Welcome to 2023! I have big plans for this year: moving to a bigger apartment, taking control over my anxiety, and forming stronger connections with the people I love. And I also have a lot of goals for this year. One day, I opened the Notes app on my phone, started a new note titled “2023 Goals,” and began adding goals. (And adding… and adding…) I’ve been refining these goals for a few weeks now and I think I have a solid list of 30 (!!) goals. I’ve broken my goals down into categories this year and while my original plan was to list 5 goals per category, I decided I didn’t have to do that to myself. Some categories only have a few goals while others have a lot (I’m particularly happy that my “Fun Stuff” category is the biggest). My plan is to break down these annual goals into quarterly and then monthly goals so I can hopefully attain most of them!
APARTMENT
1) Move to a two-bedroom apartment – My lease is up at the beginning of November and my goal is to move to a two-bedroom apartment. I want to use the second bedroom to use as an office/home gym. I’m hoping to find a two-bedroom for less than $2,000 a month, but that may be wishful thinking.
2) Hire movers for my move – I am well-versed in the moving process, but I’ve actually never used movers. My brother is always happy (ish) to move me, but I only make him move the big stuff like furniture. The rest of it is up to me, and it’s exhausting. I’m excited to use movers for this move, especially since I live on a third-floor apartment (with no elevator).
3) Change up my entryway – Right now, my entryway (which is just a wall, lol), has a key hook shelf that I thought would be more useful to me than it actually is. It has a slot to keep mail, but I don’t keep mail there. I want to replace my current shelf with something like this and add a round mirror to spruce up this wall a bit. I’d love to use the shelf for holding seasonal decorations, too.
4) Buy a new mattress and bedframe – Originally, the plan was just to replace the mattress and box spring, but I think I’d also like to splurge on a new bedframe. The one I have now is a hand-me-down that’s looking a little worse for wear, so I want to find a bedframe with the upholstered headboard I’ve been dreaming of.
5) Install a bidet. I had my first bidet experience and y’all, it may have been life-changing. There are plenty of bidet options that I can install right on my toilet for less than $50, so this is a goal for 2023.
HEALTH
1) Go for a walk every day – It can be one simple, 10-minute loop around my apartment complex. It can be an hour-long walk in a park. But every day, I need to get outside and move my body.
2) Complete 100 Peloton workouts – Let’s see if I can get closer to this goal in 2023, shall we?
3) Drink at least one bottle (16 oz) of water every day – It’s a simple goal. It’s an easy goal. But can it be done?
4) Get a sleep study done – I think I may have sleep apnea. The way I snore points to potentially having it. I’d like to have a sleep study done at some point this year to find out if I have it.
5) Research my options for LASIK. I would love to get LASIK. It’s hard for me to wear contacts these days because my astigmatism is so bad (I wear contacts specifically made for astigmatism, and they still don’t work well for me), and I’m tired of wearing glasses. I want to find out if I’m a candidate for LASIK and, if so, my financing options.
6) Establish a better morning and nighttime routine. I must get better about my routines in 2023, especially my nighttime routine. I believe that one of the reasons my anxiety was so unmanageable last year is because I was only getting 6 hours of sleep every night, which is just not enough sleep for me. My goal is to start my nighttime routine at 8pm, be in bed reading at 9pm, and have lights out by 10pm. For my morning routine, I want to wake up at 6:30am, go for a walk, have breakfast, take a shower/get ready for the day, make my bed, and do my morning skincare routine before logging onto work at 8:30am.
MONEY
1) Have $3,000 saved in my CapitalOne emergency fund and $500 in my bank emergency fund by the end of the year. I haven’t been focusing on building up my emergency fund for the past couple of years, but since I had to dip into it a few times in 2022 for emergency purposes, it’s a bit depleted at the moment. This year, I want to get my CapitalOne emergency fund to $3,000 and the emergency fund with my bank to $500. I like having that $500 buffer in my bank so I can pull from it quickly if my account is close to overdrafting.
