The Goals, The Goals

Around January, I always read a lot of blog posts saying how people hate New Years resolutions, it’s just courting failure, why should a new year mean a lot of changes, etc.

I couldn’t feel more differently.

For one, I’m always excited about NEW NEW NEW and it’s fun to think about what I want to accomplish in the coming year, where I want to be at the end of the year.

Also, as I’ve mentioned before, my parents are very big into goal setting and setting measurable, realistic goals, with steps to reach them, and then reviewing them many many times throughout the year and the goals displayed prominently in our various bedrooms and bathrooms.

And, as I was telling Bart yesterday, new goals for the year help me get through the months of cold, ugly winter until spring arrives. Otherwise, it’d be so so tempting to just lay around eating leftover Christmas candy, and watching movies until the snow disappeared.

So, without further ado, here is a partial list of my goals this year:

• Go to the gym 4 days a week. Last year, my goal was 3 times a week, and I never once, not ONCE went more than that. So I’m stepping it up this year. This goal is really more to help me reach my bigger goal to. . . .
• Log 450 miles this year (walking or running). That averages out to around 2-2.5 miles four times a week, almost every week of the year. It’s not an unrealistically high goal, but it’ll help me be accountable for how I spend my gym time (aka, no more “I walked for 19.5 minutes and thus am superwoman and can go home and eat candy canes until I am blue in the face”)(I don’t even like candy canes).
• Participate in both the 2009 and 2010 Cybils. More on this later.
• Eat only two desserts a week. I can’t tell you what a good thing this was for me last year. I now have no urge to eat desserts that don’t REALLY appeal to me, and I consciously decide whether or not to eat every dessert that shows up.
• Listen to a daily news podcast. I would like to not be the person who says, “um, what senate bill? what national political scandal? what economic forecasts?” anymore.
• Take a book reviewing course through Simmons. I am so excited for this. . .
• Read six classics that I have not previously read. Science Teacher Mommy sent me a great list that I’ll probably work off of.

I haven’t made a goal of how many books to read this year – I think I’ll just see what number I end up at.

Anyway, so far I’m off to a good start. 2010 is going to be a great year for me; I can feel it.