Around September of last year, I took a break from setting monthly goals because I was feeling a bit burned out. I can admit to myself that I was in a funk for a few months toward the end of 2014, and I felt a bit like a duck – I looked cool, calm, and collected on the outside but inside, I was trying furiously to keep my head above water. I was just a bit mentally exhausted, so I did what I do best: I took a step back from the things causing me stress, settled inward, and focused on working through the funk. Which I did, and I’m in a better place (muuuuuch better) today than I was then.
And I’m so, so ready to bring back my monthly goals. I’m ready to take on some challenges, get back to my routine, and enjoy all January has to offer. Here are the goals I’m striving for this month:
1. Budget carefully, and only buy necessities. I’ve gone a wee bit off the deep end with my spending lately. There was Christmas, there were #treatyoself shopping adventures, and there was a St. Augustine getaway. I don’t regret a single penny spent, but it’s time to rein in the spending and get back to a strict budget. My goal for January (and probably longer, if I can manage it) is to not spend money on myself, only on necessities. I need to build my savings back up, as well as pay off my credit card that was swiped a little too frequently in December. (This does not include eating out. I’ve just accepted I like to eat out more than other people. Though I do hope to calm down how often I eat out. December was crazy, is what I’m saying.)
2. Get back to healthy eating. Well, the good news is that my appetite has come back. Though I will admit it wasn’t that bad to lose 10 lbs in 3 weeks without trying too hard. Now that my appetite is back, it’s time to get back to healthy eating. Meal planning, home-cooked meals, and choosing better foods when I eat out. I’m not setting any particular measurable goal for this… just to eat healthier as often as I can.
3. Start training for a 5k. Here’s some exciting news: I signed up to run a 5k at the end of March. Even better than that? It’s in Savannah! Yep – I’m going back. (And yep, I’m traveling six hours just to run a 5k because I love that city so gosh durned much!) But I am in no way ready to run a 5k. I can walk it, but I really want to push myself, train hard, and have a great race in my favorite city. I’m so excited!
4. Finish my Holiday Council work. Yes, yes, yes. I still have not finished the Holiday Council work. And I’ve only listened to the first call and one of the interviews. I love the Holiday Council so much, so it’s really bugging me that I put it aside in December. I want to spend some time in January going through the worksheets, the calls, and the interviews so I’m ready to attack 2015!
5. Declutter and organize. My bedroom, my bathroom, the kitchen, the closets, the patio… all of it needs to go through a massive decluttering spree. Deep breaths. I can do this!
Do you have any goals for January?
Great goals! I especially love the 5K one… and the decluttering (because it feels so good) and also the financial ones (not fun but also feels awesome!). Good luck!
Decluttering is still on my list, and probably will be forever. We just have too much stuff. Things we don’t use, things we don’t need. I’m even starting to purge books I read a long time ago and don’t want to keep (why do I have a Nicholas Sparks from 2005? I don’t know.) We are also doing more decluttering at my dad’s this month, which will be emotional, but maybe necessary?
I’m going to aim for weekly goals this year, I think. Starting next week, though 😉 Number one for me will be cutting out the sugary and processed foods because I’ve had waaay too much of that lately.
I love decluttering. The older I get the more clutter bothers me. I’m so excited for your 5k/Savannah trip! I need to get my butt in gear with working out. I’ve been majorly slacking since the marathon.
Love these goals. I need to get a whole lot better about budgeting and that’s a huge goal of this year for me too, ha. Also decluttering is my new favorite thing, I seriously cannot stop. It’s amazing, ha.
That is a good set of goals! I don’t set monthly goals but there are some things I want to get done this month, like cross off at least 2 of the organizational projects on my list and get all of my documents gathered and organized so I can file my taxes in February.
I would like to say that I will reign in some of the spending I’ve done lately but I know that won’t be the case because we booked a trip to Santa Barbara over President’s Day so are paying for that, plus I am going to be registering for 2 big races that have higher reg fees since one is a tri and one is a marathon (gulp! Yep, I am going to try to do another one!). So maybe March can be one of those low spend months for me!
I think these are great goals for January! If I had goals for the month I think it would be to save money (we are a little stressed about the whole “only get paid for some of your maternity leave” thing), and to enjoy the things we’re checking off the list, instead of just powering through them. (Meet and greet with a pediatrician, hospital tour, etc.)
Great goals! That’s so awesome you’re going to train for a 5K, and in Savannah of all places. How fun!
#1 has been hard for me lately. Somehow I can justify that I “need” everything. 😉 I like these monthly goals. It makes them more tangible in small pieces.
I have some cleaning I’d like done because Chinese New Year is in late February. It’s always better luck to clean before the new year!