2) Switch to a rewards credit card. Can you believe I still don’t have a rewards credit card? I only use one credit card, which I got through my bank, and they do have a reward credit card option, but I just haven’t put the process in motion to switch over.
3) Do a weekly budget check-in. I haven’t really been monitoring my budget as closely as I like, as sometimes I can go weeks without checking my bank account and writing down what I’ve been spending. This year, I’d like to have a little budget check-in with myself, maybe every Sunday evening, to go over what I’m spending, project what the next week will look like, and make sure I’m hitting my savings goals.
4) Donate $50 to the following three charities every quarter: Friends of Strays (a local, no-kill animal shelter and where I adopted Lila!), the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund, and CASA (domestic violence support services). I fell short of my goal to donate $50 per month to a charity of my choice so I hope that by listing out the exact charities I will be supporting this year, I will be better prepared!
HOBBIES
1) Read 100 books. For the last few years, my reading goal has been beyond what feels doable to me. I don’t really need to set a reading goal because I know I’m going to read a lot of books like I always do. But I like doing so since it’s a pretty easy goal to cross off my list. In 2023, I’m keeping things easy and setting the goal at 100 books. I know I can accomplish that.
2) Complete the A-Z reading challenge. I love low-stress reading challenges. Usually, I complete the Unread Shelf Project but the prompts don’t really speak to me this year so I decided to skip it. Instead, I’m going to do the A-Z reading challenge, which I completed a few years ago and really enjoyed. (You just read a book that begins with each letter of the alphabet.)
3) Publish podcast seasons regularly throughout the year. Bri and I are having a really fun time with the podcast, so I hope we can continue with our rhythm of releasing a podcast season every other month or so. I’d like to at least release 6 new seasons of the podcast this year!
4) Make a website for our podcast. This has been a goal at the back of my mind since we started the podcast, so I’m making it a 2023 goal so I get it done!
5) Complete my blog categorization project. I’ll be spending my writing dates with Mikaela working on this project throughout 2023. I have 10 years of blog posts to recategorize. Fun!
6) Host a silent reading night. We’ll all come in our pajamas and bring the book we’re currently reading. There will be refreshments. I’ll put on an ASMR ambiance room from YouTube on the TV. We’ll set a timer – maybe an hour, maybe 90 minutes – and then we’ll read silently. Afterwards, we can talk about what we’re reading or just chit-chat. I can’t wait to make this happen in 2023.
7) Watch 6 movies and 6 standup specials. Last year, I had a goal to watch one movie a month but I am really bad about watching movies regularly. I feel like this goal is much more attainable.
FUN STUFF
1) Go tubing at Rainbow Springs. After we did our tubing excursion in Jamaica, my mom and I both talked about how we want to go again. We have natural springs about 2 hours away where we can go tubing, so I’d love to make this a day trip sometime over the summer.
2) Take a knife skills class. Every time I watch a cooking show, I am in awe of the knife skills of real chefs. While I don’t think I’ll be chopping an onion like Gordon Ramsey anytime soon, I do think I would find one of these classes very beneficial. Bonus: My friend Amber wants to come with me!
3) Learn how to French braid. This was on my annual goals list in 2022 (added late), and it’s something I want to experiment with in 2023. It can’t be that hard to learn how to French braid, can it?
4) Visit one new state. My mom and I have big plans to visit Tennessee at the end of the year to spend Christmas in a cabin near the Smokey Mountains. We’ll bring the dogs (and my stepdad, lol), and my brother and his family might come for a few days after Christmas. Eeks! I hope we can make this happen.
5) Get a tattoo. I didn’t complete this goal in 2022, so back on the list it goes in 2023. I actually have three different tattoo ideas that I want to get done, so maybe I’ll get more than one tattoo this year? We’ll see.
6) See a Dolphins game in person. While I have seen my beloved Miami Dolphins in person in Tampa, I’ve never visited their stadium in Miami for a game. I want to make it a goal for 2023 to finally do that, no matter how outrageous the prices may be. (And preferably early in the year, before the Dolphins start sucking like they do at the end of every season.)
