated this since I’m judicious about paying even $.99 for an app unless I know it’ll be good. I don’t download apps that cost money unless I’ve tried them for free first or their ratings are so spectacular that the app is likely to be good. (App Store users: PLEASE pay attention to ratings and reviews. They are your friend. They will spare you from forking over $1.99 for a prank app that looks real.)

So, I’ve made a list of pros and cons for each of my six apps. Some things I’ve listed as cons might be pros for you. This is not a comprehensive list of To-do/Task apps but simply the ones that I tried. I purposely avoided the super-popular ones like Remember the Milk and Toodledo (because they cost money). Hopefully you’ll find one that works for you.

[Update as of 1/30/2011: the basic Remember the Milk app is free for Apple mobile devices.]

Continue reading “iPhone/iPad/iTouch Productivity: Lists & Tasks App Mania” →

2011 Resolutions… Goals… Targets… Likely Misses…

~ K ~ 1 Comment

I don’t have the statistics on how many people fail to keep their resolutions and how quickly it drops off but I know for certain that the percentage is high (ie, majority of people who make New Year’s resolutions don’t keep them).

So with the dawn of a new year, I’m not expecting much either so I’ve thrown something on the list that’s a definite (to make me feel better) and the rest are just hopeful shots in the dark. They’re not unrealistic but the likelihood that I’ll actually hit any of these goals by the end of 2011 is low. That being said, I’ll revisit these goals on June 4, then again on December 4 to see if I’ve made any progress.

2011 Resolutions/Goals

  1. Land an agent for my young adult novel.
  2. Exercise for at least 15 minutes 4 times a week.
  3. Lose 25 lbs.
  4. Eat more salads and vegetables.
  5. Read 75 (or more) books.
  6. Relax on the Sabbath (Sunday). [This one, by far, will be the most difficult one for me to do.]
  7. Attend a writer’s conference.
  8. Attend CCEF’s October conference in Louisville.
  9. Learn to be content with what I have and who I am.
  10. Spend more time with God through prayer and Bible reading.
  11. Attend morning church services at my home church at least twice a month.
  12. Write a post (nearly) every day on different aspects of enjoying God.
  13. Cut down on sweets aka be less addicted to sugar.
  14. Read through the Chronicles of Narnia.
  15. Hold scheduled write-ins at the library through the month of November for NaNoWriMo.

I purposely left #16 off this list. Since it falls under contentment, I will try to deal with that as best as I can.