Happy New Years!
I had planned to do a reflection post last night, but I wound up going to a party...yeah, I'm surprised too.
It's been an interesting year. I failed to do a lot of things that I hoped, but I accomplished things I had never planned too.
I think that's something to keep in mind from a financial end as well a life end. You can't plan for everything. There are times to stick to your goals with bull headed determination, and there are times to just roll with the flow. I won't say that finding a balance between the two is easy, but it is worthwhile.
I think it's important to reflect and learn from the past, as well as plan and dream for the future.
What are your goals? Did you accomplish any of them last year?
What are your goals for this year? For the next ten years? For your life?
What steps can you take towards those goals in 2008? What steps do you need to take?
I have too long a list of larger life goals to go into all of them, but I do have some specific goals for this year.
- I want to save at least a thousand dollars to rebuild my emergency fund.
- I want to go take a road trip to Canada
- I want to get our book published.
- (And yes I know, so standard) I want to get in better physical shape
For my first goal, that means I'll need to put away $84 dollars each month.
( 1000 / 12 = 83.3333...so I'm rounding up. $84 x 11= 924, so I'll only have to put in $76 next December to reach my goal.)
For the second goal, I actually need to take a number of steps.
This month
- I need to make sure my car is in good condition by getting that 10 year maintenance done
- I need to do research to figure out my route, How much will hotels cost? Do I need Canadian money? Will an American Drivers license be honored in Canada? (I've heard "yes" on this, but I need to double check), Where should I go in Canada? (I'm think Niagra, Toronto, Montreal and Prince Edwards Island...put I need more specifics) Is there a ferry I can take to Prince Edwards Island?
In Feburary, I'll need to get my passport
I'm hoping to take the trip in mid-March or late May.
To get the book published, we need to
- First and foremost, FINISH IT!
- Research traditional publishers and send out queries
- Research self-publishing as a back up plan.
My last goal is more vague. Weight and body image is something a lot of us struggle with. At this point, it's more about muscle tone and finding an exercise routine I can do regularly, than losing weight. Thankfully our complex has a weight/exercise room that I can use at no additional charge. So to accomplish my goal:
- I need to set aside a regular time two or three times a week to go down and use the treadmill or ski machine.
- I need to continue making an effort to eat a healthy and balanced diet.
But there are other things I could do if I have trouble committing to a regular workout routine, I could just try to add a little extra physical activity to my day to day life. I could dance around the apartment more in my spare time. At work, I can run around and play with my kids while we're on the playground instead of sitting and watching them from a fixed spot.
Unlike with your money, I strongly urge that you DON'T get too caught up with numbers when trying to get control of your weight. Pay more attention to how you feel and what things you can do to make yourself healthier.
If you are a numbers person, instead of saying "I want to lose ten pounds", say "I'm going to jog 10 minutes everyday" or "I'm going to do 50 sit ups every night". If you're not a numbers person, you can make decisions like "I'm going to stop buying Little Debbi cakes" or "I will only have one helping of food at dinner".
Little decisions can add up. And even if you don't completely make your goal for the year or next few months, you'll often find that the effort did make some difference. I managed to take a step class for three months last year...no it didn't last all year, but I am in better shape now than if I would be if I hadn't tried to take a class at all.
Whatever your goals, God bless, and I wish you good luck with them in 2008!
It's been an interesting year. I failed to do a lot of things that I hoped, but I accomplished things I had never planned too.
I think that's something to keep in mind from a financial end as well a life end. You can't plan for everything. There are times to stick to your goals with bull headed determination, and there are times to just roll with the flow. I won't say that finding a balance between the two is easy, but it is worthwhile.
I think it's important to reflect and learn from the past, as well as plan and dream for the future.
What are your goals? Did you accomplish any of them last year?
What are your goals for this year? For the next ten years? For your life?
What steps can you take towards those goals in 2008? What steps do you need to take?
I have too long a list of larger life goals to go into all of them, but I do have some specific goals for this year.
- I want to save at least a thousand dollars to rebuild my emergency fund.
- I want to go take a road trip to Canada
- I want to get our book published.
- (And yes I know, so standard) I want to get in better physical shape
For my first goal, that means I'll need to put away $84 dollars each month.
( 1000 / 12 = 83.3333...so I'm rounding up. $84 x 11= 924, so I'll only have to put in $76 next December to reach my goal.)
For the second goal, I actually need to take a number of steps.
This month
- I need to make sure my car is in good condition by getting that 10 year maintenance done
- I need to do research to figure out my route, How much will hotels cost? Do I need Canadian money? Will an American Drivers license be honored in Canada? (I've heard "yes" on this, but I need to double check), Where should I go in Canada? (I'm think Niagra, Toronto, Montreal and Prince Edwards Island...put I need more specifics) Is there a ferry I can take to Prince Edwards Island?
In Feburary, I'll need to get my passport
I'm hoping to take the trip in mid-March or late May.
To get the book published, we need to
- First and foremost, FINISH IT!
- Research traditional publishers and send out queries
- Research self-publishing as a back up plan.
My last goal is more vague. Weight and body image is something a lot of us struggle with. At this point, it's more about muscle tone and finding an exercise routine I can do regularly, than losing weight. Thankfully our complex has a weight/exercise room that I can use at no additional charge. So to accomplish my goal:
- I need to set aside a regular time two or three times a week to go down and use the treadmill or ski machine.
- I need to continue making an effort to eat a healthy and balanced diet.
But there are other things I could do if I have trouble committing to a regular workout routine, I could just try to add a little extra physical activity to my day to day life. I could dance around the apartment more in my spare time. At work, I can run around and play with my kids while we're on the playground instead of sitting and watching them from a fixed spot.
Unlike with your money, I strongly urge that you DON'T get too caught up with numbers when trying to get control of your weight. Pay more attention to how you feel and what things you can do to make yourself healthier.
If you are a numbers person, instead of saying "I want to lose ten pounds", say "I'm going to jog 10 minutes everyday" or "I'm going to do 50 sit ups every night". If you're not a numbers person, you can make decisions like "I'm going to stop buying Little Debbi cakes" or "I will only have one helping of food at dinner".
Little decisions can add up. And even if you don't completely make your goal for the year or next few months, you'll often find that the effort did make some difference. I managed to take a step class for three months last year...no it didn't last all year, but I am in better shape now than if I would be if I hadn't tried to take a class at all.
Whatever your goals, God bless, and I wish you good luck with them in 2008!