7) Complete Project 365. I’m doing it! One photo a day, posted on Instagram with a caption, for all of 2023. I feel a little crazy for doing this for the third time, but I’m also excited to share my life in this way again.
8) Go on at least 5 first dates. Last year, my goal was 12 first dates and I went on 0. So, let’s make things a smidge easier on me and try for 5 first dates.
First – you are such an incredible writer. I love how clearly you’ve organized everything here. It was pure pleasure to read along with your list.
1) If I can learn how to French braid…anyone can. I am so terrible with hair, and French braids are something I learned to do years ago. They won’t win any awards, but I know you can do it (though I have to admit I rarely do them on myself…I think it’s a skill easier to learn doing it TO someone).
2) Host a silent reading night. Um, this may be the single best goal I have ever heard in my life. *Swooning* over this idea…
Elisabeth! That is such a great compliment coming from you! Thank you so much – you made my week with this comment. <3
I think it might help if I teach myself how to French braid using someone else first – that may help me learn the skill that I could hopefully THEN learn to do it on myself. That's the goal, at least.
These are great goals!
I had LASIK back in 2000 and it was a really good decision for me. They warned me that I would probably need reading glasses in my 40s, which has been true, but other than that my vision has been perfect. I would highly recommend it!
I’m so glad you had a great experience! I am really hoping I am a candidate because I’m tired of the eyeglass/contacts life.
French braid!! I would love to be able to do my nieces’ hair, so maybe I should try to learn this myself. I’m excited to hear about the progress you’re making on your goals this year – I think getting outside every day is such a worthwhile thing and I just love how it puts everything in perspective for me when I just spend a few minutes outside!
Yes, I can be very hermit-y, especially during the week and sometimes I’ve realized I haven’t been outside in the fresh air for 3 days and I know that’s not good for my mental health! So I think just forcing myself to get outside for even 10 minutes every day will do wonders for my mental health. That’s the goal, at least!
Such a great list of goals. I think it is a good way to break it down in categories and then into monthly goals. I’ve been doing it some time in 2015 or 2016 and it was the most successful year in achieving my goals.
I am still intrigued how you handle the category organization of your blog. I do have that project coming up as well I have no clear picture on how to start…
I already know how to French braid (not very good mind you) but I was always intrigued in how to do it with four strands.
And I just realized that I may not be following you on IG yet. Need to change that.
Happy new year and my you find joy in working on your goals.
My blog categorization project has been quite the beast! I started with a spreadsheet with a tab for every year and within each tab, I listed out each blog post I wrote that year, the date I posted it, the category I placed it in, and any tags I wanted to use when recategorizing. Then when I finished up with a year’s worth of blog posts, I would go through to figure out how many blog posts I wrote in a specific category and kept a running list. (I wanted to see what categories I used the most and try to eliminate categories I didn’t have a ton of blog posts for.) Once I finished listing out every blog post from 2009-2021, I am now going back through each blog post to give it a new category (if necessary), update any pictures, add a meta title, and add some tags. It’s a long, long process!
I love your goals for the year! I really would like to French braid too… maybe I will have to borrow your goal! And I love that you are going to consider Lasik. I would like to do that too — maybe reading about your experience will help me consider it too. I am so sick of contacts!
I just want to be able to hide my greasy hair with a French braid from time to time, is that too much to ask?!
What a great list of goals! I am most excited about your Tennessee Smoky Mountain goal! That will be such a cozy Christmas for you!! I hope you can make that one happy!
You saw my list of goals which was pretty short. Sometimes I feel guilty and sort of, I don’t know, some shame around my struggle with goals. Most people don’t seem to have the issues I do with putting things out there that I might not be able to accomplish! But I know from therapy that this is part of my struggle w/ perfectionism so it’s healthier for me to ask less of myself so I don’t needlessly beat myself up! But then I read others goals and kind of have goal envy over how much they are trying to accomplish!
It’s no use to create goals if it’s only going to add unnecessary stress to your life! For me, it’s just fun to make goals and I don’t feel bad if I don’t accomplish everything. The striving is part of the fun! But for you, it’s different and that’s totally okay! You have to set goals that make sense with the way your brain works. <3
These are great goals! I will tell you the tale of our bed frame, which will NOT be your experience at all.
