Pre 2024 Post

 I am not one for the fabled New Year, New Me ideas that come with the beginning of a new calendar being used. I don't like setting myself up for failure by making some grand promises that I will inevitably fail at completing. I do try to make changes throughout the year, every year, to make myself a better person. Some years are great. Some years are shit. This year I'm going to try something a little different. I'm going to set goals for each month. That gives me (on average) 30 days to accomplish the goal.

Every year I set a reading goal, which I manage to smash on a pretty consistent basis. So, I'm taking that mentality to other areas of my life that need my attention. Below I will outline the goal for each month. I will be posting weekly (probably on Saturday) to track my progress. I've managed to get into the habit of posting pretty consistently on a different blog so I am now moving that consistency to this new blog.

I don't have an end goal in mind each month (like losing x amount of weight, saving x amount of money). I really just want to focus my attention on being better in that area or completing things related to that topic so I can get some stuff out of my house. I'll try to make it make more sense as I go. I can visualize what I'm trying to express, but the words are failing me. That could have something to do with Lorna Shore blasting in my earbuds. LOL!

January: Puzzles and games

February: Decluttering 

March: Spending/Money Management

April: Crafts (cross-stitch, coloring, etc.)

May: Finishing home projects (painting kitchen, replacing door, painting trim, power-washing house, etc.)

June: Fitness

July: Eating

August: Writing

September: Deep cleaning the house

October: Taking time out for myself

November: Fixing Lego sets

December: Spending time with loved ones

I think having one primary area of focus each month will help me to accomplish a lot more than usual in a year. I've had a lot of projects in weird holding patterns and it is my belief that in focusing on specific goals each month I will be able to complete them and that will give me the motivation to continue moving forward each month. It also allows me space to have setbacks and failures each month without feeling like I'm a complete failure. Typically if I don't get something done in a set period of time I beat myself up for not completing it and then hit the wall of not wanting to finish anything because I fell like a failure. 

In addition to focusing in specific areas each month, I have decided that I will be folding laundry when I take it out of the dryer and cleaning any dishes left in the sink before I go to bed at night. I need small wins and I think these two are ones that will be pretty easy to complete, but missing just one "day" of it won't be the end of the world. It will (hopefully) motivate me to pick up my own slack as needed. It also allows for failure without making me feel like I am a failure.

It seems like a lot, but I really think that I can succeed in checking off some big items for the year. A lot of these things have been hounding me, but I've avoided completing them for a variety of reasons. 

My next post will be Saturday, January 6th and I will hopefully have some great news to report on playing games (with my kids) and completing puzzles. Until then, ciao! 

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