Several years ago (maybe 10???) I decided that I could no longer stand the creaking of the metal bed frame under our mattress/box spring. It was just the metal frame, which came with the mattress/box spring when we bought them. It was fine at first, but eventually started squeaking SO LOUDLY that if one of us was in bed upstairs, and turned over, the person downstairs could hear it. Not conducive to a good night of rest. So I mad an executive decision and we THREW IT AWAY. Quiet bliss with our bed on the floor. I hate the look of a mattress/bed springs on the floor, it makes me feel poor. Probably because we had it that way when I was a kid, and we didn’t have money for a bed frame at all. Anyway, we vowed to buy another one, but could never agree on one that we both liked. We have very specific needs for a bed frame, because my office is in our bedroom, along with my husband’s desk, so there is NO EXTRA ROOM, and it can really only go in one place, which is right under the window. I also really wanted something with slats in the headboard, so that cool air can reach us in the summer. So we looked and looked and could never find anything we could agree upon. I love my husband, I love being married, but it would be much easier to decorate if I didn’t have someone here to compromise with all of the time, someone with exactly opposite of my taste in almost everything. Anyway, this year on our anniversary, I looked online and found out that at least one website says that the gift for your 29th anniversary is furniture. We took it as a sign from god, and went out and found a bed frame. Now our bed it no longer on the floor, and it is quiet too! The only downside is that my dog can no longer come and put his little chin on my bed and look at me, which was a charming way to wake up.
Regarding points…I am a true believer in a points credit card. For years I did not use them because I could not pay off my balance every month, so I tried to charge as little as possible. But now I am able to pay off my credit card every month, and I use a variety of credit cards.
1. Capital One Venture Card – This is the one that I use the most. They give you 2 points for every dollar you spend, as long as you spend the points on travel (sounds like a good fit for you!) If you cash out for anything else, it is 1 point per dollar spent. I put everything on this card, the biggest expenditure being groceries. This has the advantage of no international fees, which is great. There is an annual fee ($60 I think), but I earn so many points, it is well worth it.
2. Amazon Visa – Mine is through Chase, though I think it was purchased by them. I use it for shopping at Amazon and Whole Foods, and they give 5 points per dollar for these things only. I also took it to France with me this year and used it for my rental cars, because it has no international fees, and covered collision insurance on rental cars, both domestic and abroad. There is no annual fee.
3. Chase Freedom – I have had this card for decades. It’s probably my oldest card, and I don’t use it all that often. However, it does have one benefit that I like, which is rotating categories. Each quarter, there is one category of things where you earn 5 points per dollar spent. Last quarter it was items purchased via Paypal. Another quarter it might be gas stations, or drug stores, or grocery stores. The first 1,500 you spend, you get the 5 points per dollar. This quarter (Jan – March) it is grocery stores. So I will keep track, and charge my first $1,500 of groceries on this card, until I hit that limit. Then I will go back to using my Capital One card. There is no annual fee.
4. Chase Freedom Unlimited – This card gives 3 points per dollar for drug stores and restaurants, so that is the only place I use it. There is no annual fee.
I save the points as much as I can, and use them for vacations. Except the Amazon one, for some reason I just like to use those for purchases at Amazon. We went to Maui in 2021, and I was able to pay for our AirBnB for a week by using the points. (You just cash out on all but the Capital One card…on the Capital One card, you purchase something and pay yourself back…so I used that card for the AirBnB.)
I didn’t use any of my points this year when I went to France. I went with my cousin, not my husband and daughter, and only had to pay for myself, so I thought it would be better to save the points for when we all go somewhere together. Right now I have almost $1,500 worth of points saved up, which I hope to use to go to Alaska this fall to see my brother.
Oh, and usually most points cards will give you a bonus if you charge a certain amount in a certain amount of time. Like, $200 if you spend $3,000 in 3 months or something like that. So when you get a new credit card, if it has such a challenge, use that one until you reach the goal and get the bonus. In other words, don’t go get a bunch of new cards all at once, or you won’t be able to hit those goals. Plus, every time you get a new credit card, your credit score will go down some for awhile, so that is something else to consider.
That’s way more detail than you wanted in a comment on your post, but I thought it might be helpful in your planning. My husband does NONE of this with his credit cards, it would wear him out. He doesn’t enjoy figuring out how to get the most number of points out of every purchase, while I do. Oh, and I keep track of my purchases carefully, to make sure I can afford to pay them off every month. If you pay interest, that will be much more than any points you will ever earn, so not worth it at all. I love the challenge of it, and from the lists and so on that you put here, I suspect your brain would enjoy earning points on at least one credit card, and perhaps playing the game like I do.
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment, J! I am so glad you broke down these points credit cards for me. This will be really helpful! I need to figure out what the rewards are for the credit card with my bank and see how they compare with this. Being able to save money on travel would be AMAZING! I’m always so jealous of people who get a “free” flight because they used points!
Your bedframe issue – ahhh! This is one of the huge perks of being single and living alone is that all of the decor decisions are mine, muahahah. I found the exact bedframe I want and I don’t have to get anyone else’s opinion about it!
That a great list of goals, Stephany. I have to chime in because I thought it was funny… like Julie, we’ve been living without a bedframe for years now. We had this stupid metal frame that comes with the boxspring and after I bumped my toe on it really bad (twice!) I decided to throw it out when we moved to our duplex… it’s been 4 years and we still don’t have a bedframe, but I’d really like to get one sometime (soon).
And yes, you should absolutely (!) switch to a rewards credit card, esp. if you’re paying it off all the time… I’ve saved up hundreds of dollars in rewards!!
I think I might join you on the 365project. I haven’t been really consistent on IG (esp. since Stories/Reels took over) but I’d love to post more photos again.
I hope you join us with Project 365! My mom is doing it and another friend joined along, so that’s been fun. I get really excited to see what they’re going to post each day! 🙂
OMG I still think about how amazing it was to have movers when we moved into this house (almost 7 years ago)! I am glad you are planning on it.
We got both of our upholstered headboards on amazon and like them!
And we also have a bidet we love 😉
How is walking every day going? I am trying to do that too.
Steven just got PRK (similar to Lasik) – that is what he had to get because his astigmatisms were too bad. Hit your girl up if you have questions. They aren’t very forthcoming with how long the recovery is or what it’s like (most of the info is re: Lasik, which I think is why, just wondering if you will need PRK too).
I love that you and your mom are going to go tubing locally! Yay!
I talked to Steven and he corrected me that he had PRK because his corneas were too thin – not because of the astigmatism. But either way, he said make sure when you do the consult that they really explain the recovery for whichever they recommend!
I haven’t been walking EVERY day (I have missed 2 days already, ha) but the point is not perfection but to make this a habit, and it will take some time for it to feel like something normal in my everyday life. But it’s going well so far. It will be more difficult when the weather gets hot because it is just not fun to walk in the heat + humidity, but I’ll get it done!
this is a great list, and I like how you have a lot of fun ones. I LOVE the silent reading night idea, and I’m excited for you about the Tennessee cabin in December! I hope you get to do that so I can live vicariously. I also would love to get LASIK surgery- I wear contacts and they’re getting less and less comfortable. So that’s another thing you can do (hopefully) and tell me all about.
Good luck with everything- I can’t wait to see how the year goes for you.
I really hope we can make the Tennessee cabin in December work! It would be amazing to have a cold, cozy Christmas!
Ohmygosh, the TN cabin would be AMAZING. I always dream about renting a little air b&b just for me, in a rural area, which wouldn’t even require driving that far! and I never follow through! So maybe you will inspire me to just do it this year. 🙂
Also – I am loving your project 365 posts, just fyi . So much fun to get a daily glimpse into the Life of Stephany.
And you know I am here for the tattoo reveal(s)! Can’t wait to see what meaningful choices you make. <3